Board Gnames:

(Nine Men's) Morris
Hex
Mancala
Senet
Shogi

Card Gnames:

Canasta
Juker/Euchre
Jack
Ace

From Chess:
Bishop
Rook
Knight

From Go:
Liberty

From Bridge:
Book
Trump

From Risk:
Alberta
Ontario
Alaska
Argentina

From Monopoly:
St. Charles
St. James
Virginia
Indiana
Tennessee
Marvin

From Tarot:
Page
Star
Sun

Risk
Chance (one kind of card in Monopoly)
Parker (Brothers)
Dice
Chess
Dagger (one of the weapons in Clue
Milton or Bradley

How about Catan (from the board game "Settlers of Catan")?

There's also a board game called Ra.

I'll have to ask my husband about this one. He reads Board Game Geek at least weekly and is in a board game group.

Linnaeus, your answers about the images of certain names on the last thread were inspired. Are you a screenwriter?! Your descriptions read like the back stories for characters in a film.

Deck
River
Ante
Wager
Win
Champion
Bridge
Token
Chip
Roulette
Bingo

Charade
Monte

Ludo (from Harry Potter) also comes from the Latin "to play [a game]." Ms. Rowling knows her classics. :-)

Catan from the Settlers of Catan
Apple from Apples to Apples
Jumanji if you are daring
Zoe could be a sly reference to the game Life

Also thought of Catan, Mancala, or Ace.

Also Jacks.

I liked the last comment on the game board saying that Britannia is like Brittany with upwardly moblie pretensions.

Boys:
Faro
Shogi
Canfield

Dogs:
Checkers

Bond girls:
Domino
Solitare

Elizabeth T.,

Thanks, I'm honored! No, not a screenwriter, just a financial analyst with an artistic side that doesn't get out to play enough. I'm trying to write a story, but keep getting sidetracked by life (that just means I have to reorganize my priorities).

Oh, and names from philosophy and science? Like Lemma, Abscissa, Proton, Nebula, Phloem, Tibia, Pons, Sternum, Lanthanum, Ligand, Myelin, Myosin, Nephron, Adiabatic, Cantilever, Pion, Sepal, Anther, Datum, Aliquot, Dram, Anova?

I'm beginning to sound like I'm from Panem, if they had a district dedicated to R&D.

We could even bring back Archimedes (nickname Ark).

Going off topic and just commenting on the name help requests from the last thread (I'm horribly behind again due to a certain baby taking up all my time!).

@Pip - What did you end up picking? I love both names so can't be of much use but I think that Josephine works slightly better and avoids the VJ concern (which while I don't think it's an issues others obviously do, so may be best to avoid it). Can't wait to hear what you decided on.

@TM - I'm a fan of Nora, although do prefer the Norah spelling. I don't love any of the middle name combos. I think I'd go with Nora Annemarie if I had to pick though. How about Nora Anneliese? Nora Annabelle?

@Kern - we have very similar taste in names. You may or may not remember but Cordelia and Ottilie were both on my list for my baby born 2 weeks ago. We had decided that Ottilie would only be used as a middle name as it was a bit difficult in the pronuciation stakes. We wanted the o-TEE-lee-ə pronunciation. I was keen on maybe shortening Cordelia to Cora if we used that. I actually tossed around the idea of Cordelia Juniper, shortened to Cora June...... So on that note I think Cora Jane is fabulous! Still putting in a plug for Ottilie though :) I don't think Cora is going to get that popular. I might move up but I can't see it cracking even the top 50.

My soon-to-be-husband & I are BGGs through and through!

Marie, Antoinette, & Louis: Guillotine
Stash, Princess, Island, Cornucopia: Dominion
Tara: Tara
Agricola: Agricola
Cannon: Galaxy Trucker
Albert, Michaelangelo: Through
the Ages
.:.

...

I posted earlier on the other thread before I noticed this one up. Board game names are an interesting idea. I'm not sure I could embrace a Parcheesi or Stratego though.

I really enjoyed listening to the radio programs, Laura. It's fun to hear the wizard share some on-the-spot expertise.

