Projo Offbeat Blog

Plenty of questions are swirling around the news that Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is pregnant, but here's what I'm really curious about: What name will they give this baby?

If Bristol is anything like her mother, she won't give the child a solid Republican name like George, Laura, Ronald, Nancy or Mitt.

Sarah Palin is apparently conservative in every aspect of her life except when it comes to naming her babies. In that department, she's as carefree as a rock star. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, have five chidren. Here are their names: Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig.

Todd Palin recently explained to People.com how the couple came up with the names: "Sarah's parents were coaches and the whole family was involved in track and I was an athlete in high school, so with our first-born, I was, like, 'Track!' Bristol is named after Bristol Bay. That's where I grew up, that's where we commercial fish. Willow is a community there in Alaska. And then Piper, you know, there's just not too many Pipers out there and it's a cool name. And Trig is a Norse name for "strength."

Fortunately for the Republican ticket this is an area that the Democratic opponents won't touch. How can a guy named Barack with children named Malia and Sasha say anything?

With that kind of freedom, Bristol Palin and her boyfriend, Levi, (Was he named for somebody's favorite pants?) could choose to name the child for a favorite part of the state. How does Aleutian, Kodiak or Hoonah-Angoon sound?

Maybe Bristol and Levi will pick a sport that's popular in Alaska: "We're proud to announce the birth of our baby, Ice Fishing."

Maybe they'll boast, "Our baby, Snow Mobiling, was a robust 9 pounds at birth."

Or maybe they'll decide those names aren't cool enough and they'll decide to follow the lead of celebrities who've found inspiration from vegetables and fruits.

Zucchini would be a great name for a kid. How about Basil?

Some countries restrict the names parents can give their children. In New Zealand recently, a judge let a 9-year-old girl named "Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii" change her name, saying the name "makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability."

Sweden recently relaxed some naming restrictions, clearing the way for parents to name their children "Budweiser" or "Metallica," if they want, according to reports.

If voters elect John McCain and Sarah Palin this November, new parents can take comfort -- although grandparents might despair -- in knowing that the administration should prove liberal in at least that aspect of its policies.

 Tags  Alaska Barack Obama John McCain Sarah Palin Todd Palin

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