Question of the Day: Would You Name Your Child After a Gun or Gunmaker?

February 23, 2014

“In 2002, only 194 babies were named Colt,” the dailybeast.com reports, “while in 2012 there were 955. Just 185 babies were given the name Remington in 2002, but by 2012 the number had jumped to 666.” Uh-oh. “Perhaps the most surprising of all, however, is a jump in the name Ruger’s (America’s leading firearm manufacturer) from just 23 in 2002 to 118 in 2012 . . . In 1999, Gunner ranked 739th on the list of the Official Social Security site’s 1000 most popular names for boys—by 2012 it jumped to 293rd. Remington, for both girls and boys, spiked in the last few years as well, starting at 731st place in 1999 and jumping to 421nd a decade later. In 2012 alone, approximately 1,607 babies per million were named Colton—a peak high for the name.” Would you name a child after a gun or gunmaker? Have you? And OK, yes, if my dog wasn’t such a bitch I would have called her Ben for Benelli. [h/t DB]

153 COMMENTS

Wurzel Gummidge February 23, 2014 At 12:05

Glock Kalashnikov, play nice with your sister Taurus.
- Dracon1201 February 23, 2014 At 12:42
  
  That’s cruel, naming the sister “Taurus”…
  - Dennis February 23, 2014 At 12:56
    
    +1
    
    Hahahhhaahhahaha
- Bill February 23, 2014 At 13:02
  
  I have a cousin named Kimber…
- Kris February 23, 2014 At 19:59
  
  No joke, I met a retired church pastor named Ruger Winchester. I run into him once a year at an annual fundraiser. Said the name is purely coincidental. Mothers maiden name was Ruger, dad’s last name Winchester.
- Kelly in GA February 23, 2014 At 21:51
  
  Trying to convince the fiancee that Tenifer would be a good name for a daughter. Gun folks would get it, everyone else would think I can’t spell Jennifer.
Anonymous February 23, 2014 At 12:05

In my family, our pets were named after philosophers and astronomers. My father named me after a philosopher as well. I named my son after a philosopher. We like philosophies, logic, and reason, and we like to defend them with firearms.
- DV February 23, 2014 At 12:09
  
  Cool story, brosef!
- Tom in Oregon February 23, 2014 At 12:13
  
  That’s pretty neat.
- SteveInCO February 23, 2014 At 12:15
  
  I knew of a dog named Uzi and a cat named AK–though now the cat is named George.
- Richard69 February 23, 2014 At 12:49
  
  Not too surprising. Anonymous was a prolific philosopher.
  - jwm February 23, 2014 At 13:43
    
    Yep, read a ton of his stuff on bathroom walls.
    - William Burke February 23, 2014 At 23:29
      
      Here’s a short and sweet one a pal of mine saw: ASS IS NOT GOOD.
- RockOnHellChild February 23, 2014 At 12:50
  
  Now that’s a good idea
- Marcus Aurelius February 23, 2014 At 16:37
  
  All those philosophers who’s names we know and they named you Anonymous.
- Anonymous February 23, 2014 At 18:11
  
  I keep my name concealed because it is very unique. If I actively distributed it around … “gun sites” then its very easy for them to look me up. That and I like being… somewhat Anonymous. However, if the CIA or NSA wanted, they could easily find my identity. After all, gun owners are targets these days.
  
  😉
Saintsin23 February 23, 2014 At 12:07

Yes I named our 8 month old son Barrett.
- Yarburg February 23, 2014 At 12:32
  
  My 19 month old son’s name is also Barrett. Wanted a strong sounding name and when the wife saw it in a gun magazine, she was sold. Lot of positive comments from random people when they hear his name.
- RockOnHellChild February 23, 2014 At 12:53
  
  That is not as overt as some other gun names. Only gun people would likely pick up on it.
- Carry.45 February 23, 2014 At 15:20
  
  Fifty for short?
Maineuh February 23, 2014 At 12:09

I was named after The Rifleman’s son. The TV series, that is. Not the magazine.
Daniel Silverman February 23, 2014 At 12:09

name: Tavor but no more kids for me, so you are spared..
Nine February 23, 2014 At 12:11

I’d name a kid Ruger, guess what his first gun would be?

That’s right, an M&P 15-22.

