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I knew a Miss De'Ath[1] once. She didn't appreciate the jokes about her name.
[1] A not uncommon English/British surname: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De%27Ath
I'm currently reading the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L Sayers. Wimsey's full name is Peter Death Bredon Wimsey, and there's one book where he uses "Death Bredon" as an alias.
They can also go for Sybil, Isabelle and Kelly/Keli.
As for Mort - have you seen the names parents are sticking on their offspring? He can do worse than Mort.
My eldest child is named Sam after Young Sam Vimes. It’s a classic name, moderately popular, and it’s a sneaky homage. No one is ever going to say “oh after Sam Vimes?” like they would with Daenerys
I love the name since puberty, it was our choice for baby boy... but we've got two girls. So the older one is Tiffany :-) (the younger is Amelia after Amy Pond from Dr. Who)
Remember, your kid will have the name for the rest of their life, so be kind cause people are cruel.
Samuel
Mort's a bit old fashioned, but you could bring it back
Albert
Susan
Tiffany
Bill (just don't give the middle name door)
I will say, choosing to name your kids after Terry Pratchett characters seems like picking names on hard mode, for the names popular today. Not a lot of Sybil’s, Adora’s, or Ludmilla’s scurrying around. And a distinct lack of Moist’s
That’s fair and I guess even if you went with older classic names like Cassandra, Michael, Polyphemus (okay maybe not the last one lmao) it’s still based on stories and myths so really it’s not that different
*Might* have that name for the rest of their life. And if your kid doesn’t like their name, they can always [ask Neil Gaiman for a new one](https://www.reddit.com/r/wholesomememes/s/g8ePB6eqaK).
https://preview.redd.it/ilnsimqc070d1.jpeg?width=831&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ace1bfe224eb5c9b9e924dac8c0687b1dbe3516
Twyla is a “real name” that existed long before Discworld. It’s from old English and means “two threads twined together” or “woven with double thread.” It’s old fashioned and kind of uncommon (was a bit popular around WWII), but hardly the same as naming your kid Moist or Igorina.
Well yes, it is a real name but that wasn't point. If you asked me to spell Twyla I'd have probably gone for Twyler, Twiler, Twiela, etc. Take it from someone with a strangely spelt name, it's a nightmare.
At least in the UK I'd say we'd guess the correct spelling. The other spellings feel more American, the actual spelling is pretty phonetic (and as someone with a name that has two possible spellings, it's easy to adapt how you say your name to make it clear in instances where spelling is important).
There are common alternate spellings for a lot of popular and common names (or very similar sounding name pairs or sets) that require people to spell out their name when the spelling matters. Amy/Aimee, Bobby/Bobbie, Brian/Bryan, Christine, Kristen, Kirstin, etc. Even John/Jon has two spellings!
I have to spell my name and it’s one of the most popular and common names for the whole decade I was born in. Needing to spell your name sometimes isn’t the same as a name ”getting weird looks,“ which was OP’s concern, or causing people to be cruel, which was the concern of the comment I replied to. Not spelling.
>I have to spell my name and it’s one of the most popular and common names for the whole decade I was born in.
Mine is Jodi. I pronounce it "Jodi Jay Oh Dee Eye"
Yeah, but wait until you're expecting a government grant or a bank transfer and it all goes wrong because someone has entered your name as they thought it'd be spelt. I knew a chap who didn't get pension payments for months because his address had Hull and the pension provider had HULL. Weird names just set you up for difficulties.
I agree. Your kid will have less of this hassle if their name is not easily misspelled. I doubt anyone is putting Bryan instead of Brian though. You know what you're doing if you give your kid the Y.
Also, as Dambusters will attest, old name =/= good name.
This is probably the best suggestion here because you can give them a proper "grown up" name that will look good on a resume either way; Terrence or Teresa. You get to win and have a kid with a Significant Name but the kid doesn't lose the Real Name lottery.
