Stock Animal Name: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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{{examples}}
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==Dogs==
* '''Dogs:''' Spot, Rover, Patch(es), Fido, Rex, Buster, Sparky.
** For more aggressive dogs, Spike, Wolf, Fang, Killer.
* Spot, Rover, Patch(es), Fido, Rex, Buster, Sparky.
* For more aggressive dogs, Spike, Wolf, Fang, Killer.
*** In the UK they're often named after boxers. Tyson in particular.
** In the UK they're often named after boxers. Tyson in particular.
** For Scottish Terriers: Scotty.
** For German Shepherds: Ace.
* For Scottish Terriers: Scotty.
** For poodles: Fifi.
* For German Shepherds: Ace.
** In Japan: Pochi.
* For poodles: Fifi.
* In Japan: Pochi.
*** The female leads in ''[[He Is My Master]]'' have a pet named Pochi, who the male lead assumes to be a dog. It's actually an alligator.
** The female leads in ''[[He Is My Master]]'' have a pet named Pochi, who the male lead assumes to be a dog. It's actually an alligator.
** In France: Médor. (Pronounced May-Dohr)
* In France: Médor. (Pronounced May-Dohr)
** In the [[Deep South]], Beauregard, particularly in [[Looney Tunes]] cartoons.
* In the [[Deep South]], Beauregard, particularly in [[Looney Tunes]] cartoons.
** Prince for big, nice-looking dogs.
** Blue for hounds.
* Prince for big, nice-looking dogs.
* Blue for hounds.
** In Hungary: Morzsi, Bundás
* In Hungary: Morzsi, Bundás
** In Finland: Halli (obsolete), Murre or Rekku (onomatopoetics), Musti ("Blackie", and "the" name)
* In Finland: Halli (obsolete), Murre or Rekku (onomatopoetics), Musti ("Blackie", and "the" name)
** In Poland: Azor, Burek, Reks
** In Sweden: Karo, Fido, Rex.
* In Poland: Azor, Burek, Reks
* In Sweden: Karo, Fido, Rex.
* '''Cats:''' Sassy, Fluffy, Whiskers, Max.

** In Japan: Tama. Usually (but not always) said "Tama" will be a calico.
==Cats==
** For tomcats: [[Captain Obvious|Tom]].
* Sassy, Fluffy, Whiskers, Max.
*** For queens: Queenie.
* In Japan: Tama. Usually (but not always) said "Tama" will be a calico.
** For white cats: Snowball.
* For tomcats: [[Captain Obvious|Tom]].
*** Subverted in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' with a black cat named Snowball II. It was a replacement for a white cat named Snowball that was run over by a Chrysler.
** For queens: Queenie.
** Tiger, whether striped or not.
** Ginger for ginger cats.
* For white cats: Snowball.
** Subverted in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' with a black cat named Snowball II. It was a replacement for a white cat named Snowball that was run over by a Chrysler.
*** Cinnamon is also used for these types of cats.
* Tiger, whether striped or not.
** In Finland: Miiru (obsolete), Mirri ("the" name)
* Ginger for ginger cats.
** In the UK: Tibbles/Tiddles.
** Cinnamon is also used for these types of cats.
*** [[Lampshade Hanging]] in ''[[Discworld/Going Postal|Going Postal]]'': When Moist gets told the Post Office cat is called Tiddles, he refuses to believe it: "I thought it was just a joke name".
* In Finland: Miiru (obsolete), Mirri ("the" name)
**** Fun fact: "Tibbles" is a corrupted version of "Tybalt", the name of the Prince of Cats in the Reynard the Fox stories. Tabby is a related word. (Now you know why Mercutio repeatedly calls Juliet's cousin Tybalt "prince of cats" in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''.)
* In the UK: Tibbles/Tiddles.
** In Malaysia: Comel is a very common name for cats, it means cute. Putih is another common name for white/mostly white cats.
** [[Lampshade Hanging]] in ''[[Discworld/Going Postal|Going Postal]]'': When Moist gets told the Post Office cat is called Tiddles, he refuses to believe it: "I thought it was just a joke name".
** In Poland: Mruczek, Puszek
*** Fun fact: "Tibbles" is a corrupted version of "Tybalt", the name of the Prince of Cats in the Reynard the Fox stories. Tabby is a related word. (Now you know why Mercutio repeatedly calls Juliet's cousin Tybalt "prince of cats" in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''.)
** In Norway: If the cat is grey, Gråpus, meaning [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|grey pussy.]]
* In Malaysia: Comel is a very common name for cats, it means cute. Putih is another common name for white/mostly white cats.
** In Sweden: Misse (or some very similar-sounding name).
* In Poland: Mruczek, Puszek
* '''Lions:''' Leo.
* In Norway: If the cat is grey, Gråpus, meaning [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|grey pussy.]]
* In Sweden: Misse (or some very similar-sounding name).
* Inverted with "Schrödinger", which ''[[A Certain Magical Index]]'' tells us [[Schrödinger's Cat|is a taboo name for cats]].

