The Name Game

If you are a baby boomer and read this title [The Name Game], you are now mentally singing the 1965 Shirley Ellis song - replacing the first letter of your name with a 'B' - 'F' - and 'M'. 

So how many names have you bestowed on items, people, or pets and how much thought went into those names? And who can you give credit for your title - and what is it's history?  With whom do you share your name and what images does it conjure?

Nicknames are usually a measure of  closeness when allowed by the individual - Parents to kids, siblings to each other, college buddies to each other etc.  Some names are naturally shortened for ease of  discussion - with initials, and other times the last name is used and shortened with  "The"  added (example Wisner - The Wiz).

"Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of"  Socrates