Tripp
Bristol Palin, 18-year-old daughter of AK Gov. and former VP candidate Sarah Palin, gave birth to a son December 28. Weighing in at 7-7, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston was born at 5:30a. Father is fiancé Levi Johnston.
MTV News has weighed in on the name choice in a clever piece. I’m not sure why I was mostly not offended by the article on behalf of little Tripp. Perhaps I’m just tired of being offended. Or perhaps it’s because the writer took equal shots at his own….
Oh sure, there are a couple jabs to scowl at, and the comments are another offensive story altogether. But most of the suggested names, particularly Maverick, struck me as quite funny. (That said, I didn’t get the joke behind Easton Mitchell Easton Mitchell Johnston. Perhaps someone can explain.)
The author is correct. Celebrities not only have latitude but seeming obligation to choose wild names for their offspring. The worst in my recollection were those given by Julia Roberts to her twins, Phineas and Hazel. Although I do like Phin, there’s nothing salvageable in Hazel.
Do love Tripp.
[HT: reader Quinn – another great name]

The strangest celebrity baby name I ever heard was “Radio Edit”.
AK not AL
Whoops, fixed. Thx.
What!?! Nothing salvageable about Hazel? Typically, your right on point about things, but it is here, that we differ! :) Hazel is a perfectly VIABLE name. It’s a classic, early 1900s name — also, it happens to be my grandmothers name, as well as a nice color. At least she didn’t name her puce….
Let’s not forget Jason Lee’s kid. I think his name is Pilot Inpektor, or something like that…
This whole MTV angle is stupid by the mere fact that Tripp is a commonly used name/nickname. A son who shares the name of his father and grandfather is often given the nickname Tripp.
No, the worst name was Apple. I remember thinking WTF? Really?
Bethany, I believe Frank Zappa has a kid named Diva Thinmuffin… and then there is Penn’s kid, Moxy Crimefighter. Lol.
lol Josephine, those are funny.
Long before we actually had any children, Oliver wanted to name one of our children Phineas. It started as a joke, but then the name started to grow on him.
Alas, that dream was squelched when Disney came out with Phineas and Ferb, since any child with the name would share such an immediate association with a cartoon character.
Maybe it’s short for “Grandma’s on a Tripp to the big house and no, we don’t mean White House…. ”
Josephine, youre right those are pretty ridiculous!
Let’s add two more to the list:
-Jermine Jackson has a son named JERMAJESTY
-The girl from “A Knight’s Tale” has a son named AUDIO SCIENCE
My husband dreams of naming our first son Warren Montague. Apparently he had an uncle named Montague…
My gramma’s name is Hazel. :(
Jill, my God daughter’s name is “Hazel” her maiddle name is “May” and it fits her to a T, her brother’s name is Tucker. She was born one year before Julia came along and named her child Hazel.
Sure Hazel is a name that most people wouldn’t name their child, but it is a classic from years gone by… I simply cannot fathom my Godchild being called by any other name.
Frank Zappa named his kids odd…what Moon Beam…something like that.
I think the double name may be a play on the name Tripp. Instead of using Tripp you tripp over it twice. That’s the only thing I can think it may be.
I knew a girl named Stefsha.
I’m not big on weird names. Give me a James or a Michael any day (but not Jim or Mike).
I do like Irish named, though, like Micheail (me-hall) and Róis (ra-sha) and Sinead (shinay-id).
I think Hazel is beautiful, one of the least offensive. You kidding me- look at Jason Lee. Or Gwen paltrow. I’d name my kid Hazel over starfruit any day.
Perhaps my Hazel antennae has been bent by the t.v. show Hazel?
Don’t forget Bob Geldof named one of his daughters by yet another fruit, Peaches. Her sibs are Pixie and Fifi Trixibelle. I’ve always liked the latter but now run into the psychological problem of having a cat named Fifi.
I’m fond of the name “Darren” for a boy and “Imogen” for a girl. I also think “Darren” would be a cute girl’s name too…possibly because I’m slightly evil.