I’d also name a Blood Hound Winchester.
Leadbelly February 23, 2014 At 12:11

Not to mention all the Smiths in the phone book.
- RKflorida February 23, 2014 At 12:15
  
  Could call him Wesson but everybody would think you were talking about the vegetable oil and were kinky.
- Cliff H February 23, 2014 At 17:09
  
  Would it be impolitic to point out that the majority of the guns being discussed as possible names for children were themselves first named after their designers/manufacturers?
RKflorida February 23, 2014 At 12:13

I thought “Savage Uberti” would be a great boys name and you could call him “Bersa” for a nickname. For a girl the best female sounding name I can think of at this moment is “Hernia”.
- William Burke February 23, 2014 At 23:31
  
  I always liked “Fluorine”.
SteveInCO February 23, 2014 At 12:19

I don’t think I’d want to saddle my child with Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod or any part of it; no one would ever, ever pronounce or spell it right until/unless they went to Eastern Europe on vacation.
- Bill February 23, 2014 At 13:04
  
  Name your kid Charles Zane and then just call him CZ for the rest of his life.
- VSN February 23, 2014 At 13:18
  
  “Seska” and “Brody” seems easy to pronounce.
  - SteveInCO February 23, 2014 At 13:26
    
    Except the C with a caron over it is pronounced “ch”
    - scoutino February 23, 2014 At 14:48
      
      That’s right. And that ‘ above vowels makes them sound long.
    - lolinski February 23, 2014 At 15:00
      
      Also dont forget that “Cheshka” (how you pronounce it) means Czech. Which is like calling your kid “America” or “Canada”.
Maineuh February 23, 2014 At 12:21

I will not name my son Daisy!
- RKflorida February 23, 2014 At 12:34
  
  Winner!
- Matt in FL February 23, 2014 At 13:36
  
  <snort>
- Bryan February 23, 2014 At 14:11
  
  Now “Red Rider” on the other hand………!
- Paul T. McCain February 23, 2014 At 20:47
  
  Nicely done, sir.
emfourty gasmask February 23, 2014 At 12:22

I named my dog Mossberg if that counts for anything
Maineuh February 23, 2014 At 12:22

I can see naming a kid after a revolutionary. Thomas if you want him to be a thinker; Benjamin if you want him to be a diplomat; maybe Morgan if you’d rather see your kid grow up to be an out and out brawler.
S.CROCK February 23, 2014 At 12:22

no not a kid, but a dog… definitely.

“Winchester! drop the shoe now!”

“good boy Ruger.”
- William Burke February 23, 2014 At 23:34
  
  Flint Locke.
RockOnHellChild February 23, 2014 At 12:25

A dog, yes. A bull, absolutely. Horse, freaking cool. Your child, hell no!

It’s kind of like the white version of LaQuanda, Shanequa, or Deshawndre…

It’s basically condemning your child to being looked upon as a stereotype.
- Paul W. February 23, 2014 At 12:31
  
  Came here to say exactly this.
- James February 23, 2014 At 12:49
  
  Agreed. Stick with Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, etc. for humans. Life is tough enough for kids; it’s tougher if your name is “Gaston Glock Gildersleeve.”
  - Vhyrus February 23, 2014 At 13:02
    
    So, were naming them after apostles now?
    - RockOnHellChild February 23, 2014 At 13:07
      
      How about condiments?
      
      Ketchup, you and Worcestershire better stop picking on Mayo, or so help me!
      
      Honey, please help me out here…
  - William Burke February 23, 2014 At 23:35
    
    I knew a little kid named Yar. And he didn’t turn into a pirate, either.
Tom W. February 23, 2014 At 12:26

Let me ask my son “Sig” short for Sigmund.
- Marcus Aurelius February 23, 2014 At 16:41
  
  Whenever he’s having a tantrum: “what’s the matter, is Sig sour?”
PNG February 23, 2014 At 12:30

If I get another rat terrier, I’d call him Mauser.
Nechochwen February 23, 2014 At 12:30

I knew a woman who wanted Llama named Llama and carried a 1911 Llama. She wisely did not have kids.
Bruce L. February 23, 2014 At 12:30

Remington could be Remington Steel from the old TV show. But why would it have taken so long to catch on. I think your on to something, Robert.
Paul W. February 23, 2014 At 12:32

Heck no. We keep to a group of family names.
Hannibal February 23, 2014 At 12:39

I think it’s tacky to name a child after a brand… including guns.
Ralph February 23, 2014 At 12:41

I’d have to discuss it with my wife Bushmaster.
- Model66 February 23, 2014 At 12:52
  
