How Long Before You Named Them / The Importance of Naming

I am very odd with names - either I name my dolls immediately, or it takes me years (yes, years!) to find the perfect name. For example, it took me 8 YEARS to finally name my CH Choa. I don't know what it is about her, but none of the names I tried out fit her. I was almost ready to give up and just call her Choa, but finally, about a month ago, she finally told me that her name is Mina.

Another doll that is being extremely stubborn with her name is Angel Region Dana Sailor Girl (she was a LE way back in 2004). It's been so long and I still can't name her; and, to make matters worse, her sculpt name doesn't fit either. So, right now, she is officially known in the house as "The Nameless Girl".

Finally, my two Delfs - El and Lishe - both have names (Victor and Victoria), however, I am still not 100% sure on them; they just don't feel quite "perfect". So, I may end up renaming them.

Thankfully, everyone else who currently lives with me has a name that fits them perfectly

 

A lot of times, names come to me before the doll does; I have names for many of the dolls that have been on my wish list, though I'll likely never get the doll. Sometimes if I give a doll a nickname, though, it ends up sticking as the name. Unique dolls aren't always so easy, my Domadoll Cooki fought me a bit, and I had to see her in person before I could dub her anything. I still haven't named my Mui-chan, and have been calling her "The Grumpus McGee" for the almost-year I've had her, even though I absolutely don't want to call her that. My Souldoll Agnetha actually had a different name before she arrived, but she's so...not how I expected her to in person and her name has since changed.

 

When I showed promo pictures to my husband he said " This guy looks like Kay from Anderson`s fairy tail" and so we call him Key. May be when he`ll be home we`ll chnge it, but actually I don`t think it`ll so

 

It took a week unfortunately haha! I just needed to spend more time with my doll, and find a name that suited her looks perfectly. I wanted a french woman name, and finally found the perfect name for her, Sophie

 

i choose my boy name after i brought. two week after i got my boy, my boyfriend change him name to something else

 

Ahh.. It varies. Some were named way before I even bought them. Some remains unnamed for as long as 6mths.

 

I had a lot of trouble trying to name my first doll, I made a list of names that I really liked and went over them and over them while I was waiting for him to arrive, but none seemed to fit. I still had another month's wait and was getting frustrated and my best friend/brother/bandmate demanded I tell him what was annoying me so I showed him a picture from the company site and told him I just couldnt find the right name. Straight away he said 'That's a Xander' and it stuck ^_^
My others have been a lot easier to name, when mum told me I was to get twins as a combined birthday/christmas present I decided straight away they were going to be demon opposites. It only took a days worth of searching randomly online before I found the perfect names. And now waiting for my newest arrival I think she may have been the easiest to name yet, the day I ordered her I already knew what she would be called.

 

I had all my ABJDs names ready before they came!

 

I try to name them before they arrive. Otherwise I will always call them by their sculpt name, and I like to give them something more unique. My Carina was easy enough, I was reading Gone with the Wind and the name "Scarlett" just seemed to fit her to a tee. I'm struggling a little with my Arvid though. Might have to wait until he arrives to settle on something...

 

The name captures the essence of a doll. I may keep their original name because I feel it is part of her 'genetic' makeup or I may resolve in favour of a more evocative one depending on the doll and the emotions she inspires.

 

Doll names are one of the best parts about owning dolls. Usually, I will have a first & middle name selected by the time I receive the doll. Then, however, once in person and assembled one has to determine if the aforesaid name actually fits. I have five girls. The first one Cossette Leticia (Volks SDC Sora) was named on the spot when I saw her for sale. My affinity for the name "Cossette" and the perfect match with the doll face sculpt helped push me over the edge to buy her.

My next two dolls were character dolls, so their names were already selected; but I added middle names, viz. Suigintou Alice (AOD Rao) & Illyasviel Leisolette (Volks MDD Illyasviel).

