It’s been 12 wonderful months since I joined the derby community and now that I’m on the cusp of stepping up and into the bouting world, I’m freaking out a lil about not having a derby name.
As a freshie, the last thing on your mind is choosing a name. Mostly you’re just trying to stay upright and remembering to pick a cheek when you fail to do that.
As time goes on and your legs obey without thinking, you start to get serious and think about upgrading equipment, you’re now committed and in love with the sport. You start to develop a derby persona and focussing on the tests ahead, your motivation moves to the childish excitement of moving up a level and the prospect of hitting your fellow freshies!
Now is the time when the seeds of potential derby names that have been planted throughout the freshie phase, start to ripen and take shape.
When you finally move up a level, the reality that you can do this sport and that you can bout starts to sink in, and (if you haven’t already inherited a name), you begin to get serious about choosing a derby name.
It’s a derby rite of passage we all go through and one that we all enjoy immensely.
But what happens if you can’t find one that fits?
There is always the hope that one of your team mates will help you out and you’ll accidentally find yourself with a derby name.
You might even have a favourite band or song or celebrity name that you want to make derby worthy. Playing with words is a heap of fun – Eddie Van-Nailem, Bitchy and Scratchy – all it takes is a good imagination.
If you’re not so creative or need something to get you started, there are a tonne of derby name generators out there to give you a helping hand.
Here’s a couple to get you started:
http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/namegen/10568/#.VMBFsiuUd8F
http://www.rollersandrevellers.com/fresh-meat/name-generator
http://rollerderby.namegeneratorfun.com/
And then of course there’s google. Do a search under “roller derby names” and voila! Inspiration galore!
If you happen to be lucky and manage to find a name that fits (you’ll know it when it rolls off your tongue and your heart beat rises in time with the crowd roaring in your head as you are picturing your first skate out) you’ll be crossing all your body parts as you tentatively search the derby name register to make sure it hasn’t been taken. And if it hasn’t I’ll bet you move like lightning to get it registered so it stays that way too. (The register is here btw… http://www.rollerderbyau.net/derby-names-roster/womens-derby-names-roster/ )
But when that fails, what happens then?
I’ve been telling myself for months now that I’ve got plenty of time to choose a name. And for many months I’ve been right. But time is running out. Ohhh in case you haven’t realised by now, I’m also the most indecisive person on the planet.
I’ve got a team (Break-hers rock!) and I have sooooooo many ideas for names…
Dellvicious
Delleerious
Blocky Horror
Vicious Dell-isous
Delli Llama
She who hath no name….
But nothing seems to fit or rather, each fits, but it depends on the day and the mood I’m in… kinda like choosing clothes, just less nudity involved.
So what do you do when you can’t decide between your 76 split personalities?
I’m still trying to figure it out, but you can always put it to a vote. Jump onto the WSR social page and throw it out there, see what comes back (and there may be some unexpected suggestions thrown into the mix!). You could even put it to your non-derby friends and get their thoughts and opinions on what seems to suit the best.
At the end of the day, you can even go with your own name, more and more people are doing it and there’s no shame in not being able to settle on a name.
But if you’re like me and are looking for something cool and catchy, perhaps patience is all that’s needed… or a kick in the behind to get you on your way 🙂
Derby Love
Delle
(AKA She who hath no name…. yet)