  +1 Wow….
- Mack Bolan February 23, 2014 At 12:54
  
  That’s just not right!
- RockOnHellChild February 23, 2014 At 12:59
  
  Does the name match the… Never mind.
- Stephen M. February 23, 2014 At 13:00
  
  I’ve heard of some guys who’d married snakes….
- Bryan February 23, 2014 At 14:15
  
  Well trimmed, ………..err. I mean well timed Sir.
- dwb February 23, 2014 At 14:31
  
  +1000
- JoshtheViking February 23, 2014 At 15:42
  
  That is awesome.
Tom in Oregon February 23, 2014 At 12:41

Used to be a guy around here named
Winchester sharps colt spencer III.
And I may be leaving one out.
Colt Magnum February 23, 2014 At 12:41

“Why do you ask, Two Dogs F——?”
- RockOnHellChild February 23, 2014 At 13:00
  
  Classic
- Gunr February 23, 2014 At 13:26
  
  That’s a great story, go ahead and tell it.
former water walker February 23, 2014 At 12:43

No…unless I was PAID
Hasdrubal February 23, 2014 At 12:44

Well, my son is John, but depending on my mood I could tell people he was named for John Browning, or John Surtees, or John Glenn, etc. John Browning is, of course my favorite, but his middle name isn’t Moses.
- Ralph February 23, 2014 At 13:18
  
  This is my son “Nick.” The name came to me while I was shaving.
ensitue February 23, 2014 At 12:46

John Moses, what’s not to love?
- tdiinva February 23, 2014 At 15:19
  
  +1
  
  Nothing wrong with Michael or Paul either.
  - ensitue February 23, 2014 At 18:46
    
    John Moses BROWNING
    - tdiinva February 24, 2014 At 08:53
      
      Paul [Mauser] ain’t bad either especially if you have some German heritage.
Right II Defend February 23, 2014 At 12:50

I once had a Great Dane named Chester, from Winchester. He was a good dog.
Randy Drescher February 23, 2014 At 12:52

Sure, I could call him Gaston, then he could be a chip off the old Glock, ok, thats bad.
Model66 February 23, 2014 At 12:53

I plan on having robot children, so there names will be things like PM9, SR40c, and 5-5-6.
Maineuh February 23, 2014 At 12:57

I’m still thinking about that Bushmaster thing…
Mike February 23, 2014 At 12:58

My family is apparently the hipsters of gun people (doing it before it was cool). I had an uncle named chautchaut, but he was kinda useless
pyratemime February 23, 2014 At 12:59

I won’t name my child or my dogs after gun manufacturers for the same reason I generally don’t name my guns or other weapons. Chiefly, that names such as that need to be earned through character and performance. Certainly I hope that my daughter will be reliable and true, that my dogs will be tough and ready when called upon but as a baby or pup they have not been tested and tried to show the proof so they can’t bear the name.
Concerned_Soldier February 23, 2014 At 13:01

Named one boy Colt! So yes!
- Hannibal February 23, 2014 At 13:53
  
  At least people might think he’s named after the horse instead of from an endorsement deal.
  - RockOnHellChild February 23, 2014 At 13:57
    
    Brought to you by Carl’s Jr.
    - Julian February 23, 2014 At 15:50
      
      LMAO!
David B. February 23, 2014 At 13:04

If you want your child to be

Lazy, not work: Jennings Keltec

An Indian: Baby Eagle

Chinese: XIX XI

A know it all, but you still love him away and this is not an ad hominem attack: nutnfancy

On a side note, no way would I call my child Remington. I bought the 597 based on a TTAG review and had nothing but trouble with the gun or Rem. customer service. It would be consigning my boy to a lifetime of ridicule.
Bill February 23, 2014 At 13:05

Savage is kind of a cool name
Simon February 23, 2014 At 13:06

My parents named me after a game. 🙁
- Vhyrus February 23, 2014 At 13:08
  
  Psh, thats what you say….
Vhyrus February 23, 2014 At 13:08

In my college town, one of the local gun shop owners named his youngest Remington.
HiddenHills February 23, 2014 At 13:10

Hi-Point. Because it’s better than “OOPS!” or “Blanket”
- Vhyrus February 23, 2014 At 13:13
  
  Don’t name your kid Hi-point unless you want him/her to be overweight and cheap with a questionable reputation.
VSN February 23, 2014 At 13:23

“Remy” for Remington (that’s how I refer to them)? Whinny for Winchester?

