NOT a political post, but obviously if you’re in the US, politics are probably on your mind today.
I was thinking last night about the best named politicians. Not AT ALL about the people’s politics, just about their names. Sorry if I list some folks who might now (or even then) be considered a jerk—I’m not a historian and am going strictly on sound
[name_m]Barack[/name_m] [name_m]Obama[/name_m] is such an interesting name and I love the sounds it makes. When I was looking back at the list of US presidents, I saw a [name_m]Franklin[/name_m] [name_m]Pierce[/name_m] and I thought that was a stunning name. [name_m]Rutherford[/name_m] B. [name_u]Hayes[/name_u]. Also [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m] and [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] Albright seem especially striking. Condoleeza [name_u]Rice[/name_u]. I also think [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_m]Thatcher[/name_m] is a pretty great name. I like the repeating “u” sounds in [name_m]Justin[/name_m] Trudeau, even though I typically wouldn’t prefer a 2-syllable first with a 2-syllable last.
What do you guys think? Who sticks out to you?
I absolutely love [name_f]Kamala[/name_f], because I’m a huge fan of [name_f]Kamala[/name_f] [name_m]Harris[/name_m], and it’s my grandma’s name.
I like [name_u]Chelsea[/name_u] [name_m]Clinton[/name_m]’s name, and I’m kind of fond of [name_f]Esther[/name_f] ([name_f]Gretchen[/name_f] Whitmer’s MN). Mostly I’m very big on [name_f]Kamala[/name_f], though.
The mayor of [name_f]Chicago[/name_f] is called [name_f]Lori[/name_f] Lightfoot and I’ve always thought it was such a cool and memorable name. I’m a big fan of alliteration, so that’s part of the appeal to me, too.
James [name_u]Madison[/name_u] is also a great name, in my opinion. [name_u]James[/name_u] fits so well sound-wise with the last name [name_u]Madison[/name_u], I think.
Yes! I can’t believe I forgot [name_f]Kamala[/name_f]. I pronounced it wrong for awhile (I am a big news reader but almost never watch it, so didn’t hear anyone pronounce it for awhile) but it is a stunning name.
There’s something about the name [name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m] that just sounds so…prestigious but still down to earth. Now that I think of it, is it kind of surprising that this isn’t a more popular surname-first name? Maybe it’s the lack of obvious nickname?
Roosevelt is sort of one of my guilty pleasures, with the nickname [name_f]Rosie[/name_f]. I love masculine names with feminine nicknames and vice versa One day I think I’ll use the name on a character.
Yes!! I always think that using all three names for myself/hypothetical children is “a lot” but when politicians or celebrities do it the name becomes so powerful.
Not a politician but I always loved [name_m]Antonin[/name_m] Scalia’s name.
London Breed (f) is the mayor of San [name_m]Francisco[/name_m].
[name_f]Kamala[/name_f] [name_m]Harris[/name_m]
[name_f]Jacinda[/name_f] Ardern
[name_u]Boris[/name_u] [name_m]Johnson[/name_m] - I love the name [name_u]Boris[/name_u].
Lula da [name_f]Silva[/name_f] even though his first name is actually [name_m]Luiz[/name_m] but I just love how nice and sweet it sounds and even more that it’s a male. Also non US so sorry about that one
[name_m]Leonid[/name_m] & [name_u]Nikita[/name_u] (Brezhnev & Khrushchev)
[name_m]Winston[/name_m] [name_m]Churchill[/name_m]
[name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m]
[name_m]Jacob[/name_m] [name_u]Rees[/name_u]-Mogg. He’s such a strange, peculiar man, almost comical, but his name sounds so pleasing. I love saying it, especially in posh British accent. And his children’s names are so interesting. See below if you’re interested
Gabrielius Landsbergis
[name_m]Donald[/name_m] Tusk (it’s pronounced toosk)
[name_m]Ulysses[/name_m] S. [name_m]Grant[/name_m]
[name_m]Clement[/name_m] Attlee
[name_m]Johannes[/name_m] Rau
[name_m]Archibald[/name_m] [name_f]Primrose[/name_f]
[name_u]Boris[/name_u] Godunov
Antonis Samaras
Jacob Rees-Mogg’s children are Mary Anne Charlotte Emma, Peter Theodore Alphege, Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan, Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam, Alfred Wulfric Leyson Plus, Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher
One day I think I’ll use the name on a character.