How do ponies come up with their names?

[StarGazer 129]

So, after watching Family Appreciation Day I noticed that Granny Smith referred to her family as the Smith family. I had always thought that her name was "Granny Smith" not Granny. Would her parents have named her Granny as a child? And when she got married wouldn't she have changed her last name to Apple so she would be called "Granny Apple"? I can understand her parents naming her Granny Smith since it's a type of apple, (although her parent's cutie marks didn't have anything to do with apples) because that makes some kind of sense. So if her surname is Smith it wouldn't make much sense to name her Granny Smith because she would be Granny Smith Smith. And if her name was just Granny, that would be a really stupid name.

 

This got me wondering where ponies come up with their names. The Mane 6's names kind of make sense, Applejack comes from an apple family, Pinkie Pie is pink, Rainbow Dash has rainbow hair (I dunno about the Dash, maybe she came out really fast), and Rarity just sounds a bit like a normal name, like maybe her parents thought that she was rare and special like a gemstone. Fluttershy, I get the flutter but how would her parents have known she was shy when she was first born? Twilight Sparkle sounds pretty so I'm fine with that.

 

I have no idea what Scootaloo's parents were thinking when they named her, or Silver Spoon (I get being born with a silver spoon in your mouth but since she's the spoon shouldn't she have been in someone's mouth?), Diamond Tiara, Lickety Split, Filthy Rich, Stinkin' Rich, Fancy Pants (I would hate that name as a colt), Upper Crust etc's parents. Some of their names are just stupid.

 

Soooo, any theories or thoughts on where the parents get the names from or why they name their kids after strange things or strange not things?

[Skar 324]

These names that are stupid? It's just like human names. Like for instance: Hubert, Stanley, Dick, Marian (For a guy). These are considered "weird" or "stupid" names. So the names of ponies is not all that different.

 

And why is Lickety Split a weird name?

Edited January 11, 2012 by DiamondDash

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

Since I haven't watched the episode, that's a bit of a twist since every fiction I've ever read presumes their lineage is "Apple", and in addition, also subverts an idea I had that "Smith" likely would be a family in Ponyville that were actual smiths. (Blacksmiths, Goldsmiths, Tinsmith, etc.)

[Skar 324]

Since I haven't watched the episode, that's a bit of a twist since every fiction I've ever read presumes their lineage is "Apple", and in addition, also subverts an idea I had that "Smith" likely would be a family in Ponyville that were actual smiths. (Blacksmiths, Goldsmiths, Tinsmith, etc.)

 

In the ep. though, the "Smith family" grew the first apple orchard, (Which is owned by the Apple Family now.)

[StarGazer 129]

Granny is not a good name unless you are a grandmother and Granny Smith was not born a grandma (well, I hope not). Lickety Split just makes me think why?

When I say stupid, I guess I rather mean silly and seemingly pointless because I don't get it (and because I don't feel well and thus do not feel inclined to search for a more eloquent and suitable term). Not stupid in the sense of bad.

I'm just really interested in what you guys think is going on in pony parent's heads when they name their kids. Such as why they would pick a name for that foal.

Edited January 11, 2012 by StarGazer

[Skar 324]

Granny is not a good name unless you are a grandmother and Granny Smith was not born a grandma (well, I hope not). Lickety Split just makes me think why?

When I say stupid, I guess I rather mean silly and seemingly pointless because I don't get it (and because I don't feel well and thus do not feel inclined to search for a more eloquent and suitable term). Not stupid in the sense of bad.

I'm just really interested in what you guys think is going on in pony parent's heads when they name their kids. Such as why they would pick a name for that foal.

 

Also another thing is I think their names come to them, and there parents don't choose. something like the new-born pony um... "appearing" with a name tag or the newborn says their name. (LIKE POKEMON?) I do notice that ponies names relate to their cutie marks. How would a parent know what their filly would be talented at in the future?

Edited January 11, 2012 by DiamondDash

[StarGazer 129]

Maybe cutie marks relating to names is a bit like destiny.

[PinkieTy 4]

Have Spike send a letter to Lauren Faust about this matter. Truthfully, the names were probably just thought for the character without these indepth thoughts about why or how the pony would be named that. If the parents actually came up with these names, then they either hate them (Snips, Snails) or saw the future (Rainbow Dash).

 

Oh, I do like your destiny theory. That would make more sense.

[Arylett Charnoa 4,919]

Because ponies are usually named after what their talent/attributes are because they are based off of toys. Little girls' toys, to be specific. So they can't be too creative with the names. Then the show decided to introduce the concept of earning your cutie mark, which doesn't really go well with that. Wasn't thought out all that good. That's the real life obvious explanation.

 

As for Granny Smith, I like rather this theory I saw on DA. A person named her younger self Annie Smith and said that she gained the name Granny later in life. Granny is probably not her real name; just an affectionate title given to her by her family.

 

Also, I guess for in-story, destiny is a good explanation since it seems to feature kind of with the Cutie Mark Chronicles episode. Or perhaps they were named off of the preferences of their parents and became that way from having the name. (Like Fluttershy. Maybe her parents preferred a more shy demeanor? Or maybe they were shy themselves.)