I am toying with the name Cordelia for my next girl, “Cordi” for short.
I know a Shirley, Harry, Henry, Charles and George. Very big names for such little people. :)
The Zappa names I recall were Dweezil (his son) and Moon Unit (daughter). Pretty creative for a guy named Frank. :D
I like the name Tripp. That was the name of the main engineer on the tv show Star Trek: Enterprise. That’s what I thought of right away when I saw it. :D I’m such a Trekkie. Can’t help it. But I didn’t name my kids anything Star-Trekkish, luckily. LOL
George Foreman (boxer and founder of the ‘Foreman grill’) named his 5 sons: George, George, George, George and George.
@Kel: Kira Nerys isn’t a bad name and it’s “Barjoran”. :)
Actually, Frank Zappa’s kids are Moon Unit, Dweezle, and Ahmed.
And the male names starting with T for Palins seems to have morphed into starting with Tr. So, names we can assume they considered but rejected:
Tray
Trill
Trap
Trash
Tryst
Trust
Trump
Tram
Trail
Trial
Trot
Trim
If it weren’t for the single-syllable rule, they could have picked one of these fine names:
Trombone
Trickle
Triangle
Trapezoid
Trapeze
Transformer
Trample
Transit
Jasper–the man’s just crazy! Aside from the grill, that is. :D
Rae–ooh, that is a pretty name. But I was thinking more along the lines of “Worf.” That one is definitely NOT a keeper. No Klingon names for me. lol
@Kel: Yeah, Klingon names are highly unpleasant. There are a lot of “normal” names that are very Trek that could still be used:
Wesley (Crusher)
Deanna Troi
Geordi (aka the Reading Rainbow guy)
Uhura
Kira Nerys (I am really digging this name, hmmmm)
Julian Bashir (my personal fave…)
And of course, JEAN-LUC PICARD!
See, I like the name Wesley. That was my Grandpa’s middle name. :) That’s a good one.
But I have to object to Geordi and Uhura…and you KNOW that any kid getting the name Jean-Luc Picard would be taunted for the rest of his life! :D
(Perhaps not as much as a Dweezil or Moon Unit, though.)
Rae, you’re going to have to save that Kira Nerys name for your future daughter. :D
@Kel: You can totally pull of Jean-Luc Picard. Marry a French dude with the last name “Picard”, then name the kid “Jonathan Lucas” aka “John Luke”.
Bwahahahahaha.
@Kel: Regarding the name “Wesley”- it also fits for Princess Bride fans. :D
I think “Inigo” or “Buttercup” may get teasing though. :-/
@Kel: You can totally pull of Jean-Luc Picard. Marry a French dude with the last name “Picard”, then name the kid “Jonathan Lucas” aka “John Luke”.
Bwahahahahaha.
Posted by: Rae at December 31, 2008 4:57 PM
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Well, considering I’m already married and his last name ISN’T Picard… :P
And Princess Bride! Love that movie. A person with the last name of Roberts could name their child “Dread Pirate.” Though I think it’d be a bit cruel. Did you see the recent news story about a family who couldn’t get their kid a birthday cake because they named him Adolf Hitler? Their daughter was named Aryan Nation, too. What in the WORLD?!
Christina… Frank Zappa has more kids than that. Here is Diva’s wikipedia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diva_Zappa
Christina 4:14 in addition to your suggestions, the Palins may have considered Trailer and Trash.
@Kel: Dread Pirate Roberts…what’s what Julia Roberts should have done instead of “Phineas”.
Here’s something to brighten your day… as soon as it is “approved”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvQvje3rZOU
Happy New Year everybody!!!
Jill although this is EXTREMELY off topic I thought some might like to know what’s become of SoMG.
Apparently he has found another blog to haunt with his usual disgusting crud (Please note the comment section and take a tranquilizer before reading)
http://realchoice.blogspot.com/2008/12/2003-planned-parenthoods-unorthodox.html
Well as one with an unusual name I can understand people not liking those with unusual names. What I like about the Palin’s is that they have given all their children unusual and very Alaskan names to the girls. :)
I have not lost sight of the fact that this baby was BORN to an unwed mother – I think that’s GREAT!