I just have to say that yes, Sagan's name page is awesome. That's the sort of thing that rocks.

I'm trying to remember the names I've added; I remember Joaquina and Ynez, but I know there's more. Neither's as awesome as Sagan, though.

As for science and technology names, Heloise and Abelard named their son Astrolabe.

I love the Sagan Namipedia page. I think Sagan and Sawyer make a lovely sibset. I like that Sagan rhymes with Taegan and doesn't sound too out there. It falls into themiddle of my naming style and I would consider using it over many other names out there.

They aren't the names of the game itself, but you've got (Princess) Lolly and (Queen) Frostine, who are two of the characters from Candy Land. Although I shudder to think of the circumstances that would lead to naming one's child after a Candy Land character.

Then again, I named my kid after a name from an old Infocom game, so who am I to judge?

@ Charly -- If you're gonna name your kid after a Dominion card, I think Chancellor is your best bet.

Oh, and has no one suggested Solitaire yet? I believe it's even the name of and old Bond girl. (And it's a far better name, than, say, Pussy Galore.)

Max,

From an old Infocom game? What was the name? I'm curious.

How about Rubik or Rubix after the Rubik's cube?

On another note, I am done with my first tri and announcing at a party tonight!

Congrats knp!

Just an interesting name I heard the other day: a little girl named Daytona. I figured they must be race fans?

@ Linneaus

My son is named Baxter, which is the surname of one of the suspects in Deadline from 1982. He's not named _in honor_ of the character; I just always liked the way it sounded as a seven-year-old. (And for a surname, the game effectively makes you use it as a first name, typing things like ASK BAXTER ABOUT GUN.)

Wikipedia link for the curious:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadline_(video_game)

Max:

Awesome. I figured it was a "Hey, that name's cool" sort of vibe. But I also figured it wasn't Lord Dimwit Flathead or Frobozz, so I was curious.

Congrats, knp!

Uno is a good one.
I love him, but the game connection is inevitable :)
Rook is also a favourite.

Boardgames... meh, not really my thing. But Harper Seven Beckham is nice!

Scrabble has potential as a middle name :) Harper Seven Beckham is a bit of a surprise, I hadn't really thought they'd stick with the androgynous style on a daughter. I was expecting something more along the lines of a Ruby or Lola (or even a Coco or Isadora)- definite points to the Beckhams for the surprise factor, whatever you think of the name! It also strikes me as a very American name, which is perhaps what they intended.

Regarding Sagan and other Namipedia pages:

Sometimes there's a difference in the feelings of the name based on a misunderstanding: see Titanic. What might be the best way to clear that up?

Hmm Linnaeus, I see what you mean regarding Titanic's page. It seems like the original poster is using it in an honorary way and the others aren't seeing that. It seems like a great topic for the last thread. If you don't want to use the person's actual NAME for honoring what are your other choices? Is Titanic really a good thing to name someone after? How does that differ from naming after victims?

I think Titanic's a tough choice, because a lot of people associate the name with failure, hubris, a disaster, and obesity. Even if your great-grandparents survived its sinking, the ship itself isn't going to make a comeback, like another disaster name, Dresden.

Disaster names might be an interesting category to talk about. It's kind of like a victim name and a villain name rolled into one. Katrina's in an odd category because it was a known given name before the hurricane (and in fact the hurricane had the name because... it was a real name). But names like Titanic and Dresden can be seen by some as only a great loss, and they might never see the possibility that it can be a name of personal or familial triumph (Titanic) or a name of rebirth (Dresden). That could lead to some very split opinions on the meaning of the name.

I agree Linnaeus but just on the sound appeal/trendiness of the names themselves, Dresden sounds way more usable than Titanic. I would maybe even use Titanic as a boys name with the nn of Nick. Dresden as a boys with the nn of Denny.

I've heard of Dresden used for both boys and girls, which is why I used it in my example. I remember we've had a couple discussions about the name before, and I remember the split between people who saw the firebombing vs. those who saw the rebuilt city.

Ooh how about Chernobyl as a great girl disaster name with Cher as nn?