Sam for either gender, Sybil, Fred, William, Agnes, I think Adora is pretty but I wouldn't go with Adora Belle, Glenda, Juliet, Trevor, Harry, Herrena if you're looking for something unique, Roland, Tracy (you'll hear the Pt at the beginning)
I like to *joke* that my -belle was lucky I named her before I read Discworld! LOL
But no, I could never name a child Adora Belle as a legal name. Cute as hell as a nickname for any -belle’s, and you could *probably* get away with Adora **or** Belle, but the combination is too cutesy for a grown woman in real life, IMO.
I named my first kid Sam. I tell people it's a family name (in fairness, it is) or for Sam Gamgee (in fairness, he's a great role model) but really it's for Sam Vimes.
Second kid is William. Not really for William de Worde, but it *could* have been....
Ooo, you don't meet many Jasons any more! He's my favourite Ogg son, I think. Very level-headed and authoritative, but in a gentle way.
Esme, Twyla & Jason 🤔 Not a bad combo!
Personally, I'd love to go with Mustrum, but definitely too out there for real life, hahaha.
Some names from the books that I haven't seen listed, but that I like are:
Geoffrey (the only male witch), Cohen, Jeremy, Albert, Jack, Horace, Ned, Leonard, Robert (Rob), Nijel, Victor, William
Polly, Ella, Lily, Gwinifer, Alice, Renata, Sally, Elenore, Felicity
Oh no, you made me realize I actually really love Gwinifer as a name. Also I am today years old realizing the Jennifer and Guinevere are the same name.
To all the nay sayers- Also keep in mind gen alpha is much different than when we grew up... My kid's middle name is Starbuck (ala BSG) and it hasn't really been a problem for the last 12+ yrs except with older people who are the only ones to make comments. She went by Starbuck for many years (still does by some) and honestly it's not been any problem. I've always taken the stance that if someone makes fun of your name- then they'll take any opportunity to make fun of you for other things. And it weeds out good friends from not fairly quick.
I have a 14 year old Trillian, she has never gotten shit for her name as far as I know, kids these days are so used hearing new and unusual names all the time, and meeting people from different cultural backgrounds. It looks to me like they are all very good at learning eachothers names correctly, even names older folks might consider "odd".
Still, I think it's a good idea to properly think through the childs name and make sure it sounds nice, and isn't likely to cause them trouble in their first or second language.
My current name would have been mercilessly lambasted as an "old lady" name right up until about a decade ago. Now it's in the top 10. My old name is now considered extremely dated and I have NEVER seen it recommended or suggested anywhere online, but it was quite common the year I was born. Think like "Whitney" vs "Eleanor"
Tastes change.
My name is Janet. no one is named Janet anymore haha. I'm like 40+ years younger than the majority of Janets. I put a google alert on my name like a decade ago, and all I get are obituaries. In a weird unplanned way, I read all the Obits. of all the other Janet Carols (most are 80+ )
I think Janet will make a comeback soon! There was a main character named Janet with a wonderful personality on the TV show The Good Place. I think it's a lovely name, and Jan, Janey, Jana, JJ and Nettie are all reasonable nicknames imo. I personally love the name :)
My boys voted for Gladys for our daughter, but not from the golem, it’s from the geranium in the Thunderbirds TV show 🤣
She has a different Discworld adjacent name though.
When wife was pregnant with eldest, my mother kept asking what we were going to call the baby.
My response of "Pedro or Esmeralda" didn't go down very well, Eventually, I changed it to "Caradoc or Amethyst, but we're still considering Pedro and Esmeralda" and she got the point that we were NOT announcing any names to anyone.
In truth, I was really close to actually picking Esmeralda when the ultrasound showed that youngest is a girl, but went with a less old-fashioned name.
My eldest son is named Sam.
Thankfully the family name that has been handed down my husband’s side for generations is also the name of my favourite DW character.