Congratulations Bristol and you fiance!
May you have many years of love and happiness.
@Kel: Dread Pirate Roberts…what’s what Julia Roberts should have done instead of “Phineas”.
Posted by: Rae at December 31, 2008 6:20 PM
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Dread Pirate and Hazel…LOL. I’m sorry, but that just screams “sitcom.” :D
Happy New Year, everyone! :)
Wanted to stop by before going to bed to wish everyone here a Happy New Year!
As far as weird names go, I think the worst for a girl is Apple, and for a boy Zuma. What are the parents thinking when they come up with these?
Tripp seems quite normal in comparison.
I looked on imdb.com and there are a few people named Tripp. But what do you expect from MTV, with all the raunchy programming they air?
I wish people would think of the kid first before they considered how creative they are with crafting names-the tike is stuck with the name until eighteen when he can change it.
Tripp used to be a fairly common name. It certainly has nothing on Apple or Zuma.
Jill,
Please send this video to everyone you know and to your pro-life contacts who don’t like Obama
Exactly What IS a Natural Born Citizen?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEnaAZrYqQI
Oklahoma Legislator Introduces Bill to Require Candidates to Submit Birth Certificate
January 1st, 2009
Oklahoma Representative Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow) has pre-filed a bill, requiring candidates for public office to submit a copy of their Birth Certificates. Ritze is a professor of Forensic Science and a physician, and was just elected to his first term in the legislature in November 2008. Ritze introduced his bill because he does not believe that President-Elect Barack Obama has demonstrated that he meets the constitutional qualifications.
Ritze also says that he is trying to persuade U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe to object to counting electoral college votes for Obama, when Congress counts the electoral votes on January 8.
The Oklahoma legislature does not convene until February. Oklahoma legislators are free to pre-file bills, but the Oklahoma legislature’s web page does not yet have the text of pre-filed bills, so the text of Ritze’s bill is not available. Since presidential nominees of qualified parties do not actually file for the November ballot in any state, it is not clear how Ritze’s bill can accomplish its objective, relative to general election presidential nominees of qualified parties.
Every one needs to contact Mike Ritz and Jim Inhofe Today!!!
As I posted months ago, not that the O man has been elected, things will suddenly seem better now….the economy, global warming, everything.
The media makes me sick.
They are the worst dregs of society, the whores of the left.
Posted by: rosie at December 31, 2008 1:37 PM
Cordelia! Have you ever watched “Anne of Green Gables” with Megan Follows? I always think of her when I hear that name.
I like Phineas because of the book A Separate Peace – or is it Piece? Anyway it’s been 20 years since I read that book but I remember I liked it and like the character named Phineas and planned to name one of my boys that and call him “Phin.” Didn’t happen though.
If I ever do have another I’m naming a girl Esther and a boy Levi. Both of which the hubby isn’t too fond of, but I figure he owes me after he named our first without telling me.
AUDIO SCIENCE? WTH??? Truly. That sounds like an obscure degree you get in college so you can live rent-free with your parents for another 4 years, and then graduate to work at Radio Shack. Not a child’s name, no.
Hazel is nice though. Tripp sounds weirder than Hazel, I think. I think Trig is a charming name, but maybe it’s because I can’t help but find that little baby completely adorable.
My first daughter will be Ginger (after Ginger Rogers). My first son will be Luke. Not overly common, but not Audio Science either. (WTH is with that anyway???)
The media makes me sick.
They are the worst dregs of society, the whores of the left.
Posted by: HisMan at January 1, 2009 8:07 PM
Who are the whores of the right?
HisMan: As I posted months ago, not that the O man has been elected, things will suddenly seem better now.
Nope, don’t think so.
As a not-too-serious example, I got a call from my little nephew Frankie a couple days after Christmas, and in quite a mournful, nine year old voice, said, “All my toys are broken….”
