Aquila Online

What’s In A Name?

// February 3rd, 2005 // General // 1,443 views

What’s in a name? Well, apparently quite a bit can be derived from a name and its origins. Etymology, or the study of the origins of names indicates that names also serve several purposes. Most importantly they help distinguish us from one another. Some names carry information about our roots, such as family or clan names.

Names can serve other purposes as well, such as the Chinese generation name which identifies the generation of the bearer, or the names used by some African cultures which describe the order in which siblings were born.

But it’s not limited to persons, but personal objects as well. You probably have a pet name for your car, such as Phoebus Apollo, God of Light, Dragon-slayer, leader of the muses, bastard son of Zeus. Apollo the Volvo, for short.

Then there’s a list of actual car names you’ll never see. Corkers such as Dodge Plonk and Nissan Stamina for example.

People too have been getting car names as first names for years.

But if you’re stuck in selecting a name, why not use a name generator. You’ve got the obligatory Star Wars name generator – e.g. Kooko Badan is Siutoyota of Myprodol.

Or if you have a hog, why not get an Outlaw Biker name. e.g. Wrench Head of the Donkey Punchers MC.

How about an African, Evil, Mobster, Reggae, Redneck, Stripper or Prison Bitch name instead?

So what’s in a name? Maybe it’s very little, yet in many cases, the name is everything.