==Lions==
* Leo.
** Originated from the constellation (or astrology sign if you prefer).
** Originated from the constellation (or astrology sign if you prefer).
** Or more simply, the Latin name.
** Or more simply, the Latin name.

* '''Rabbits:''' Whiskers
==Rabbits==
* '''Cows:''' Bessie/Bossie, Clarabelle.
* Whiskers

==Cows==
* Bessie/Bossie, Clarabelle.
** Bessie the Cow may have originated as the mascot for a brand of dairy products.
** Bessie the Cow may have originated as the mascot for a brand of dairy products.
** Flower names, especially Buttercup or Daisy.
* Flower names, especially Buttercup or Daisy.
** In Finnish: Heluna, Mansikki, Muurikki (all "the" names); anything with the suffix -kki will be recognised as a cow (Tiistikki, Punikki etc.)
* In Finnish: Heluna, Mansikki, Muurikki (all "the" names); anything with the suffix -kki will be recognised as a cow (Tiistikki, Punikki etc.)
** In Denmark: Karen, Maren, Mathilde(Or just Thilde)
* In Denmark: Karen, Maren, Mathilde(Or just Thilde)
** In Poland: Krasula, Mućka
* In Poland: Krasula, Mućka
** In France: Marguerite
* In France: Marguerite

* '''Goats:''' [[Captain Obvious|Nanny]], [[Captain Obvious|Billy]].
==Goats==
* '''Pigs:''' Hampton, Hamlet, and other variations on "[[A Worldwide Punomenon|ham]]."
* [[Captain Obvious|Nanny]], [[Captain Obvious|Billy]].
** Porky.

* '''Goldfish:''' Goldie.
==Pigs==
* '''Parrots:''' Polly and its variations (Paulie, etc.)
* Hampton, Hamlet, and other variations on "[[A Worldwide Punomenon|ham]]."
** In France, Coco.
** Pete.
* Porky.

* '''Turtles:''' [[A Worldwide Punomenon|Sheldon or Shelly]], [[Ironic Nickname|Speedy]].
==Goldfish==
** In France: Caroline
* Goldie.
* '''Raccoons:''' [[Alliteration|Rascal]]. See also [[Rascally Raccoon]].

* '''Generic:'''
==Parrots==
** Whiskers for anything with whiskers.
* Polly and its variations (Paulie, etc.)
** Blackie for anything black.
* In France, Coco.
** Tripod for anything missing one of its legs.
* Pete.
*** Also "Lucky" for an animal missing either a leg or an eye.

* '''Non-Parrot Birds: ''' Pete or Petey.
==Turtles==
* '''Horses:''' Dobbin
* [[A Worldwide Punomenon|Sheldon or Shelly]], [[Ironic Nickname|Speedy]].
** Silver, particularly when paired with the expression [[The Lone Ranger|"Hi-ho!"]]
* In France: Caroline
* '''Bears:''' If it's a bearcub, then Little Bear. This remains true, despite this name being heavily associated with the popular [[Little Bear|book and television series]] by Maurice Sendak and Else Holmelund Minarik.

