If you’ve thought before that you can give a Cheagle any name, just like most other animals; you’re incorrect. As always, it is best to consult The Cheagle Handbook (the latest version is always advised as well). The Cheagle Handbook clearly lays out naming rules beginning on page 67 with most naming rules falling under the dozens of subsections of rule 15. There are also a far larger number of naming guidelines following rule 15.
As can often happen with Cheagles, this sounds overwhelming. That is where Henley and I are here to help.
It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with all the naming rules and guidelines for Cheagles, in reality there are usually only a handful of rules to keep in mind. Below we’ll cover the subsections A through F of the Cheagle naming rules. We won’t focus on guidelines unless relevant, because although the guidelines are important in many cultural aspects, they are not hard rules and if they are ignored your Cheagle generally won’t suffer. Think of the guidelines similar to humans naming their children “X Æ A-Xii”. There’s no rule against using that name for your child, but there are consequences. A naming rule however is akin to humans attempting to name their child “Sex Fruit” in New Zealand, which is illegal.
Rule 15: Naming A Cheagle
15.a.) A Cheagle’s name should never start with the “ch” sound.
Names like Chad or Chyna, when given to a Cheagle are too tacky. The alliteration makes it easier to not take a Cheagle seriously, which is a mistake. Listen to how “Chad the Cheagle” rolls off the tongue. It’s almost humorous and not befitting a Cheagle.
A particular guideline which is related says to also not include the “ch” sound anywhere in the name. This does not apply to names like “Michael” or “Pistachio” which contain the letters “ch”, but are pronounced like a “k” in the case of Michael or “sh” in the case of Pistachio. Names like “Sandwich” or “Switch” would be discouraged due to them containing the “ch” sound. “Machete” as a name is up for considerable debate depending how hard the “ch” is pronounced.
15.b) Cheagle names must follow all naming conventions when named after a Monarch.
For example, if you admire Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom you may wish to name your Cheagle after her. This means that your Cheagle’s full name at the least must be “Queen Victoria II”. The associated titles are optional such as Queen of the United Kingdom or Empress of India and may not be a good idea depending on taste.
15.c) Never name a Cheagle after their parents.
Cheagles are quite individualistic, having a “jr” after their name removes some of that individuality. It’s also generally not advisable to have similar sounding names, such as naming a daughter Michelle when the father’s name is Michael.
15.d) Cheagle siblings from the same litter must be named alphabetically in the order of birth. The first name can start anywhere in the alphabet.
For clarification, if there were 5 puppies in a litter and you wanted to name the first one “Jombi”, the next 4 puppies must have names starting with K, L, M, and N in birth order. An example of 5 such names could be Jombi, Kratos, Liechtenstein (the “ch” makes a “k” sound), Mooner, and Nib.
15.e) Never give a Cheagle an official middle name.
Cheagles almost universally have a right of passage in which they choose their own middle name. Don’t give a Cheagle a middle name unless you want to rob them of that defining moment in their life. Also, Cheagles will often change their middle name, so it’s not set in stone.
It’s fine to have informal nicknames that include a middle name, for example “Guppy Anne” is a name we commonly call Henley, but there is no paperwork where she has an assigned middle name.
A few examples of middle names Henley has adopted include: Unicorn, Shark, Pickle, Taco, and Doctor.
15.f) You can never give a Cheagle the name “Seven”.
The reasons for this rule are lost to time, but the rule remains.
Extra Guidelines
Below are some of the more relevant guidelines when naming a Cheagle.
- Cheagle names with two syllables are ideal.
- Animals are generally not good names, but the larger the animal the better. For example, “Buffalo” is a better name than “Grasshopper”.
- More of a fun fact; but if a Cheagle meets another Cheagle with the exact same name, your Cheagle will present you with a single Cheagle gold dollar. This reward cannot be manipulated by asking your friend to name their Cheagle the same. The reward has exemption clauses which include conspiracy.
That is a start to naming your Cheagle. As always, please consult the Handbook and call the number on the first page if you have any questions or need clarification.
The Cheagle Handbook 