When I inherited the Ford Fiesta from M, it came with a name: Mildred. I’ve always chosen my own name for my vehicles. It started with Doris, the gold 1984 Daihatsu Charade, and then Donna, the “true blue” Ford Tracer Tonic. When I got my silver Mercedes, she was named called Dorothy. Unfortunately, she was written off less than a month later, and then I got a white Mercedes which I called Morag.

Now I have Mildred, who, according to M, is a drag queen or a transsexual. I can’t recall which. Nevertheless, I was told sternly that Mildred she will remain. I wasn’t even allowed to change her name to Millie, despite her being thoroughly modern as far as my history of cars is concerned!

On the subject of names, a scene in a television show last night prompted me to think about names for children when we adopt. We’ve both agreed that we’d like to adopt a boy (when we can afford it – this is a long-term goal!), so we need to think of names.

My mother wanted to call my sister Alistair James, had she been a boy, and I rather like the sound of it. My grandfathers were named Bryan and Paul respectively. Stuart is a family name, so it tends to follow the Potter around (now you know why I have four names).

What are your thoughts?

4 Replies to “On the naming of cars and other things”

  1. As long as it's not Petrus Philippus…

    I like Aiden, Adrian or Damien.

    Paul isn't a bad option either – it was almost my name if you recall, but then, the rest of my family are all P initials, and my grandfather told my mother not to go that route, since sorting out the post would be a vast nightmare!

    Oh, and Mildred is a drag artiste! (Her real name is Milton or something)

  2. I like Aiden or Adrian too. Andrew was an option, but my cousin is Andrew. We have enough confusion with two Charleses (grammarians are allowed to lambaste me for that).

    The trouble with nice names like the above, is putting them with a surname.

    What surname are we using? Yours? If so, names ending in the same sound as the surname are cause for discussion. The poor child needs a name that won't be incessantly mocked.

    We won't even discuss my surname!

  3. I think Alistair James is a wonderful name…although you cannot use it as my son will be named that if i have anything to do with it…what about Sarah Georgina! you can make it boyish like Stephen George… 😛

  4. I've found Adrian's to be people to avoid like the plague – this is based on personal experience though… I wish you all the best and pray it doesn't turn out like me *evil grin*

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