[Strong Hooves 289]

Also another thing is I think their names come to them, and there parents don't choose. something like the new-born pony um... "appearing" with a name tag or the newborn says their name. (LIKE POKEMON?) I do notice that ponies names relate to their cutie marks. How would a parent know what their filly would be talented at in the future?

 

I kind of agree with that, but you must realize there are some ponies names that do not match their cutie marks, Pinkie Pie doesnt rally scream 'Balloons' at me, Cherilee doesnt make me think of smiling flowers, Braeburn (unless I'm wrong) isnt a type of apple, etc, you see where I'm going with this? perhaps for some they do come to them, but others their parents name them

[Skar 324]

I kind of agree with that, but you must realize there are some ponies names that do not match their cutie marks, Pinkie Pie doesnt rally scream 'Balloons' at me, Cherilee doesnt make me think of smiling flowers, Braeburn (unless I'm wrong) isnt a type of apple, etc, you see where I'm going with this? perhaps for some they do come to them, but others their parents name them

 

True, true. Pinkie Pie isn't her real name if you think about it though, but Pinkamena Diane Pie doesn't match balloons either, so I guess this fact isn't relevant. I guess I could say about 80% of ponies' names match their cutie marks.

Edited January 11, 2012 by DiamondDash

[Strong Hooves 289]

True, true. Pinkie Pie isn't her real name if you think about it though, but Pinkamena Diane Pie doesn't match balloons either, so I guess this fact isn't relevant. I guess I could say about 80% of ponies' names match their cutie marks.

 

i can agree with that

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

I kind of agree with that, but you must realize there are some ponies names that do not match their cutie marks, Pinkie Pie doesnt rally scream 'Balloons' at me, Cherilee doesnt make me think of smiling flowers, Braeburn (unless I'm wrong) isnt a type of apple, etc, you see where I'm going with this? perhaps for some they do come to them, but others their parents name them

 

Braeburn is an apple all right XD, but I agree Cheerilee and Pinkie aren't good examples of their cutie marks Pinkie is from older generations Hasbro was too lazy to change the cutiemark, not sure about Cheerilee though

[Strong Hooves 289]

Braeburn is an apple all right XD, but I agree Cheerilee and Pinkie aren't good examples of their cutie marks Pinkie is from older generations Hasbro was too lazy to change the cutiemark, not sure about Cheerilee though

 

Really? Ive never heard of an apple called Braeburn. huh you learn something new every day! fun fact for ya, Appaloosa, the town in the show, is based on a real breed of horse that was named after a real town!

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

Really? Ive never heard of an apple called Braeburn. huh you learn something new every day! fun fact for ya, Appaloosa, the town in the show, is based on a real breed of horse that was named after a real town!

 

I googled it XD, didn't know the Appaloosa thing though, guess I do learn something new everyday

[StarGazer 129]

I like how they have to earn the cutie marks, that was the one thing that bothered me about G1. How would nature know how to create a picture of a human invented (or pony invented) creation and put it on a pony's butt?

 

The only reason I can think of for Snips n' Snails' parents naming them as such is that they must have been really ugly babies. Or maybe ponies wait a few days before naming their babies like some other cultures do. Snails could have been called Snails because he was a slow developer They're not siblings are they?

[cuteycindyhoney 13,307]

Really? Ive never heard of an apple called Braeburn. huh you learn something new every day! fun fact for ya, Appaloosa, the town in the show, is based on a real breed of horse that was named after a real town!

 

I read Robert B. Parker's book "Appaloosa" It was very good, but oddly enough, Braeburn wasn't in it!

[83awsm 234]

I seem to remember reading in the long EqD interview that Faust had created a huge book full of concepts and guidelines for the show after taking on the task given to her by Hasbro. I'm not 100% sure but I think that Faust created the names then worked with Hasbro to reach agreements on them before pre production. I have to say they did it right though, it'd be different for sure if they had other names.

[Krall 263]

I like the idea that ponies often change their names shortly after getting their cutie marks in order to better fit their special talent.

 

I also dispute the idea that ponies actually use family names - so "Apple" isn't actually the surname of anyone in the Apple family, it's just that the Apple family are dedicated farmers who specialise in apple production, and so most of them have apple-themed names.

[Lady Rarity Pony 4,892]

Krall has most of it down. I don't think "Apple" is a surname.

Ponies appear to be named by what they look like and possibly act like as a filly.

[StarGazer 129]

In the recent episode, the babies were named Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. The only reasons I could come up for the Cakes naming them such was that they were also cakes and Pumpkin had some orange. It didn't seem to relate to the babies' personalities at all. Although I guess this happens a lot in Equestria, it would be kind of strange if Pumpkin Cake grew up with a mechanical talent or if Pound Cake grew up and got a chemistry talent (I want him to be a boxer, Pound is the perfect name for that).

[Arcus (Silver Lining) Wind 983]

The creators of the show came up with the names. Either that or the ponies may have come up with thier own names. And Granny is more of a title than a name. I don't think her first name is Granny.

[XUNUSEDXXX 3,459]

I remember posting a top about this, (and BTW, I don't think her name is Granny, they probably just nicknamed her that like someone calls their elders grandma and grandpa) and I'm not so sure. The ponies can see the future or something