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Original poster

Names Laika & Alaska?

79 replies

MamaTo7 · 02/05/2020 10:25

Thoughts on names Laika or Alaska?

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Booboostwo · 02/05/2020 11:08

It's not so much that the dog went into space, it's more that it was left to die there. There are movies and songs about it, so it will be associated for a lot of people with a sad event.

Why Alaska? It's not a particularly nice word and you'd need a good reason to give a child a toponymic as a first name.

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 02/05/2020 11:08

I know a Laika (pronounce lie- ka) Shes her late 30s and totally awesome so I think it’s great name. As far as I’m aware she likes her name too.

LeaveItBarbara · 02/05/2020 11:07

I couldn't separate the name Laika from that terrible cruel image of that poor dog. I just couldn't. It's got the same permanent stain as Myra, Adolf, etc and I wouldn't want my child growing up (a) having people say to her, Oh, as in that poor dog the Russians sent into space to die scared and alone? Or (b) silently thinking it. It's not THAT nice a name.

As for Alaska, I'll ask 'er. Oh, wait.

Original poster
MamaTo7 · 02/05/2020 11:03

@DotBall Yes, I was worried people would think it was Lake-a.

OP posts:
Original poster
MamaTo7 · 02/05/2020 11:01

I know Laika was the dog sent to space, it honestly never bothered me. Nickname was more so for Alaska. Meaning also isn't overly important to me considering a lot of popular names haven't got good meanings. Thank you for your opinions. Smile

OP posts:
DotBall · 02/05/2020 10:36

Also, you would get fed up of people pronouncing Laika wrong. Is it Lye-ka or Lay-ka. That would piss me off. Alaska would be a bit out there but ok.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 02/05/2020 10:35

@daisypond explain.

RoLaren · 02/05/2020 10:35

Dead dog and tasty pudding. Sorry.

daisypond · 02/05/2020 10:34

it's a cute, Russian diminutive for a pet.
It isn’t at all.

daisypond · 02/05/2020 10:34

For a child, the equivalent would be Cryer or Talker. Etc.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 02/05/2020 10:33

Laika was the first animal to orbit the Earth, for the Soviets. She was a part husky dog. This is my immediate thought - it's a cute, Russian diminutive for a pet.
Alaska is half-baked, as a name.

KrakowDawn · 02/05/2020 10:32

Laika

daisypond · 02/05/2020 10:32

Laika the Russian dog in space - just a nickname - Barker.

JassyRadlett · 02/05/2020 10:32

And Laika isn’t a human name that was given to a famous dog; it’s a specifically a dog’s name (it means ‘barker’.)

It would be like calling a child Rover or Spot.

KrakowDawn · 02/05/2020 10:32

Laila means 'to bark', 'barker'.

These names are for your dogs, yes? Not for babies...

redwoodmazza · 02/05/2020 10:32

No to Laika as PPs have already said.
Alaska - sounds a bit harsh.

LadyGAgain · 02/05/2020 10:31

Neither. Sorry. Can you imagine Alaska being introduced as the new CEO or school teacher or lawyer or chef or whatever? Just no.

daisypond · 02/05/2020 10:31

Laika is a dog breed. It means barker in Russian. Where did you get that from as a possible name? Absolutely not. Alaska is better than that.

EmpressLangClegInChair · 02/05/2020 10:30

Sorry, cross-post!

Luzina · 02/05/2020 10:30

Laika was the Soviet space dog I think? Im not keen on either name tbh.

EmpressLangClegInChair · 02/05/2020 10:30

I associated Laika with dogs & couldn't think why, then Googled & found that Laika was the dog the Russians sent into space.

Greenandcabbagelooking · 02/05/2020 10:30

They would be fine names for dogs, but not for humans.

Laika was the dog the Soviets put into space, where she boiled to death in the spaceship. It's not a great connotation.

reallifegetsintheway2 · 02/05/2020 10:29

Laika was the first dog in space - google it

Puddlesplasher · 02/05/2020 10:29

Sorry I'm not keen on either. I think of Laika as a dog's name and don't like that it would probably be shortened to Like or Lie. As for Alaska? No, just no.

Steamfan · 02/05/2020 10:29

Laika was the unfortunate dog that the Soviets sent up into space. No, not a good name

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