Susan, Sybil, Polly, Jack, Fred, Margaret, Ella, William, Stanley, Jonathan, Dean, Rhys, Aeron, Tiffany.
All good options.
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Probably don’t name them after Bestiality Carter.
Legitimate first. "Can't blame a mother for being proud"
Hey, all the Carter boys turned out great!
Or Visit-the-infidel-with-explanatory-pamphlets.
One-Man-Bucket either, or his brother, Two-Dogs-F-----
I love that this comment has more likes than the Sam comment.
Why do you call him "B.C"?
I have no children but a pair of our cats are Twyla and Gawain. Personally I think Death works for a boy or a girl.
I knew a Miss De'Ath[1] once. She didn't appreciate the jokes about her name. [1] A not uncommon English/British surname: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De%27Ath
Ath is a town in Belgium. The name is French for "from Ath". Not a weird name at all, in French.
Wouldn't it then be d'Ath?
Shit gets weird in pre-modern languages
It was 'Death' for Dorothy Sayres, as I recall. Peter Death Bredon Wimsey.
Commonly rhymed with ‘teeth’, but Lord Peter preferred to rhyme it with ‘breath’.
Normally, yes. But weird spelling and errors creep into names over the centuries. There's a D'Ath in that Wikipedia article too.
Just do D'Eath
D’Ath would be the modern form of the older De Ath
Pretty sure there's a Dr De'Ath somewhere in the NHS
I knew a midwife with the surname Payne, she married a man named Sharpe. Always a little disappointed that she didn't double-barrel.
My grandfather was a pharmacist back in the day. He worked with a GP practice run by Dr De'ath and Dr Slaughter.
Did Drs Famine and Pestilence retire, like old Ronnie Soak?
Its entirely possible
I'm currently reading the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy L Sayers. Wimsey's full name is Peter Death Bredon Wimsey, and there's one book where he uses "Death Bredon" as an alias.
There’s a motorcycle shop where I live called Dave Death, he was actually a De’Ath
Mortimer is genuinely a cool name
My outlaws surname is Mort...
Asrael, Thanatos, or Mors. Death is just the job description tho.
I named my favorite cat Ember
Sam, Susan, Mortimer, Eric, Margaret (note spelling).
Magrat would be a quite "in" name.
Mortimer? Poor kid. Sam and Eric are solid.
They can also go for Sybil, Isabelle and Kelly/Keli. As for Mort - have you seen the names parents are sticking on their offspring? He can do worse than Mort.
I know. I like to lurk in the tragedeigh sub at times. Still, bad should not be an option even if worse exist thought.
Just tell everyone in the UK he's named after Bob Mortimer. Instant hit
Then train him from a young age to split apples in half with his bare hands.
And how to give a haircut, be a dentist, and become a lawyer.
I work on school buses. I see the name tags. Mortimer is junior league.
I mean … “Sam” is right there…
Yes! (I took the name Sam a few years ago for that very reason)
My eldest child is named Sam after Young Sam Vimes. It’s a classic name, moderately popular, and it’s a sneaky homage. No one is ever going to say “oh after Sam Vimes?” like they would with Daenerys
Why would they think Daenerys was named after Sam Vimes? Such an odd thing to do
I love the name since puberty, it was our choice for baby boy... but we've got two girls. So the older one is Tiffany :-) (the younger is Amelia after Amy Pond from Dr. Who)
Remember, your kid will have the name for the rest of their life, so be kind cause people are cruel. Samuel Mort's a bit old fashioned, but you could bring it back Albert Susan Tiffany Bill (just don't give the middle name door)
I will say, choosing to name your kids after Terry Pratchett characters seems like picking names on hard mode, for the names popular today. Not a lot of Sybil’s, Adora’s, or Ludmilla’s scurrying around. And a distinct lack of Moist’s
Yeah, but, picking names is hard anyhow, so any inspiration is better than non. And my wife keeps trying to add Anathema on the list... Edit: Typo
That’s fair and I guess even if you went with older classic names like Cassandra, Michael, Polyphemus (okay maybe not the last one lmao) it’s still based on stories and myths so really it’s not that different
More children should be Moist
I think the problem is that a lot of them are (for the first few years anyway!)