AUDIO SCIENCE? WTH??? Truly. That sounds like an obscure degree you get in college so you can live rent-free with your parents for another 4 years, and then graduate to work at Radio Shack. Not a child’s name, no.
Hey, now! I work as a sound-board operator! I make good money and I haven’t lived with my parents since I was 22, and only briefly then. And trust me, your life is made better by audio engineering, and by people who study it and develop a fine ear. Without people studying and working as sound designers and operators, every concert, speech, or show you attend, every movie or TV show you watch, and every CD you listen to, would sound a whole heck of a lot worse.
It ain’t easy, either, at least not live-theater sound operating (which is what I do). Not only do you need to memorize every cue in the show and the volume level at which to play it, plus manage all the mics for however large the cast is and the music (live or pre-recorded) — no, there’s more, beyond actually “performing” the show. The sound changes depending on the size of the audience and where the people are sitting; if someone in the cast is sick or otherwise performing erratically; etc. So the show is different every single night. And then of course you need to adjust for your own errors — if I have the slightest cold, I need to know that my ear will be off, and mentally adjust for that — essentially go against my own instincts for mixing all the various sounds together, in addition to actually mixing them together at all the right times, etc. Bad sound can RUIN an experience.
And that’s just once the show is open. A ton of work goes into speaker choice, placement, angling — trying to ensure that every single seat in the house experiences the exact same sound volume and quality. And then just the physical work of installing it all — all those cables take a whole lot of work, and knowledge, to set up. And EQing the system — listening to the same song for maybe days at a time, identifying the most minute changes that need to be made. Think of those ‘treble’ and ‘bass’ knobs on your stereo, and multiply it by about two hundred.
Not to mention, as someone who managed a retail store for two years to help pay for college, there’s not really anything wrong with working at a Radio Shack either.
Ahem.
Sucky name, though, you’re right on that count.
I like Evangeline. Nice choice of nicknames from that one, at least, so the kid can probably find something she likes.
Yes. But is your name Audio Science?? I am glad it is Alexandra and I am also glad that you are a sound-board operator and make my experiences better!! :)
Wow, LOL. I was mocking the name, not the work done for concerts, etc. I make outrageous statements for a laugh is all. ‘Twas a joke, dear Alexandra.
Funny how it was People magazine that broke the news. Not Sarah Palin. Not even the local news. People Magazine???? I’m still waiting for the photo proof. What’s the delay? Holding out for the highest bidder? Still looking for a baby that resembles them both and born last weekend?
:)
Kudos to Bristol!!! I like the name Tripp…and I think Apple was a nice name too! (Spoken from someone who’s nickname is Apple!)
actually, the name Phineas is biblical (although spelled Phinehas). See the Book of Numbers, chapters 25 and 31.
Funny how it was People magazine that broke the news. Not Sarah Palin. Not even the local news. People Magazine???? I’m still waiting for the photo proof. What’s the delay? Holding out for the highest bidder? Still looking for a baby that resembles them both and born last weekend?
:)
Posted by: asitis at January 3, 2009 4:03 PM
$300,000 for pictures. I read a lot of celebrity gossip. That’s ridiculous… I have a feeling that money isn’t going to charity??
No, probably not Josephine. That money can go a long way for two teenagers with a baby to support. Diapers, food, clothes, heat….. maybe a new snow mobile for Levi. Probably won’t need it for rent becuase they can probably stay at his mother’s house (if they don’t seize it) while she’s in prison.
Yep, just your typical all- American family. Youbetcha!
Look, she had a child out of wedlock, so obviously she’s not a terribly discerning girl. It seems she not only made the poor choice of having sex before marriage, but she married into a less than upstanding family. How many teenagers do that? More than you’d think. A lot of those teenagers come from homes where they were taught not to do that, but they went their own way. You can be a parent, but that doesn’t mean you can make decisions for your children.
exactly!
FTR, the MTV article was satirical. Tripp is a strange name, along with Track and Trig, and now it’s trendy for celebrities to name their children strange things.