What’s in a name? Sometimes a name can make a sale. Fortunately, as poorly as I make up names for my goats, it’s never broke a sale. Counting back the many years, and after naming over a thousand kids, I find that the name area of my brain is drying up. Many times now when buyers come to purchase kids, I ask them what they would like for a name, and if they draw a blank, then it’s on their head what they get when I name the kid.

Last weekend we had a nice young couple show up with their four year old daughter. They picked out a young buck from our oldest buck, Bodacious Nico, and I asked them if they would like to name him. Naturally, it would have to have our farm name first and I suggested having Bodacious in the name too, since that is a fine old and known name in the goat industry. So, being sharp young parents, they asked their four year old to name the buck.

Without a moments hesitation, she said, “Emmit.” We all stood there with our mouths open, staring at the child. Where did someone so young come up with such an old name? And, you want to know the terrible part? I thought it was a grand name for a goat. Bodacious Emmit. Doesn’t that just catch your attention? So, you see why anymore I ask the customer if they want to name their goat, if it doesn’t already have a name.

Years ago it was easy to name the 4-H kids for the children to pick. Because way back then things were just getting started and parents would show up with the youngest 4-H’er possible and have him or her to pick out their own kids. I simply named the 4-H prospects things like Mr. Rogers, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, Barney names from popular children shows and the kid goats with the most recognized children’s show names, all sold first.

Now a days, I don’t bother with the names on 4-H kids, because all my baby 4-H’ers are grown up big 4-H’ers and they march into the pen or stall and even if the kid is less than a week old, they’ll run their hands down the backs, legs, square the baby kid up, study it closely and then put the deposit down on which ones they think will make grand champion in six months, to be picked up at weaning. I don’t have the heart to point out that the kids do change as they grow, in fact several times by the time fair time starts, and I’ve had some that were considered runts and the last to sell, take grand champion many times.

But, names do catch your attention, if you can put that right name on that goat. I have a friend in Texas who makes up fantastic names for her goats. I’m so envious. She could name one Painted Rock, and I think she has, and I’d be going, why didn’t I think of that?! I come up with brilliant names like Boo, Lightning Bug, Oh, Gee. So, my goats don’t really stand a chance in getting a name that one day might go national. Think of that wonderful name Cloud Dancer. That name sticks in your brain. I love that name. The name Eggsfile was a bit whimsical and odd and cute, but that power house of a buck over came the funny name and Eggsfile is spoken in awe in many goat circles.

So, thank goodness, many times the goat will overcome the name you have given it, if you keep breeding the best goat around. There is hope. Just don’t go naming them the Scarlet Pumpernickel or some such name as that. Or, crude names that I’ve actually seen advertised on websites. No one wants to buy a goat with a crude name. At least, I don’t.

I’m not sure how Square Bob Sponge Pants would go over either. The name could happen if you let your TV watching little child name your goat. I’m thinking Bodacious Emmit or Emmit Bodacious is sounding better and better. You never know, the name might go national and everyone will be clamoring to have an Emmit kid or some Emmit bloodlines in their herd. Maybe I’ll ask that little four year old to name my next batch of kids. She may have something going for her with this naming goats thing.