Samuel? Henry?

A friend-of-a-friend, who’s a fan of the A-Team, named his first kid so that his first and middle initials are B.A.
Phil February 23, 2014 At 13:30

My kids first initials are AR and AK.
And my wife named ’em. Quite by accident, but I tell my wife she’s a closet gun-nut.
Scottlac February 23, 2014 At 13:33

Stranger: “Awe, cute twins. What are their names?”
Me: “Heckler and Koch”
- Unarmed and unnamed February 23, 2014 At 19:22
  
  Those kids will grow up to hate you and think that you suck.
Gunr February 23, 2014 At 13:34

It ticks me off when parents name their baby girl, a boys name.
The TV series “Wild West Alaska” The gun stores teenage sales gal is named “Fred” only they spell it “Phred”. I think her girl friend’s name is Larry, but don’t know how it’s spelled.
I suppose one of these days were going to hear about an up coming male movie actor named “Patricia”, or “Elizabeth” God forbid!
- jwm February 23, 2014 At 13:49
  
  Lighten up, Francis.
  - Gunr February 23, 2014 At 14:21
    
    It’s Francois!
- Dennis February 23, 2014 At 14:31
  
  Or a boy named Sue (aka Johnny Cash.)
- Paul G. February 23, 2014 At 15:18
  
  or Dana.
  - Pantera Vazquez February 23, 2014 At 15:38
    
    I have a male friend named Dana. I’ve asked him what were his parents thinking? He told me-“I think they were high.”
    - Gunr February 23, 2014 At 16:10
      
      Wasn’t there a male movie actor named Dana Andrews?
    - Marcus Aurelius February 23, 2014 At 16:46
      
      Dana Carvey
Col. Angus February 23, 2014 At 13:36

I’m still trying to figure out why Mr. Maddow named his son “Rachel.”
- Bryan February 23, 2014 At 14:22
  
  +1 enough said
Tom in Oregon February 23, 2014 At 13:46

Had to name my dog “twice”.
He never would come if I called him once.
PhoenixNFA February 23, 2014 At 14:01

yeah my son will be named “advanced armament” and my daughter “primary weapons systems”

my cat is named mazda. and his sister (went feral, rip) was named ariel (ariel atom)
bluefivespot February 23, 2014 At 14:01

I did – Samuel.
Kevin February 23, 2014 At 14:02

No. Seems white-trashy.
C February 23, 2014 At 14:17

I named my boy Igotd because he was the result of a negligent discharge.
- Phil February 23, 2014 At 14:25
  
  Ba-dump Che!
BTinAfghan February 23, 2014 At 14:19

Would Thomas count for Tommy?
iCONOCLAST February 23, 2014 At 14:19

So stupid, Colt is a newborn horse, Gunner or Gunnar is a Scandinavian name….
- Gunr February 23, 2014 At 14:36
  
  How about Gunr?
Dodger February 23, 2014 At 14:28

My nephew’s middle name is Remington.
scoutino February 23, 2014 At 15:01

I wanted to name my son Scorpion after Vz. 61 but it was vetoed by my bushmast.. I mean wife. Damn you Ralf!
Other Don February 23, 2014 At 15:06

My dad used to refer to us as the FN kids………does that count?
Paul February 23, 2014 At 15:14

We named our son Henry Ruger. Subtle, but it’s a good, strong sounding name. We call him Hank.
Paul G. February 23, 2014 At 15:21

I named my son Uzi, it was an automatic response, he looked like a he was going to be a little pistol.
- Hannibal February 23, 2014 At 19:27
  
  I’m not sure I’ve seen a “little pistol” called uzi. Maybe you should have called him Springfield.
Nigil February 23, 2014 At 15:30

Once met a girl named Kimber Winchester. If she’d also been into guns I would’ve courted her like nobody’s business, but she wasn’t really my type and the name was a coincidence only.
Chad February 23, 2014 At 15:44

My boxer’s official registered name is Gunner John Moses Browning.
Noishkel February 23, 2014 At 15:51

Well it beats the crap out of people naming their kids Edward, Bella, or Jacob.
Javier February 23, 2014 At 15:52

The day I name one of my kids after a product or company–*any* product or company is the day you all collectively have my permission to kick me in the nuts.

