I was talking to my in-laws the other day and mentioned that when my husband and I get a dog we’d like a black lab and that I really liked the name [name]Boone[/name]. At which point they told me that I couldn’t name my black lab [name]Boone[/name] because it’s a derogatory term for an African American. Can anybody corroborate this? I have never ever heard this term in my life, but I certainly don’t want to be offensive in my pet naming.
If it is offensive, could anyone suggest some other name choices? I like the cowboy-esque feel of the name, and also considered [name]Sawyer[/name] for a while. Thank you!
Oh, dear. Perhaps I’m terribly naive…I’ve never heard that name used that way before. My childhood pastor had a massive, 140-lb golden retriever named [name]Boone[/name]. I always thought it was sweet. In case someone else corroborates their understanding of the term, what about [name]Bowen[/name]? I think it has that same cowboy swagger and [name]Bo[/name]/[name]Beau[/name] or [name]Bowie[/name] is a sweet nickname. You might also use [name]Rebel[/name], [name]Winslow[/name] ([name]Win[/name], [name]Winnie[/name]), [name]Tucker[/name] (Tux), [name]Wyatt[/name], [name]Judd[/name], [name]Barrett[/name] ([name]Bear[/name]), [name]Monroe[/name] ([name]Moe[/name]), [name]Flint[/name], or [name]Cole[/name]/[name]Coal[/name] (since he’d be black).
@ellenelle: Maybe we can just be naive together. Also, I love the suggestion of [name]Tucker[/name]!! Although my parents have a cat Tuxedo nn Tux, so I’d probably stick with [name]Tuck[/name] for a nickname. It’s already growing on me.
Since the internet can only come up with the barest information about how [name]Boone[/name] might be offensive (typing “is boone a bad word” got me zero related hits back), I think you’re safe. After all, the real English word “boone” means gift or favor. The name has been used in TV shows like Lost before, and they vet names for TV like no ones business (as the NB blog informed me, haha). Neither NB or other sites have flagged it as controversial the way [name]Cohen[/name] sometimes is. I would use it if you still love it. I doubt most people would even bat an eye!
But [name]Tucker[/name] is nice if your in-laws have ruined [name]Boone[/name] for you.
@ellenelle and tk.: Thanks! Yeah, at this point I don’t think I would use it for a black dog any more. We would also like a Bernese mountain dog, so maybe the name [name]Boone[/name] would be okay there? Although somehow I feel like a cowboy name isn’t as good a fit for that type of dog.
I think [name]Boone[/name] fits a black lab great! We had a beautiful black lab, and named him the similar “[name]Bosco[/name]”. It fit him great. And I’m sure you won’t have any trouble with it as a derogatory term, as I live in a “redneck” part of [name]Florida[/name], and have heard a lot of offensive slang, but never that. The only connection people will be making will be of [name]Daniel[/name] [name]Boone[/name] : ) Which is good.
Also, I love the suggestion of [name]Tucker[/name]!! Although my parents have a cat Tuxedo nn Tux, so I’d probably stick with [name]Tuck[/name] for a nickname. It’s already growing on me.