I could totally see someome using Oujia, or even Life, but I don't think Scrabble or Boggle would ever take off.

I was surprised by Harper. I like the name just fine, but it seems (to me) a little trend-following instead of trendsetting. Seven as a first name would have been much more along the lines of what I might have expected.

I have been officially "matched" for Daughter #2 - yes, I have seen her sweet face (adopting!), and I can't wait to get the final decree so that I can board an airplane, fly halfway around the world, and hold her in my arms! She will be Lucy, and I really don't want to do Lucia, Lucille, etc. I was thinking about Juniper for a middle name (sentimental reasons), but I am concerned that Lucy Juniper sounds frivilous - like a cutesy little girl name and not a name of a serious person - scientist, judge, teacher. My little Lucy may not be destined for any of those things, but I don't want the name to hold her back. Thoughts?

In my opinion, if you like Lucy Juniper, that sounds like a perfectly respectable name. I also think that Lucy is at a point in its use where it stands strongly on its own and does not feel like a nickname in need of a full name like, say Jenny, Maddie, Nick, or Matt. As for the "serious person" test, if I saw that a woman named Lucy J. Lastname discovered some great cure or presided over some high-profile court case, I wouldn't think twice about it. (And for the record, I don't like nicknames as given names, and I am in a scientific research field.)

And yeah. I was disappointed by Harper, too.

I think Lucy is perfectly distinguished!

As a warning of things to come, here is a quote from my baby board "I've always wanted to use the name kaydence but it's already been used in the family. Do you guys think Haydence would be a cute name?"
and Jaydence was suggested as well!!!!!!

As for me, I'm enjoying reading your posts!

Oh, and as far as the Beckham's:
I don't know why everyone is disappointed at them for not being trendsetters with this name (Harper)! You have to assume that they chose a name they loved--regardless of popularity, style matching with the siblings. Which is the same you'd expect from any parent and the same advice you'd give anyone considering names for their babe. Kudos for Victoria and David for not feeling the pressure to be trendsetters and using the name they wanted!

Guest Mom-Lucy Juniper is cute but in a good way. My only other suggestion would be to maybe go with a switch around of:Juniper Lucille. I know you said you don't like Lucille but maybe in the mn spot it would work for you. Juniper is just as spunky for me as Lucy so I think both names are great.

Also, saw this in the news and thought I would post it for everyone who might not have caught it. What a great way to turn things into a positive: http://www.waff.com/story/14926412/im-with-phil-weekend-kicks-off-in-phi...

knp - ack, on the k/h/jaydence sighting, and good point about Harper Beckham. I can understand the disappointment (we want to be amazed! and surprised! by their choices, not have it seem a bit celeb-predictable), but I think your point is obviously the right one--they absolutely should be more concerned with what they love than what us baby name gawkers want to hear.

Guest mom, I love Lucy Juniper. Totally adorable, but not too cute for an adult of any stripe. Lucy IS its own name, and not just a nn, I believe--behindthename.com lists it as the English form of Lucia. I dislike nns as given names (in most circumstances), but I think Lucy is great as a fn. I agree with Karyn that Lucy J. Lastname sounds dignified enough for any profession. And, if I happened to find out that Judge Lucy Lastname's middle name was Juniper, she'd get immediate cool points in my book. Congrats on getting matched with your little girl--so exciting!!

Linnaeus, ftr, I was one of those who was a bit appalled at Dresden as a baby name, and I continue to be so even after my trip to visit the rejuvenated city last spring. Lovely city, lovely china, lovely quilt pattern, but I don't think I'll ever be able to shake the association that Dresden=firebombing and by extension the other horrors of WWII. But then, I'm not one much for dark associations/meanings with names--the Villain Names don't appeal to me at all, nor do disaster names, victim names, or anything reminiscent of violence/tragedy (no thanks to Titanic, Ryker, Nitro, Talon, etc.--even the "war" in Warren puts me off). What can I say--I'm all sunshine and buttercups over here. ;)

I remember all that, hyz.