** Bruin. (Dutch for "brown", originally from ''Reynard The Fox'').
==Raccoons==
* '''Foxes:''' Reynard([[Captain Obvious|also from]] ''Reynard the Fox''), Todd.
* [[Alliteration|Rascal]]. See also [[Rascally Raccoon]].
** In Denmark, vixens are often called Rita, which is a [[Shout-Out]] to a popular Danish book series for little kids.

** In Sweden, fictional male foxes are almost always named Mickel.
==Generic==
* '''Skunks:''' [[Smelly Skunk|Stinky.]] For a little irony, [[Floral Theme Naming]] is very popular with the females (and sometimes, males, Flower in ''[[Bambi]]'' being the [[Ur Example]]).
* Whiskers for anything with whiskers.
* '''Hamsters:''' Hampton, Hammy, and other variations on "[[A Worldwide Punomenon|ham]]."
* Blackie for anything black.
* '''Apes:''' Bobo
* Tripod for anything missing one of its legs.
* '''Monkeys:''' Bobo
** Also "Lucky" for an animal missing either a leg or an eye.

==Non-Parrot Birds==
* Pete or Petey.

==Horses==
* Dobbin
* Silver, particularly when paired with the expression [[The Lone Ranger|"Hi-ho!"]]

==Bears==
* If it's a bear cub, then Little Bear. This remains true, despite this name being heavily associated with the popular [[Little Bear|book and television series]] by Maurice Sendak and Else Holmelund Minarik.
* Bruin. (Dutch for "brown", originally from ''Reynard The Fox'').

==Foxes==
* Reynard([[Captain Obvious|also from]] ''Reynard the Fox''), Todd.
* In Denmark, vixens are often called Rita, which is a [[Shout-Out]] to a popular Danish book series for little kids.
* In Sweden, fictional male foxes are almost always named Mickel.

==Skunks==
* [[Smelly Skunk|Stinky.]] For a little irony, [[Floral Theme Naming]] is very popular with the females (and sometimes, males, Flower in ''[[Bambi]]'' being the [[Ur Example]]).

==Hamsters==
* Hampton, Hammy, and other variations on "[[A Worldwide Punomenon|ham]]."

==Apes==
* Bobo

==Monkeys==
* Bobo


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Animal Tropes]]
[[Category:Animal Tropes]]
[[Category:Stock Room]]
[[Category:Stock Room]]
[[Category:Stock Animal Name]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Revision as of 21:48, 23 May 2019

Are you related to that other dog named Spot? Or that other one?
"If there must be a cat, do not, for the love of God, name it: Magnifi-cat or similar pun; Mr. Adjective-Anatomical-feature; with two or more words all starting with the same letter; or with any name plus the surname of the cat's owner."

Sometimes it's just not worth making up original names for animals. These are names that have been used forever in real life for (usually domesticated) animals, and carry over well for animal characters in fiction. Sometimes its an obvious pun or description of the animal's appearance.

For dogs and cats it seems like a new "stock" name is "Mr." or "Mrs." something; Mr. Muggles (dog, Heroes), Mrs. Norris (cat, Harry Potter).

The bottom line is, if you want an original name for a character, don't use these ones. Note that no one ever uses these names in Real Life. (At least, not anymore.) They don't even show up in the lists of most popular pet names. But if you use the names correctly, people know immediately what kind of animal you mean.

Compare Species Surname.

Since this is pretty much a Universal Trope, don't bother listing specific examples. But if you know of an interesting subversion, it's probably worth adding.


