Mar
16
2004
in search of a name
There’s so much baggage wrapped up in the idea of a “name.” Will it embody the personality of the person or thing the name identifies? Does it portend good or bad things ahead? What does a name say about the person who has bestowed it?
I’ve had something of a creative block on good gadget names for the past few months. For lack of a better idea, I named my iPod “Foo” when I first bought it several weeks ago. “Foo” is a placeholder, a variable name. “Foo” is waiting for something to take its place.
Since then, I’ve been determined that my new laptop — whenever I chose to purchase it — would have a name better suiting its function, nature and owner.
Thus far I seem to have settled on “Aegis,” meaning “shield, protection” or “patronage, sponsorship,” as a name for my new PowerBook. The name seems to suit its role as both mediating and enabling agent for me.
However, as always, I am open to suggestions.
![[Photo]](http://photos.morethanthis.net/images/2008-09-13/thumbs/IMG_0272.jpg)
Comments
Yea, I’m a dork. I named my Powerbook “Atlas” after the name I was planning on naming my first golden retriever.
I read it in a book once, entitled “Sophie’s World” and this old philosopher had this memorable fluffy dog named Atlas. That coupled with the larger meanings of Atlas became permanent in my mind.
As last Fall approached, and I realized I was no closer to getting a new golden puppy, I settled on a Powerbook instead :).
Good luck with Aegis!
I got into a heated discussion with my family one time about people’s name. My argument was that it was merely an identifier, with no bias whatsoever. They said it helped to shape a person’s personality and how other people viewed them.
While I see where they’re coming from, frankly, they’re wrong. People’s views and a person’s personality has only to do with people, not names. Would they react differently to name like “Jennifer” than a name like “Grendal”? Of course. Is that the name’s fault? No. It’s just a series of letters.
I guess what I’m saying is that the name of your computer only matters in so much as how it makes you feel. And thanks for (partially) stealing the name of my blog. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. ;)