Great Danes tend to be named after gods or demigods such as Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Xena, Thor… you get the picture. Our dogs’ names follow a different trend, a more nerdy trend. The initial idea was that they would all have Klingon names.
Selar
Our first Dane was named Selar. If you just said to yourself “that isn’t Klingon”, you’re a sci-fi nerd, don’t worry you’re among friends here. Selar picked us as her new humans after we spent a couple hours meeting different Danes at a Great Dane rescue. We didn’t have a name picked out yet but it was apparent that a Klingon name wasn’t going to suit her. It was very obvious that she had Vulcan ears. Whether she had a botched ear job that was re-done or just a bad one from the start, she had very small, very Vulcan-like ears. She also had a very calm and collected demeanor with strong puzzle solving abilities.
Varel
The notion to get a second Dane was discussed and at just the right time a photograph of a Great Dane needing a home was in the quarterly adoption insert of our local newspaper. All three of us went to the rescue to meet her. Selar was OK with her so she came home with us, Selar wasn’t so crazy about that. I guess she thought it was a play date and not something permanent. She later accepted Varel but would never admit it. Her name was not going to stay Lilabelle with us. Yet again, not a Klingon name. Like Selar, Varel also had cropped ears but at least hers were done better. They didn’t stand up much but they were pointed, like a Romulan’s ears. And she was a blue merle, Romulan uniforms are grey. Like a Romulan she was very structured in how she liked things done. She didn’t like spontaneity, in the morning we walk this direction and in the evening we walk the other direction. Don’t change it, stick with the plan.
She was also fearless and focused.
K’Ehleyr (pronounced Kay-lar)
Ah, finally a Klingon name. K’Ehleyr joined our pack after we lost Selar. Varel had never been an only dog and she didn’t like it. We thought getting another dog were help. We were told about a Great Dane in need of a new home so we set up a play date. Her first name was Lola, which fit her, she was a showgirl. But it we also knew a few dogs named Lola and needed to be different. For those who are not Star Trek nerds, there were not a lot of female Klingon names to choose from, there are more now. Another piece of trivia is the actress, Suzie Plakson, who played Selar also played Ambassador K’Ehleyr.
Now we finally had a dog with a Klingon name and turns out we had a dog with a Klingon attitude. She was tall and pretty but also volatile and opinionated. And don’t forget stubborn which served her well with the struggles she faced later in life.
Martok
When we lost K’Ehleyr we thought we might wait a while before getting another dog. That lasted 2 weeks. So off to the local Great Dane rescue (Indian Dane Rescue). With lots of male Klingon names to choose from it came down to characters. Chancellor Martok came from a common family so was not allowed to become an officer. Despite that he fought so well that he worked his way up the ranks to General and eventually Chancellor of the Klingon Empire. We don’t expect any of that of our Martok. He can stay the happy goofy boy that like to run and play.
What's in a name?
According to a friend of ours, your dog will take on the personality of the name you give them. That seemed to be somewhat true with our girls. We hope it won’t be true for Martok.
Qapla’
Does your dog’s name have a story behind it? Please share in the comments below.
Koda after the little bear in Brother Bear because she was acted in a similar manor as the character.
That’s a cute name.
Martok? Seriously? You’re a nerd! 😀
Yep! Proudly a nerd.