I think that's the important thing. You can look at Dresden and see Dresden=firebombing, or Dresden=city of porcelain, or Dresden=Files. Or perhaps Dresden=twist on Tristan. But the fact is, everyone's going to see different influences in the same name, so I hope that we and this site and everything can help prospective parents see all the possible facets of the name. Some people will love Dresden for certain reasons. Others will hate Dresden for other reasons. But if you can see these ways in which a name might be perceived, and come out the other side convinced it will be okay--and a good choice, then by all means, name your child that.

I think I'm just saddened when parents name a child one thing, and a lot of people latch onto a meaning that the parents never intended. Sometime's its unavoidable, if, say, Katrina is born a couple months before the hurricane. But otherwise, I hope we can help people see all the ways these names can be perceived, so that the name can be chosen from a fully informed state. I just don't want them blindsided.

As for Harper, I don't mind Harper... but I've got questions about Harper Seven. Namely, it's the "-er Seven" formation that makes it sound like the child is a worker clone or something. But I'm going to ignore that and say welcome to the new Beckham.

Like Eight Maids a-Milking, Seven Harpers Harping...

Thanks to all who gave feedback re: a middle name for Nora and thoughts on Elizabeth and Della. I still can't talk DH into Della, despite my relaying your positive messages to him. I think the official middle name for Nora is going to be Louise (wasn't on our original list, but is my mom's mn). It just flows a little better than some of the others that felt too forced to me.

Now the question is Nora or Norah? I don't want her to have to spell her name all the time, but the "h" is appealing to me. On the other hand, isn't Nora the more traditional spelling? Or are they equally legitimate? I don't want a kre8ive spelling. The "h" adds some length that I can't help feeling like it needs . . . but without the "h" feels more traditional to me which I like . . .

Also, I like Lucy Juniper. The middle name is definitely more playful to me, but it likely won't be used enough on anything in her adulthood to matter professionally.

On the game name thing, how about Farkle? (Not a board game, I know, but it would be amusing!) Kidding, kidding. Rummy? Skipbo? Tribond?

It reminds me of car names. I know a girl called Kamry and can't help thinking about the car (Camry). I jokingly said my children were going to be Essten (Chevy S-10) and Topaz (Mercury) after my and DH's first cars. There are many funny ones if you sit and think about it. Of course there's Mercedes and Bentley and others that are used.

Re: Lucy Juniper, I think Lucy stands perfectly well on its own. While it can be a nn, I know it just as often, if not more so, as a stand-alone. I certainly think it passes the Supreme Court test. Congratulations on being matched!

Re: Nora vs Norah, I tend to be a less-is-more person so prefer Nora, but I don't see Norah as kre8ive. And as to whether she'll have to spell it, I think that will be the case no matter which you choose. I routinely spell Amy. :)

Linnaeus--you have a good memory, then--I didn't assume that you'd remember, as my own sleep-deprived memory is often not all that it should be.

I agree wholeheartedly with your point that an informed choice for one of these names (including Dresden) can be a good choice. Not one I would make, but I can still see that it could be a fine choice. My gut reaction the first time I saw Dresden as a name, though, was that it almost *had* to have been chosen in ignorance of the firebombing (well, or chosen with knowledge and questionable intent--I used to know a man with dogs named Dahmer and Gacy, and I imagined that Dresden might be the kind of name he'd like for a kid), and that's what upset me about it--call it an inability to get outside my own point of view. But I've accepted that well-informed and well-meaning people can in fact embrace such a name, and in that case, I say to each their own.

Chute (boy) from Chutes and Ladders

Guest Mom: Congrats on being matched! We are also adoptive parents and I've found myself spending (too much??) time choosing just the right middle names for our soon-to-be son and daughter. Isn't it surreal to be looking at her face while you think of names?? :) I quite love Lucy Juniper and don't think it's too cutesy in the least. Juniper is unique enough that I think it has a little edge. Much less cutesy than, say, Lucy Jane.

TM: I slightly prefer Norah, but really love either. I do think you/she will always have to spell it -- I liken it to Sara/Sarah, to me both spellings are equally as "legitimate" so there's no way to avoid having to tell folks which is her way. (I'm an Alison and always have to say "one l" - it's not so bad.) ;)