"Real" names for pets. Just wrong?

**Foolish Mortal** · 02-26-2009, 06:17 AM

So I was at my sister's place the other day and I was having this discussion with her and a couple of her friends.

They were saying people shouldn't give real people names to pets because it just sounds weird.

Like: "Here's my cat, Linda." Or; "Here's my dog, Gary."

I have to say that would sound weird. But I never gave this subject much thought either.

**Jerome Gibbons** · 02-26-2009, 06:18 AM

Hmmmm. I think some names may work, other names (perhaps those that are a bit more common among humans?) might seem a little weird. "Gary" sounds like a pretty weird name for a dog, yeah.

**WillieLee** · 02-26-2009, 06:19 AM

Why are "real" names any different from "fake" names for animals?

**Brian Defferding** · 02-26-2009, 06:22 AM

Some "real" names work for certain dogs, like Boris or Roger for pitbulls.

**Foolish Mortal** · 02-26-2009, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by WillieLee

Why are "real" names any different from "fake" names for animals?

Maybe because made-up names or real names that sound unusual, would sound like something an animal would be called. I don't know why some people think that way, but it just is.

Originally Posted by Brian Defferding

Some "real" names work for certain dogs, like Boris or Roger for pitbulls.

"Kid" sounding names work for pets too. Names like 'Tommy' or 'Bobby'.

**PatrickA** · 02-26-2009, 06:28 AM

I don't think it's wrong, just unimaginative.

You can name your pets stuff you could never get away with naming your children (unless you are a rock/movie star).

Which is why I named my dogs Starbuck and Dasher and am pushing for Whiplash for the next one.

I'd love to name my as of yet unconcieved child "Whiplash" but child protective services would probably stake out my house if I did.

**Patton** · 02-26-2009, 06:29 AM

It does sound weird. But that's what makes it cool.

My dog Larry Williams thinks so anyway.

**The Dean** · 02-26-2009, 06:30 AM

I think it's kind of funny.

My old boss had dogs named, Jack, Jerry and Steve.

**Brother Power the Gong** · 02-26-2009, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by PatrickA

I don't think it's wrong, just unimaginative.

You can name your pets stuff you could never get away with naming your children (unless you are a rock/movie star).

Which is why I named my dogs Starbuck and Dasher and am pushing for Whiplash for the next one.

Damn! Did you just make that shit up? That's imaginative!

**TheTravis!** · 02-26-2009, 06:41 AM

I hate it when people name their pets people names. Hate it. When I was in high school, my mother had cats named Abigail and Emily. Sure as shit, I ended up dating girls named "Abby" and "Emily". That was fun, when they found out that they shared a name with my cat.

That's why I named MY cat "Badass Kitty Fantastico". And if I get another cat, I'm naming it "Barky", or "Miss Lady Buttons of Camelot".