Pets are fair game though.
scooter February 23, 2014 At 15:55

Bryco Jennings Jimenez, this room is filthy!
- Bill February 23, 2014 At 16:01
  
  I felt dirty just reading that name sequence!
mrvco February 23, 2014 At 16:07

Would Chiappa be a boy or girl name?
- Gunr February 23, 2014 At 16:17
  
  Hermaphrodite!
Gunr February 23, 2014 At 16:27

I’m glade my folks didn’t name me the same name as my father. I’d hate to go through life with Junior tacked on the end of my name.
“The Third” is even worse!
I guess I should be happy they didn’t name me after my mother!…………………Flossy!
Russ Bixby February 23, 2014 At 16:51

It’s a tidge late for that; my daughter’s 25, and I got snipped the month after she was born.

She’s always been kinda coltish, though…
Mediocrates February 23, 2014 At 17:15

Unfortunately, my sperm count has officially reached zero.
phantom72 February 23, 2014 At 17:26

Coonan?
DrVino February 23, 2014 At 17:57

Didn’t see: Scout, Sniper, Galil, or Avtomat on the list…..
Jim R February 23, 2014 At 17:57

No, and furthermore HELL no. IF I ever get married and have kids (hopefully in that order) that’s not going to happen. I haven’t given much thought to the matter but I”m not naming my kid after a brand name ANYTHING. That’s the kind of thing that ghetto/trailer trash does.
- Matthew February 23, 2014 At 18:32
  
  If you’re not ghetto/white trash you shouldn’t be worried about “hopefully” getting things in the right order… Think about it.
Matthew February 23, 2014 At 18:30

I’d name a boy Heckler and Koch. It would be awesome if he grew up antisocial and hated everyone…
- Scottlac February 23, 2014 At 18:39
  
  I already claimed that one for the twins.
S_J February 23, 2014 At 18:42

Rigby or Holland are both pretty good boy’s names (though in keeping with my roots I’d probably go with Simo, as in the Finnish sniper). Norma or Kriss for a girl.
Ducky February 23, 2014 At 18:43

My wife nixed the name Alexis Kalashnikov Duke. Didn’t she understand? I just wanted another AK.
crashbbear February 23, 2014 At 19:03

Sounds trashy. I worked with a girl who named her sons Dodge and Diesel. I also know of dudes named Tylenol, Shith-ead, and Lemonjello…

I would name my kids KSG and Rhino60DS causes they don’t exist.
Jonathan -- Houston February 23, 2014 At 19:32

If it’s a legitimate name you like or a name that has some serious significance to you, which happens also to be a firearms-related name, then that’s just coincidental and there’s nothing odd or unbecoming about it. If it’s not a legitimate first name in its own right, or if it is, but only in some other culture, and the only real reason you’ve chosen it is because it’s firearm related, then that’s pretty lame.

A name like “Gunner” is great for many dogs and doesn’t make a half-bad nickname for a young man, but a first name for a boy? Ridiculous in this culture.
Calvin February 23, 2014 At 21:51

Mikhail
Jacen February 23, 2014 At 22:38

Colt and Remington are last names. Maybe as a middle name sure. I’d name my kids John Moses, Horace, Daniel B or even Eliphalet
Ronaldo_Ignacio February 23, 2014 At 22:48

I would never name my son Vera…
jdb February 23, 2014 At 23:03

Name a child after a gun? Like, an infantry weapon? No.
But I do have a daughter named after this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyusha_rocket_launcher
William Burke February 23, 2014 At 23:27

And the ex freaked at the prospect of my grandson-to-be being named “Hunter”. 100% guaranteed truth.
TeeJay February 24, 2014 At 00:29

Okay, how about “Ppsh”? Good, strong name!
Kevin A. February 24, 2014 At 04:18

Dog, yes. Child, hell no.
PantherCity February 24, 2014 At 10:52

My middle name is Remington, I was born in 1985.

It has served me well.

My dad said he want to pick “Wolfgang” & I would have been cool with that too.
DBPolice February 24, 2014 At 11:42

If I have a boy his name will be Sten. If I have a girl she will be Sterling.
RobinGoodfellow February 24, 2014 At 23:45

I think Webley Fosbery would be a cool name for a boy.
Victoria Panell April 20, 2016 At 05:12

I have four kids ages 5 -9 . Three girls and one boy. Their names are Chevy Danielle , Remington Brooke, Ruger( no middle), and Derringer Laraine . We soon be adding another and we are stuck between Beretta Sue. Decided if girl but boy name Benilli (something) and Wesson Kane !! Do yes we named all ours from guns and one truck