Oh the indignity of bearing the name Max
Max, or in its long form, Maximilian, has struck me as a decent enough forename, but Wall, Bygraves and a former Emperor of Mexico, inter alia, now have to cope with the indignity of Max being the most popular name for insured dogs and cats in the US, for the fifth successive year. (More here, registration required).
Apparently, "The continuing popularity of Max is largely due to the fact that it is monosyllabic and simple for people and pets to remember, yet easy to distinguish from common commands," said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary officer for VPI. "Plus, it's a fitting name for an active, energetic pet".
Active and energetic? I suppose going for a stroll in Central Park, or come to that MacArthur Park, must be a tad awkward for any human bearers of that name, what with all the cries of 'Max, fetch', 'Max, sit' etc etc. Elsewhere, the other leading mutt names were Molly, Buddy, Bella and Lucy, with the feline top five including Chloe, Lucy, Tigger and Tiger.
Way back lost in the mists of time I was having a conversation with a philosophy graduate about which would be the most suitable philosopher to name a pet rat after (don't ask...), and he reckoned it was Schopenhauer, this probably being related to the tale of Schopenhauer praising the concept of suicide when pleasantly replete after dinner.
Apparently, "The continuing popularity of Max is largely due to the fact that it is monosyllabic and simple for people and pets to remember, yet easy to distinguish from common commands," said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary officer for VPI. "Plus, it's a fitting name for an active, energetic pet".
Active and energetic? I suppose going for a stroll in Central Park, or come to that MacArthur Park, must be a tad awkward for any human bearers of that name, what with all the cries of 'Max, fetch', 'Max, sit' etc etc. Elsewhere, the other leading mutt names were Molly, Buddy, Bella and Lucy, with the feline top five including Chloe, Lucy, Tigger and Tiger.
Way back lost in the mists of time I was having a conversation with a philosophy graduate about which would be the most suitable philosopher to name a pet rat after (don't ask...), and he reckoned it was Schopenhauer, this probably being related to the tale of Schopenhauer praising the concept of suicide when pleasantly replete after dinner.
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on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 9:38 am.
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I don't understand how people can give cats such plebian names when they are clearly the aristocrats of the animal world. My female cat is called Sashenka and she knows her name and comes running when I call it. And it's three syllables!
Now that is a fabulous name for an anaconda! Really cute..
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