TIPPICANOE
Also known as:
– Tippi
– Tippicat
– Tippurrs
– Tipster
– … and while channeling his inner Sidney Poitier: “THEY CALL ME MR. TIPPS!!!”
Tippicanoe’s name is a nod to President William Henry Harrison’s campaign slogan: “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.” John Tyler, Harrison’s running mate, became president after Harrison’s infamously brief term.
Grammar enthusiasts might notice that Tippicanoe’s name is intentionally misspelled. This was inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne, who added a “w” to his last name to distance himself from a relative involved in the Salem Witch Trials. Similarly, Tippicanoe’s name reflects a desire to acknowledge and distance ourselves from some of Harrison and Tyler’s less admirable traits. The campaign slogan, however? That was pure gold.
EILONWY
Also known as:
– Ely
– The Princess Eilonwy
Eilonwy is a Princess.
Her name comes from a character in Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain series, a classic of young adult fantasy. If you’re wondering, yes, it’s a Welsh name.
Fun Fact: When I first read the books, Google didn’t exist yet. Back then, we had to guess how names were pronounced. With no knowledge of Welsh mythology, I decided it was pronounced “Ellen-wee.” That seemed fine until I adopted her.
As “Ellen-wee,” I figured everyone would call her “Ella,” as in “Helluva Cat!” This would’ve been cool because:
- It’s true.
- It nods to the F6F Hellcat, one of my favorite WWII aircraft.
Unfortunately, Google crushed this idea. It turns out Eilonwy is pronounced “Eye-Lon-Wee.” Suddenly, “Ella” didn’t fit.
Instead, we call her “Ely” (pronounced “Ehl-ee”). Yes, it’s spelled the same as the magical northern Minnesota town known for its mysterious forests and the world’s best root beer (#MustBeMagic).
And yes, we know the town name isn’t pronounced “Ehl-ee.” We have Google now.
SOPHIA
Also known as:
– Sophia Nancy Eberle G.
– Sophurrs
– The Little Velociraptor
Sophia is the cat with four names. Why? Because she’s the most sophisticated and elegant cat in all the land.
We don’t know much about Sophia’s life before she joined us. When we met her, she’d been in and out of the humane society for 10 months. It was clear why: during our meet-and-greet, she hid under a bench the entire time. Not exactly a sales pitch.
Luckily, we discovered how amazing she is after adopting her. Though still a little timid, she’s the cuddliest of our three cats, with the silkiest fur. Sophia is also the smartest—dare I say, a “Clever Girl.” She understands how doors work and is determined to open them, though she hasn’t succeeded yet. But she keeps trying.
Sophia was a name I’d planned to give one of my children if I’d had any. In our family, the middle name always honors another family member. For example, Tippi is Tippi B., after his grandfather, and Eilonwy J. is named after her grandmother. Being the last cat I planned to adopt, Sophia carries a lot of names.
She’s named for her great-grandmothers—Nancy and Bonnie Eberle—two women who inspired the best in me. I hope, by my example, they inspire Sophia, too.