The last two were the most problematic. I waited nearly 6 months for my AE Jiao, Jr. to arrive. I had settled on Heather Katerina, and would nickname her Lolitka. However, once she was all assembled, "Heather" & "Lolitka" just would not work. After a few minutes thought, "Larisa" suggested itself; and she was promptly named "Larisa Katerina." "Lara" for short.

I was just recently able to buy my Grail doll, a Volks SD Charlotte. I had a devil of a time naming her. I considered "Charlotte," "Sakura," and "Elsa" among others; but they just seemed forced. About a week later, we settled upon "Anastacia Charlotte." (Poor thing has a name about as big as she is.)

 

I had mny sd girls for several years but did not realize to name them. One of my friend asked me to name her new girl, then I found it is difficult but interesting. I named one now and thinking about others. It is really hard work

 

This is so true...that's why naming is so important with these dolls and I do agonize over each and every choice. Some are easy (my DIM minimee Johnny Depp painted as the Mad Hatter is simply called "Hatter", and it's perfect...easy peasy.) Some are quite difficult (my clockwork mod AOD Rao has taken an entire year...and several heartfelt attempts...to name. Finally, I realized I needed to add more dimension to her character...more essence as it were...before the right name finally presented itself. Her name is now "Coyote Blue" and at last she feels right to me.) Without the proper name they will never feel quite complete, so it's really worth the effort to find the right one, no matter how difficult or lengthy a process it is.

 

Most of my dolls were bought to be specific characters, so they had their names even before I decided to buy the doll. Even when I've bought dolls that weren't based on pre-existing characters of mine, they had names before they arrived on my doorstep. Naming is one of the easiest things for me ^^;

 

I have a love-hate thing going on with naming. It's like dragging myself through the process of searching and liking-or-not-liking possible names almost wants me to give up on the thing and leave the un-named doll to stew for a while. But, I generally have problems on names for ANYTHING. Characters, other collectibles, pets. It's just an issue with decisiveness.

I guess that, in the long-run, I do find a name that suits and I'm happy with. Rushing the process usually leads me to names I can't decide between or I'm not happy with. So I guess, in the end, my philosophy is to 'go with the flow' and that the name will find me!

- Lauren

 

it really depends.... for me it depends on the sculpt, what the company named them, will i mod them, if they want a different name. Lishe has been Lishe since i got her 5 years ago, but when i bought a Mr. Rabbit head, he immediately wanted to be called March....

 

I chose my boy's name about 2 weeks before he arrived, but then i saw him, i chose another name!

 

For me naming a doll and bonding with it are completely different things (the bonding takes place when I mod it/give it a face-up). When I get a new doll I usually call it Baby at first, just like my PC, TV, pet and other stuff - it's my universal name of endearment for anything.

The naming in itself usually takes 1-2 weeks. Each day the newbie gets another name until the one comes along and just fits - you know how it is - it sounds right, it feels right and it's perfect all the way.

The only exception was my Aria Bianca. I knew way before I actually bought her (back when I was still ogling her pictures on Aria's HP everyday fawning over her) that I wanted her name to begin with the letter I. I was thinking of Irene or Iris but when she arrived and I finished her first face-up I finally settled on Iridia.

 

I have found that I end up calling them by their sculpt name. However, the ones that I do that with, are usually ones I consider parting with soon enough. Maybe its a bonding issue? My first Msd size girl was a minifee Chloe. Right away, I knew she was "Celeste". I adore her. My first KW doll , Annabella, is named "Shanti" for the jungle book character she reminds me of -- Will never part with those dolls!!

Right now I am going batty trying to think of names for my DM lusion "Murmuring Dahlia" that will be here next month. I'm at a total loss. I don't want to call her "dahlia" ! lol I've turned to my Tarot cards for inspiration today in naming her!

 

It was six months before I actually named my first boy. I dont believe in the "bonding" thing people talk about, so it's never been an issue for me about naming a doll quickly.