h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Watching GMTV in the staff canteen the other day, they had on of the 'actors' from that quality ITV programme "Footballers Wives" in for a chat. And it was mentioned that since the series started, about 70 babies have been given the name Chardonnay- how utterly sad and bewildering is that?

To be named after a drink...

I have no idea if I was named after someone or my parents just liked the name or what. I know I was almost named Jennifer, though.

The story goes that my sister was named through a vote in the delivery room right before she was born.

Amy, did the vote include delivery room staff? What was the result? I thought babies being named after TV shows were an exclusively NZ phenomenon... Worst of that it, there are often misspellings and misunderstandings. Lots of little girls here were named Tenille in the 1970s, on the mistaken assumption that the singer with Daryl Dragon (Captain and Tenille)used her *first* name on stage. (She's actually Toni Tenille). IN the 1980s, lots of little girls were named after Ann Kelsey on LA Law, by parents who didn't realise Kelsey was the character's *surname*. In the 90s, well I don't have to tell you what happened in 1992 when the racing driver Ayrton Senna was killed...
Mind, I did read in an English magazine about a woman with a daughter called Kira Nerys, which though I loathe the character (too smug) sounds quite nice.
Dodo Chaplet

In my sister's case, everyone in the delivery room was in on the vote - ended up her name was to be Rachel Kathleen. I've no idea what the other option was.

Dodo Chaplet. Mmmmm.... I think she was a groovy 60's time travelling chick who used to hang around with a white haired old guy....

Yeah, pretty much... Dodo was in Swinging London. Y'know - 'England swing/like a pendulum do
Dodo was originally going to be Cockney, so she had traces of a Cockney accent, in 'The Ark'. (My source is Jimmy, world's most obsessive Doctor Who fan.)

Amy, Rachel Kathleen is nice...

Dodo was a real oddity. She had not only a 'cockernee' accent which would have made Dick Van Dyke blush, but a really embarrassing Lancastrian/Liverpudlian accent also in the 'War Machines'. It was a great relief when hippy chick 'it' girl Polly replaced her!

Anyway, getting back to the original conversation, I was talking to a good friend of mine about his impending offspring (due:31/01/03) and as he is a fan of Lord Of The Rings, I asked his wife if they would call their son Gandalf. You can guess what the reply was....

I once knew a cruel mother with the last named Mohr who christened her baby 'Liv' (Livmor is Norwegian for uterus )

My kids (the ones I'm not having) are going to be "Oi, you there!" (if it's a girl) and "What did you do this time?" (if it's a boy).



Actually, no, Tasha and Nathan, but we'll see what the other half says if/when we get that far.

Chronicargonaut, congrats on yr recent marriage!
Re Dodo, I have to be honest and admit I don't remember her that well, as when Doctor Who was on here last year, we had only 3 stories with her (due to disappointing BBC habits, I am informed). But I had just finished reading the novel of 'The Celestial Toymaker', in which she is an important character.
Re companions I remember vividly, I like:Jo Grant, Leela and Romana II. (Sarah Jane Smith and Liz Shaw = boring!)

Then there's their sister "What are you on about?" and their brother "What do you want *now*?"

Thanks!

Hows' this for a list of Doctor Who names and thier meanings:

Ian- heroic, Brylcreemed teacher
Barbara- big hair, idealist
Susan- weak ankled weirdo
Vicki- ditzy space chick
Steven- square jawed space cadet
Katarina- doomed handmaiden
Dodo- confused
Polly- swinging screamer
Ben- feisty cockney
Jamie- kilt wearer
Victoria- 19th century screamer
Zoe- silver screamer
Liz- too clever by half
Jo- leggy screamer
Sarah- gutsy journo
Harry- cravat wearing buffoon
Leela- chamois amazon
K9- tin smart arse
Romana1- posh spice
Romana2- posher spice
Adric- badge wearing geek
Nyssa- fey scientist
Tegan- loud Aussie
Turlough- ginger spice
Kamelion- confused tin man
Peri- american beauty
Mel- I'll scweam until I'm sick
Ace- scary spice

Chronicargonaut, your companion names:
Honest, that's hysterical. But Jimmy would like to point out that in his opinion, Zoe is not a screamer. (From what I saw of her, I'd agree with him).
I utterly agree about Steven! Space cadet covers it exactly! Jimmy says your description of Harry Sullivan is *perfect*!

Well, as for Zoe being a screamer, thats just wishful thinking. Really though if you'd seen Mind Robber Part 1 episode conclusion you'd change your mind. When Zoe screamed, I thought she would shatter the tube!!!

Jimmy says "that's one example, she never screamed ever before or after".
I like Zoe,but my faves are Leela, Jo Grant and Romana II as I said. I regret to say none of the male companions ever made much impression on me. My favourite doctors are #s 1and 3.
(I remember Ian and Barbara from when I was a child. I felt sorry for Susan *living* with her schoolteachers!)

as relates sci-fi names, There was someone pointed out to me at a wedding once as being called 'Adric', poor lad.....