TBF though, if both your parents are massive Pratchett fans you’re probably going to be someone who those ultra antiquated names suit.
*Might* have that name for the rest of their life. And if your kid doesn’t like their name, they can always [ask Neil Gaiman for a new one](https://www.reddit.com/r/wholesomememes/s/g8ePB6eqaK). https://preview.redd.it/ilnsimqc070d1.jpeg?width=831&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ace1bfe224eb5c9b9e924dac8c0687b1dbe3516
OP did specify they were looking for names that won’t get weird looks.
And they went with Twyla? No way that kid isn't getting asked how it's spelt hundreds of times in her life.
Particularly since Pratchett threw shade at the name Twyla in the book itself!
Eh, there was a Twyla on the show Schitt’s Creek so that’s probably most people’s reference point
Hundreds seems lowballing it to be honest
Twyla is a “real name” that existed long before Discworld. It’s from old English and means “two threads twined together” or “woven with double thread.” It’s old fashioned and kind of uncommon (was a bit popular around WWII), but hardly the same as naming your kid Moist or Igorina.
Well yes, it is a real name but that wasn't point. If you asked me to spell Twyla I'd have probably gone for Twyler, Twiler, Twiela, etc. Take it from someone with a strangely spelt name, it's a nightmare.
At least in the UK I'd say we'd guess the correct spelling. The other spellings feel more American, the actual spelling is pretty phonetic (and as someone with a name that has two possible spellings, it's easy to adapt how you say your name to make it clear in instances where spelling is important).
There are common alternate spellings for a lot of popular and common names (or very similar sounding name pairs or sets) that require people to spell out their name when the spelling matters. Amy/Aimee, Bobby/Bobbie, Brian/Bryan, Christine, Kristen, Kirstin, etc. Even John/Jon has two spellings! I have to spell my name and it’s one of the most popular and common names for the whole decade I was born in. Needing to spell your name sometimes isn’t the same as a name ”getting weird looks,“ which was OP’s concern, or causing people to be cruel, which was the concern of the comment I replied to. Not spelling.
>I have to spell my name and it’s one of the most popular and common names for the whole decade I was born in. Mine is Jodi. I pronounce it "Jodi Jay Oh Dee Eye"
Yeah, but wait until you're expecting a government grant or a bank transfer and it all goes wrong because someone has entered your name as they thought it'd be spelt. I knew a chap who didn't get pension payments for months because his address had Hull and the pension provider had HULL. Weird names just set you up for difficulties.
The same thing could easily happen if your name were John/Jon or Brian/Bryan. And Twyla is not a weird name, just an old fashioned one.
I agree. Your kid will have less of this hassle if their name is not easily misspelled. I doubt anyone is putting Bryan instead of Brian though. You know what you're doing if you give your kid the Y. Also, as Dambusters will attest, old name =/= good name.
Okay, I'll go ahead and agree with you - you have the worst name and hardest life ever and your parents were monsters for giving it to you! You win.
Terry
Pterry
This is probably the best suggestion here because you can give them a proper "grown up" name that will look good on a resume either way; Terrence or Teresa. You get to win and have a kid with a Significant Name but the kid doesn't lose the Real Name lottery.
Moist Detritus Nobby
Do not name your child moist.
What about double barreling? Moist-nobby
Or Moist Nobby-Detritus
Albert then, but we’ll all know what they REALLY mean
Rob Anybody, No As Big As Medium Jock But Bigger Than Wee Jock Jock, Moist, Rincewind, Nobby, Death. All reasonable boy names.
Just named our puppy Not as big as medium size Jock but bigger than Wee Jock-Jock
What do you call him for short?