Examples of Stock Animal Name include:

Dogs

  • Spot, Rover, Patch(es), Fido, Rex, Buster, Sparky.
  • For more aggressive dogs, Spike, Wolf, Fang, Killer.
    • In the UK they're often named after boxers. Tyson in particular.
  • For Scottish Terriers: Scotty.
  • For German Shepherds: Ace.
  • For poodles: Fifi.
  • In Japan: Pochi.
    • The female leads in He Is My Master have a pet named Pochi, who the male lead assumes to be a dog. It's actually an alligator.
  • In France: Médor. (Pronounced May-Dohr)
  • In the Deep South, Beauregard, particularly in Looney Tunes cartoons.
  • Prince for big, nice-looking dogs.
  • Blue for hounds.
  • In Hungary: Morzsi, Bundás
  • In Finland: Halli (obsolete), Murre or Rekku (onomatopoetics), Musti ("Blackie", and "the" name)
  • In Poland: Azor, Burek, Reks
  • In Sweden: Karo, Fido, Rex.

Cats

  • Sassy, Fluffy, Whiskers, Max.
  • In Japan: Tama. Usually (but not always) said "Tama" will be a calico.
  • For tomcats: Tom.
    • For queens: Queenie.
  • For white cats: Snowball.
    • Subverted in The Simpsons with a black cat named Snowball II. It was a replacement for a white cat named Snowball that was run over by a Chrysler.
  • Tiger, whether striped or not.
  • Ginger for ginger cats.
    • Cinnamon is also used for these types of cats.
  • In Finland: Miiru (obsolete), Mirri ("the" name)
  • In the UK: Tibbles/Tiddles.
    • Lampshade Hanging in Going Postal: When Moist gets told the Post Office cat is called Tiddles, he refuses to believe it: "I thought it was just a joke name".
      • Fun fact: "Tibbles" is a corrupted version of "Tybalt", the name of the Prince of Cats in the Reynard the Fox stories. Tabby is a related word. (Now you know why Mercutio repeatedly calls Juliet's cousin Tybalt "prince of cats" in Romeo and Juliet.)
  • In Malaysia: Comel is a very common name for cats, it means cute. Putih is another common name for white/mostly white cats.
  • In Poland: Mruczek, Puszek
  • In Norway: If the cat is grey, Gråpus, meaning grey pussy.
  • In Sweden: Misse (or some very similar-sounding name).
  • Inverted with "Schrödinger", which A Certain Magical Index tells us is a taboo name for cats.

Lions

  • Leo.
    • Originated from the constellation (or astrology sign if you prefer).
    • Or more simply, the Latin name.

Rabbits

  • Whiskers

Cows

  • Bessie/Bossie, Clarabelle.
    • Bessie the Cow may have originated as the mascot for a brand of dairy products.
  • Flower names, especially Buttercup or Daisy.
  • In Finnish: Heluna, Mansikki, Muurikki (all "the" names); anything with the suffix -kki will be recognised as a cow (Tiistikki, Punikki etc.)
  • In Denmark: Karen, Maren, Mathilde(Or just Thilde)
  • In Poland: Krasula, Mućka
  • In France: Marguerite

Goats

Pigs

  • Hampton, Hamlet, and other variations on "ham."
  • Porky.

Goldfish

  • Goldie.

Parrots

  • Polly and its variations (Paulie, etc.)
  • In France, Coco.
  • Pete.

Turtles

Raccoons

Generic

  • Whiskers for anything with whiskers.
  • Blackie for anything black.
  • Tripod for anything missing one of its legs.
    • Also "Lucky" for an animal missing either a leg or an eye.

Non-Parrot Birds

  • Pete or Petey.

Horses

  • Dobbin
  • Silver, particularly when paired with the expression "Hi-ho!"

Bears

  • If it's a bear cub, then Little Bear. This remains true, despite this name being heavily associated with the popular book and television series by Maurice Sendak and Else Holmelund Minarik.
  • Bruin. (Dutch for "brown", originally from Reynard The Fox).

Foxes

  • Reynard(also from Reynard the Fox), Todd.
  • In Denmark, vixens are often called Rita, which is a Shout-Out to a popular Danish book series for little kids.
  • In Sweden, fictional male foxes are almost always named Mickel.

Skunks

Hamsters

  • Hampton, Hammy, and other variations on "ham."

Apes

  • Bobo

Monkeys

  • Bobo