Give your pet an '80s name

Personally I don't think there's anyone who takes their '80s obsession to an extreme -- and I say that knowing I've met some real crazies. One woman with a giant Rick Springfrield tattoo down her torso, another friend who put a dozen safety pins in his face before a Clash concert back in the early '80s. And even a young Spearsy who dressed up as a punk rocker -- complete with green hair, shredded T-shirt, combat books and a trench coat -- for the homecoming dance my senior year in high school. Ah, good times.

Now I introduce you to Gizmo, the '80s-centric dog owned by uber-80s fan "Cylon" up in Michigan who maybe saw Gremlins one too many times.

"Yes, I named my dog after a character from an '80s movie," Cylon wrote. "I like Gizmo because she looks like a gremlin. At night, she acts like a little mogwai too -- all mischievous."

Remember, Cylon: Don't get her wet (no baths? that sucks), keep her away from bright light (ie. your collection of Star Wars snow globes) and never feed her after midnight. Especially not organic dog food, or you'll be back awake at 2:30 taking her for a walk.

If I were going to pick an '80s movie character to name a pet after, I'd lean toward:

• TRIGGER: Sean Astin's character in 1987's Like Father Like Son.
• ROSCOE: John Cusack in 1983's Class.
• GRANDPA FRED: Max Showalter in Sixteen Candles. Perfect for an older pet. Or one with digestive problems.
• EGG STORK: Bobcat Goldthwait in One Crazy Summer.
• BADGER: Scooter Stevens, the younger silent brother in the never-dull Better Off Dead.
• KIRBY: Emilio Estevez in St. Elmo's Fire. Especially good for a puppy.

And for the record, ANY character in Vision Quest would work. Choose from Louden, Kuch, Tanneran, Elmo, Otto, Schmoozler, Balldozer and of course, Shute.

What other great '80s characters make for good pet names?

Comments

[elen]

some basic mixing
http://www.ihappyshopping.com/
http://www.laptopspartstore.com/
never stop

[Tina]

At the height of my Duranie-mania, I tried to rename the family cat Rio. Luckily it never stuck and a couple of years later I reverted back to calling her Foxy.

[Cathy]

All of my cats have been named after '80s stars.
First there was my now-deceased Persion named Madsen (she was named by my ex for Virginia Madsen).
Then there was my now old man, Mickey Rourke Patten.
And finally, my youngest, Molly Ringwald Wos.

[CHAD]

totally off topic, but on a music forum i frequent, there is a topic of 80s pop tunes. steve, i thought you might find it interesting

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=128477

[CHAD]

not really 80s, but i had a dog for about a week once. i named him peter c, as in peter criss. my memory is hazy, but it might have been a cat, hence the peter criss naming. like many, paul was and is still my fav member of KISS.

[Cylon]

Woo, my little Gizmo is on the podcast. I was thinking about Fizzgig from The Dark Crystal but thought Gizmo was better.

I like Ripley too Melissa, and Alien counts because it was grandfathered in last weekend before the Halloween movie festival.

I also like the names:
Bender
ALF
Reese

[Mike in Austin]

LONG FRIGGIN DUK DONG!!! DONE!!
PERIOD! END OF STORY!! (darn you Miguel).

MinA

[billyshakes]

Here is our favorite name...of course it has to be a certain type of dog to carry it off but...

SNARF from the Thundercats

[Walter Cox]

Humungus
Murdoch
Clubber
Garp
Egg

[Miguel]

I think Boingo would be good. Lloyd obviously.

Long DuK Dong if you have a lot of courage.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Here's a few:

Buckaroo Banzai
Magnum
KITT
Maverick
Donger

And my personal favorite. Imagine standing on your back porch, summmoning your loyal companion from the inky blackness...

"Bueller..., Bueller..., Bueller..."

[Buddies]

What a great idea - I'm thinking 'Blondie'. Not sure what Debbie Harry would make of it.

[Bassnote]

Here's some 80's pet names fro consideration:

Axel (as in Foley)
Booger
Lana
Fezzik
Buttercup
Inago
Duckie
Blaine
Farmer Ted
Jake Ryan
Lloyd (Dobler)
The Duke (Midnight Run)
Snake Pliskin
Hoops

[Kim]

How about "Sorrow" from the Hotel New Hampshire? He was flatulent, ended up perishing in a plane crash, and then was stuffed & kept around the house! Not a very cheery name for a dog but I love the book. It's not eighties related but I named my hound dog Maxwell after the R&B singer Maxwell. I'm sure Maxwell would be thrilled.

[Crockett]

Lathargic fat dog was named "Chunk" from The Goonies.

and of Course, my Cat: Alex Lifeson (Guitarist for Rush - I think they toured and recorded in the '80s!!!)

[Melissa]

I named my brown lab after Ripley in Alien (not technically 80s but the sequels were!).