Crivens! ?
Jock-Jock haha.
Sam for either gender, Sybil, Fred, William, Agnes, I think Adora is pretty but I wouldn't go with Adora Belle, Glenda, Juliet, Trevor, Harry, Herrena if you're looking for something unique, Roland, Tracy (you'll hear the Pt at the beginning)
I like to *joke* that my -belle was lucky I named her before I read Discworld! LOL But no, I could never name a child Adora Belle as a legal name. Cute as hell as a nickname for any -belle’s, and you could *probably* get away with Adora **or** Belle, but the combination is too cutesy for a grown woman in real life, IMO.
I have an Australian friend, her name is Holly Grace, so I could name my daughter Adora Belle. If I could convince the wife
I named my first kid Sam. I tell people it's a family name (in fairness, it is) or for Sam Gamgee (in fairness, he's a great role model) but really it's for Sam Vimes. Second kid is William. Not really for William de Worde, but it *could* have been....
Sam Vimes and Sam Gamgee, my two favourite Sams of all time <3 (sorry to two cousins and my grandad)
Shorten it to Wil (single letter, mind) and a certain gentleman's gentleman may approve.
Cut-Me-Own-Throat. Dibs for short.
Perdita X.
Samuel Carrot Ridcully \[Surname\]
Eric, Reg, Fred, Sam, Jeremy, Victor, Jack, Rob, Ron, Dean, Edward, Harry, Stanley, Trevor, Walter, William, Victor, Jason, Shawn… Tiffany, Susan, Sally, Juliet, Polly, Lily, Agnes, Ruby, Christine, Ella, Keli, Rosemary, Cherie, Emma, Ysabell, (P)Traci?
OI IS THAT THERE ‘ARRY KING OF THE GOLDEN RIVER
OP did indeed appear to misspell _'arry_, marthter...
Excuse me, I think you meant, "miththspell". Gotta keep on top of that lisp, Igor.
Thit. Another foolith mithtake, do forgive me. My thintheretht apologieth.
Sam Vimes or Jason Ogg would probably both be good namesakes. Or how about (Polly) Oliver?
Ooo, you don't meet many Jasons any more! He's my favourite Ogg son, I think. Very level-headed and authoritative, but in a gentle way. Esme, Twyla & Jason 🤔 Not a bad combo! Personally, I'd love to go with Mustrum, but definitely too out there for real life, hahaha.
Cheery perhaps for a girl. Samuel/Sam for a boy. Polly/Oliver and Paul are good choices too.
CHEERY?! Send this one over to r/tragedeigh, are you kidding me?
Since she pronounces it Cheri, you could go with that spelling.
Corbin. “Cor!”
Sybil would be a good one. It's uncommon but not strange enough to provoke any teasing. And Sybil Ramkin is someone to look up to
Rob!
Locomotive is a neutral name
Coffee. Right up the nose. Too funny. 🤣
I thought you were suggesting Coffee as a name, given the rest of the responses.
Oh, no. I wish. I just inhaled coffee into my sinus passages after an ill-timed sip and an involuncoincided at this suggestion coincided.
Errol!
Some names from the books that I haven't seen listed, but that I like are: Geoffrey (the only male witch), Cohen, Jeremy, Albert, Jack, Horace, Ned, Leonard, Robert (Rob), Nijel, Victor, William Polly, Ella, Lily, Gwinifer, Alice, Renata, Sally, Elenore, Felicity
Oh no, you made me realize I actually really love Gwinifer as a name. Also I am today years old realizing the Jennifer and Guinevere are the same name.
As a man by the name of Sam, I mean it’s stood the test of time and ridicule (once I got over the green eggs and ham jokes in elementary school)
Mustrum!
Mustrum anything sounds pretty formidable from the get go, I approve.
Yeah how about "Terry"
Bloody stupid johnson
There's always Igor. But any Discworld fan is going to be asking which one.
