Names are fugitive. By that, I mean that they are a sort of non-permanent mark on the universe. I once worked for a municipality in Massachusetts that seemed to be addicted to naming things. After they ran out of things to name, they started renaming the things that already had plaques and signs. Seriously.
It’s why I’d be leery if the mayor called me up and told me they were naming a square in the city for me. Ahhh, my many contributions; recognized at last! Then I’d ask how long the lease was for. I might want to hustle over there and get a photo op in before sundown. They might decide to rename it in a year or two, and I’d want proof that it had been named for me.
Municipal property is not the only thing that gets renamed. Species of plants and animals, constellations, and other things get renamed. Former dictators often don’t hold onto the wondrous things that were fawningly bestowed on them when they were in power.
No. Better to choose something small, safe, and useful. Become an unobtrusive household name rather than something big and splashy. Here are some: Sandwich, after the 4th Earl of Sandwich; Tupperware, after its inventor Earl Tupper, or the saxophone, after its inventor Adolphe Sax.
Think about the possibilities! A popular tonic, sweater (the cardigan was named for someone), or a really great can opener! You might want to avoid the negative, though. The guillotine rather permanently shortened the longstanding reputation of Dr. Joseph Guillotin. He didn’t invent it, just suggested it’s use.
So what’s in a name? Use your imagination.
Discover more from Louis N. Carreras, Woodcarver
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What a great post! Makes me think…I like your ideas 🙂
Yep. There’s a whole lot of stuff out there named for me, but HWSBN added his name to one of them.
Not the sort of company we’d like to be associated with.
Nope. They need to take the Kennedy off if they’re going to do that.
We are living in troubling times, Martha.
Yeah we are, sad and scary. I keep wondering, “Who IS that guy and how did he get there?” I’m convinced there is a sinister machine behind it other than the apathetic American voter.
If you ask my opinion, I would say once something is named it cannot be changed. It causes to much confusion, even Siri won’t get the street name correct
I guess politicians don’t agree, Alice.