Names - Lando

A mate of mine made a suggestion for a name that I think is pure genius. It's a name that's never really been used before and it would make for one individual individual.

Lando.

Think about it. Everyone knows Lando, he's smooth, he's cool, he's not to be trusted until you come to completely trust him.

Just look at him.

Lando.

I like it. But if you're going to go for Lando should you just go for Han instead?

Names - Campbell

It's funny, Jess had submitted Campbell as a possible name. And you know what, it's not too bad at all. It's got a little jazz to it, it's snappy, it's a bit different but not crazy. It's regal and will surely match the middle name.

When I think of Campbell I think of the soup or the actor, you know the one, Bruce Campbell. He's a living legend and one of the best actors to be able to do acting in reverse, he's a phenom, no doubt about it. Those are two pretty good things to have for the name, and I can even put them together in the one image (borrowed from sci-fiwire.com, click the images if you must have a link or want to put these labels on your own cans):

This name was seriously on the list but then a good friend from work just had her first and named him Campbell. I'm happy to let her have it, I think we still have one better suited for our son.

But congratulation to that friend, anonymous shall she remain, she's got a safe and healthy baby and she's given it a cool name.

Hail to the Campbell.

Names - Ares

This one goes out to my brother in France, as it was his suggestion, based on a character I wrote into a story once.

I think Ares as a name holds many grand connotations. It's synonymous with strength, with pride, with courage. Sadly, it's also pretty connected to warfare and death and all that sort of stuff but if you take it on the regal god manner in which it is intended it's got a pretty fine backbone to it.

Imagine if kids in the playground find out he's the god of war. Just think of the possibilities.

He could even escape the gene pool that his father has thrown him into and turn out like this:

Names - Yorick

Alright, time for me to pony up and offer some of my suggestions, after having bagged out Jess' for so long.

This is a name I actually really like. Yorick. It's just got a certain ring to it, I don't even know that I could explain it. I like how it looks, I like how it sounds. You can shorten it to 'Rick. I dunno...it's just got that special something about it.

It also reminds me of one of my favourite comic book characters:

But it doesn't, surprisingly, give me those Shakespearean overtones, all that skull holding and soliloquising. It's just not coming to mind.

Though, I will admit, I'm not sure if I just like this name as something for a character, or my actual son.  Time will have to tell on this one.

Names - Barclay

Here's another gem that Jess thought up. She told me this name and in my head I instantly went here.

I thought she meant Barkley, like Sir Charles up there.  Now, don't get me wrong, the Chairman of the Boards was a pretty cool player, and maybe one shade of eye bag away from Sleepy Floyd, but he wasn't impressive enough to me to warrant naming my kid after him.

However, Jess didn't mean Barkley, she meant Barclay, which just made me think of this.

Perhaps Visa is just an easier way to go, and he'll be accepted in over 200 countries worldwide (ba bum cha!).

Names - Pepe

I have no idea whether Jess is being serious with this one or not but either way I have to stamp down my authority quickly. Pepe. Seriously....uh, no.

I could say I don't want my son to be a faux-French sleaze ball who doesn't know how to respect the boundaries established by the women around him. A la:

But in truth, I think I'm just worried that a kid with my DNA lurking somewhere within him might actually fit the name and turn out like this:

I don't care if you do like Pepe as a character, no one wants a kid that even closely resembles this Muppet.

Names - Milo

I don't even know where to start with Milo. It's not necessarily a bad name, but it's certainly not one I'd use. I can't even pin down what I don't like about it, whether it's the chocolate drink connotation, or the pseudo-Italian vibe I get from it, or just an annoying habit that probably two decades later I still can't get this crummy movie out of my head.

Doesn't it look like they're watching from heaven?

Sorry Milo, we're not having a little brother for you and calling him Otis. Just not on the cards.

Names - Major

Another one of Jess' masterpiece choices. She thinks Major is absolutely cute, though she concedes it might work better as a dog name. I don't hate this name but I'd rather use it for an old St Bernard than my son and the living destiny and echo of my bloodline.

I'd like to profess that upon hearing the name I first thought of Joseph Heller and at least was happy that my surname isn't Major as well, but this was a mere second thought. Sadly, my first thought went straight to this head.

And I don't want to hear any creepy chuckles from the belly as I sleep.

Heh, heh, hyeah.

Names - Ross

Jess still had plenty more names she wanted to try out on me. Another zinger was; Ross.

Now, I have nothing against this name, I think it's perfectly fine, I can understand how people would use it and be happy for the rest of their lives. But it's just not what my son will be called.

This is a case of a name being perfectly fine, except for the fact that I'm not in love with it, and I have to be in love with my son's name.

Not to mention, Ross only has one meaning for me and it signals that I'll have a kid like this (make sure you watch until the TV bit, hilarious...but not my son):

Names - Ace

Jess and I have been bandying about names a lot lately to see what else might stick and how we feel about it. Naming a kid can be hard because you both have to agree that you love a name. Love it!

Jess and I barely like the same tv shows, she tolerates me watching Big Bang Theory and I have to leave the house to watch LOST.When she watches The Good Wife I usually rock the laptop on my knees and get some work done. We're not always in synch, though we do both enjoy Glee a fair bit, so you never know, we can come together on some things.

So Jess was at work and came up with a list of names. I'm going to share some of them with you now just to test the waters.

Ace

Jess really likes Ace for a name.

I don't.

All I can think of is this guy.

And sorry, champ, but Ace gets a big thumbs down instead.