On any given day, I meet with many families and come across a lot of names between Medical Records and waitlists and evaluations. Some of these names are quite common. Some are unique and creative and beautiful. And some make me go…
huh?
Now, I can’t “name names,” as that would be both against HIPAA violations and morally wrong to me, but I can say that Freakonomics and its’ “Lemonjello”s don’t have NOTHIN’ on some of the names I’ve seen.
But rather than hate, I think I’ll turn today’s listmania to love. Whose names do I love most? Well, besides my own (thanks mom and dad), I have to give it to J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter series for her names. They are hands down the most clever, melodious, humorous, and creative names I’ve seen in fiction.
Here are a handful of my favorites:
A Petunia Dursley by any other name would smell as… sour…
–Bathilda Bagshot– okay, if you haven’t read the books, close your eyes and imagine this character. Did you picture an old bag who may or may not be a dead body possessed by an evil Lord and his snake? Yep, I thought so.
*wins for “most descriptive name.”
–Sirius Black– “Serious”ly, who is going to mess with someone named Sirius Black? And yet, he uses his bloodline and powers for good. Plus, I love how the star “sirius”gives me a good vibe, while black has sort of an evil vibe. Very tricky, J.K…
*wins for “best use of an oxymoron in a name.”
–Bellatrix Lestrange- Okay, she might be the scourge of the universe (Potterworld and real world), but this name rolls off of the tongue like a jigger of brandy. I love it.
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| Hey Potty Potty Potter! |
–Lavender Brown- I can’t be the only one to notice the tragedy of her name, for such a pathetic character (I cannot imagine a fate worse than being dumped by stupid Ron Weasley. The bottom of the bottom.)
*Wins for- not going with the obvious choice of “pansy” for this character’s name.
–Bartemius “Barty”Crouch- J.K. has the whole “pretentious name” thing down pat, clearly.
–Fleur Delacour- Because its as dreamy as she is, and as vapid.
*wins for “best use of a rhyme in a name without being lame.”
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| “Eeet eess Meee! Fleeeeuuuuur Delacouuuuur!” |
-Godric Gryffindor- BAMF. I like the obviousness of putting “god” right in the name. You don’t mess with Gryffindor.
–Neville Longbottom (or any of the Longbottom crew)- Because I’m immature and laugh every time I read “Longbottom.”As opposed to… their cousins Shortbottom? next door neighbors Bigbottom?
-Minerva McGonagall- This one is a favorite because it manages to choose the perfect name for meaning (Goddess of wisdom/ professor of wisdom- you say potato, I say potahto) with a stern yet respectable name.
*wins for “best allusion in a name.”
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| Raise a glass to…. meeee! |
-“Mad Eye” Moody- I’m not sure about you guys, but I’m not about to mess with this guy.
*wins for “best nickname”
–Pius Thicknesse- “George W. Bush.” muahahahahahahaha
Who are your favorite Harry Potter character names? Or just favorite names in general? If I have children I seriously would consider naming one Hermione. I think it adds extra “genius points.” That or “Margot Tenenbaum.”
Meri Potter (yes, Daniel Radcliffe and I have recently wed)
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