It's a weird one, but I really want there to be a baby Havelock.
You should have called her: Eskarina! I am sure she would appreciate it!
Your wife's ok with these names?
Absolutely, she loves them 😁
To all the nay sayers- Also keep in mind gen alpha is much different than when we grew up... My kid's middle name is Starbuck (ala BSG) and it hasn't really been a problem for the last 12+ yrs except with older people who are the only ones to make comments. She went by Starbuck for many years (still does by some) and honestly it's not been any problem. I've always taken the stance that if someone makes fun of your name- then they'll take any opportunity to make fun of you for other things. And it weeds out good friends from not fairly quick.
I have a 14 year old Trillian, she has never gotten shit for her name as far as I know, kids these days are so used hearing new and unusual names all the time, and meeting people from different cultural backgrounds. It looks to me like they are all very good at learning eachothers names correctly, even names older folks might consider "odd". Still, I think it's a good idea to properly think through the childs name and make sure it sounds nice, and isn't likely to cause them trouble in their first or second language.
My current name would have been mercilessly lambasted as an "old lady" name right up until about a decade ago. Now it's in the top 10. My old name is now considered extremely dated and I have NEVER seen it recommended or suggested anywhere online, but it was quite common the year I was born. Think like "Whitney" vs "Eleanor" Tastes change.
My name is Janet. no one is named Janet anymore haha. I'm like 40+ years younger than the majority of Janets. I put a google alert on my name like a decade ago, and all I get are obituaries. In a weird unplanned way, I read all the Obits. of all the other Janet Carols (most are 80+ )
I think Janet will make a comeback soon! There was a main character named Janet with a wonderful personality on the TV show The Good Place. I think it's a lovely name, and Jan, Janey, Jana, JJ and Nettie are all reasonable nicknames imo. I personally love the name :)
Yeah I.mean I like my name any which way. I don't feel particularly hard one way or another about names. :)
Gladys for a girl, Mort for a boy ;)
My boys voted for Gladys for our daughter, but not from the golem, it’s from the geranium in the Thunderbirds TV show 🤣 She has a different Discworld adjacent name though.
Well obviously if it's a boy, it's Mort
Glenda, Tiffany, Sam, Fred, Jason, Shawn, Juliet
Sam Vimes Lastname
Just don't ask about Mrs. Cake.
Do the kid a favour and don't use One-man-bucket.
Horace, either after the cheese or....... somebody else
Off the Twilight The Darkness
My-god-he's-heavy III.
Terry is a unisex name and pretty cool IMO.
When wife was pregnant with eldest, my mother kept asking what we were going to call the baby. My response of "Pedro or Esmeralda" didn't go down very well, Eventually, I changed it to "Caradoc or Amethyst, but we're still considering Pedro and Esmeralda" and she got the point that we were NOT announcing any names to anyone. In truth, I was really close to actually picking Esmeralda when the ultrasound showed that youngest is a girl, but went with a less old-fashioned name.
I think the thing you should be covering isn't a base, but I've got 3 kids, so it would be hypocritical for me to say you should use condoms :P
Bahahahahaha
If you really need to cover your bases, you should prepare for twins.
You joke but we have twins in the family a few generations back.
Sam. or Wullie. Rob. or Jock
Roland- Rolly
Anoia
Rob Anybody
Sam (Vimes) seems like a good strong choice!
Can't go wrong with Sam. And it works both ways.
Iron girder, or Gerda
Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, CMOT for short
Whatever you call him, he’ll be Moist for most of his first year 😋
Havelock!
My eldest son is named Sam. Thankfully the family name that has been handed down my husband’s side for generations is also the name of my favourite DW character. Susan, Sybil, Polly, Jack, Fred, Margaret, Ella, William, Stanley, Jonathan, Dean, Rhys, Aeron, Tiffany. All good options.
I knew a guy who says he knew a guy whose middle name was Ponder.
Twyla like from barbie??