What did you call me?
What's in a name? A lot actually. Naming a bunny usually takes time,....that is if you are trying to get the bunny to respond favorably to it. Sometimes we get it right the first time and the bunny struts around the room with his, or her chin stuck out as if to say, "Yep! that's me alright!" But most often we go through a long list of possibilities and morphs thereof. It can be a complicated process.
The bunny pictured below is Chip. His markings resemble 'wings'(in my opinion anyway), as in wings of a jet. In the beginning I briefly referred to him as the 'Wing Man' but got the reaction you see here. I soon got the impression that he just liked to be called Chip. We tried it on him and he liked it.
I am very curious about the processes you went through when naming your bunnies. Do any of you have stories you'd like to share?
The bunny pictured below is Chip. His markings resemble 'wings'(in my opinion anyway), as in wings of a jet. In the beginning I briefly referred to him as the 'Wing Man' but got the reaction you see here. I soon got the impression that he just liked to be called Chip. We tried it on him and he liked it.
I am very curious about the processes you went through when naming your bunnies. Do any of you have stories you'd like to share?
posted by Heartland at 9:13 AM
14 Comments:
Some of my bunnies kept their names from when they were at the humane society, although everyone looks at me funny when i tell them i have a bunny named "Kitty". The other names came when it just 'felt' right. Something i don't like doing is naming them names that are also food names. My bunnies will never be that, so i don't want it associated with them.
I agree with you tgangel - naming the bunnies 'food names'is unsettling to me. Although the name Chip can be associated with food, his name was actually taken from an old war movie in which one of the fighter pilots was named Chip. A great guy name. I can see Chip in a flight jacket and goggles.*smile*
There are so many names. And many have more than one association. Bunny parents often have to deal with insensitive jokes regarding bunnies as food. I weary of the jokes, as we all do. Many of us spout off all kinds of nicknames for our fur kids that are related to food - Baby Cakes, Honeybun, etc. They are just terms of endearment. Choosing names for them is personal and meaningful. Watching the bunnies' reaction to words and names is what I look for. They'll let us know what they think. Sometimes it is a lip curl or even a pile of pooh presented in response.
My babies know their names. My hubby brought home a bunny he called Lobo, I knew when I saw her she was female. She is a gorgeous silver gray lionhead so Graysie seemed the perfect name, but she also responded to Tinkerbell. Her name soon morphed to Graysie Stinkerbelle (or Stinker-belly because she shows it off so much!) and she seems to be fine with it :)
That is very interesting Lavender Rabbit, in that 'ink' is in the name she responds to. A good friend had a lovely rabbit years ago whose nickname 'Dinks' became the bunny's instant favorite and she would come running whenever her mom used that name. I love the names you have for your Tinkerbell!! It is obvious you love her dearly.
When we took Zai home from the lady who rescued him he had the 'common' name 'Caramel' - a name I was averse to! So I named him after rabbit in Russian 'zaicheeka' and he became Zai! Zai fitted his name perfectly.
When we let Zai choose a partner at a rescue he picked the only un-named rabbit there! I wrote down a list of about 8 names - all grand and feminine names, and when we got the young lady home after her spay, she suited and 'became' Arabella!
Wesley was already named at the rescue and I call him Weska for short.
Chip is gorgeous and he wears his name well.
So that is how Arabella came to live with you. I have seen her in your blog. She is as lovely as her name. Isn't it just like a bunny that Zai would choose the only one not yet named. Fascinating. How fortunate that he has a mom that let him make the choice. They have great names.
Gandalf was easy. The Lord of the Rings movies were coming out and Little Man became Gandalf, although sometimes we still call him Little Man. Sable and Shadow just made sense for two lovely bunnies who are always wearing their little black dresses.
Most of them just happened and the bunnies do know them .. I can tell by ear perks and nose wiggles. However, The Princess worked us through quite a series of names before she got us to understand!
Well you already know how my babies got their names I think. Mojo-she would stare intently at me and throw out her Mojo. Tango-first day I brought her home she made me do the Tango for several hours to catch her. Nemo-Finding Nemo, he was lost, then he was found. Dudley-just a silly name that fit him. It was my dad's name. I just like it and it suits him. Haven-came to me with his name. He is a safe haven for my heart. Stewart-also came to me named and he wore it well. Tell Chipper I am giving him a kiss tomorrow!
Lindsay - I've always liked the name Gandalf. He looked so cute in your post from Valentine's Day flanked by his lovely ladies dressed in stylish black. Befitting of the girl's beauty, their names are perfect.
Rabbits' Guy - Your posts make me laugh. Not just that one of your little bunnies makes you jump through hoops (Princess...tee hee), but even your name indicates your position on the totem pole - the rabbit's possession. In truth, all us bunny parents hold positions beneath the superior bunny lords.
Christina - The tale of your bunnies' names always makes me smile. I didn't know Dudley was your dad's name. (I don't think I would get away with naming one of the bunnies my dad's name. chuckle, chuckle. I'll tell you tomorrow when I see you.)From the get-go your fur children let you know who was going to run the show. And like a good little soldier you hopped to it.
My first bunny I had decided would be named Buster Brown, but after a while of never calling him that, and calling him Schmoo instead, with no idea where it came from, Schmoo became his name. T and Dude, as you know, were named at Heartland. T was actually Theodore, but became T because he was just that cool that he only needed one letter.
My new little guy - I'm still undecided. I adopted him 2 weeks ago. The rescue named him Jack. I've been debating between Captain Jack (he's dark and quirky, kinda like Johnny Depp) and Goose (from Top Gun since he looks like he's going to take off at any moment with his little airplane ears). Don't know what it will end up being - any votes? ;)
Hey Megan! Being a Johnny Depp fan I vote for the name Jack. No matter which name and nicknames you choose he is a very lucky little guy. Please post pictures of him so everyone can meet him.
Megan, I vote for Captain Jack also, although I absolutely loved Goose when I saw Top Gun for the first time at the tender age of 13 ... :-)
How did our bunnies get their names? Well, the animal shelter where we got Dandi from had named her Cora ... one of the most inappropriate names for this spunky little girl. My husband then decided she would be Dandelion, but it took only a few days for her sassy little attitude to show, and so Dandi sounds much more like the little demon bun she is. :-)
Briseis has beautiful markings and very soulful eyes. She also is very gentle and loving (to people, NOT bunnies ...), and that's why I named her for Achilles' lover in the Iliad, as she was said to be one of the most beautiful girls ever seen.
Simon came to us with his name, which we often abbreviate to Simi. He responds to Simi and knows that I'm calling him to the food dish with this name (he is blind). My husband likes to call him Little Feet. Of course, we have dozens of other silly nicknames for our sweeties... :-)
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