When we are born, we’re given a name that is used for the important stuff. It goes on your social security card, your license and really any document that you intend to be official.
As we get older, some of us are gifted with a nickname that can even take precedence over our given name. Sometimes people only know you by your nickname.
And if you happen to be involved with roller derby, you have a name that should – and likely does – strike fear into your opposing rollers.
At last week’s Granite State Roller Derby practice, we came across clever ones like Doberman Puncher, Dixon Vixen and Salligator, to name a few. But those names don’t just appear out of thin air.
There’s a lot of thought put into picking out the perfect name to match not only your playing style, but your personality as well.
If you go online, there’s all kinds of quizzes you can take that will create one for you, or lists that help you narrow down what goes into it.
So during our trip to the GSRD home teams practice, we checked in with a few of the ladies to see how they came up with those catchy names.
For Maddie Cole, aka Lil Sumpin’, her name came from her love of the Lagunitas beer, Little Sumpin’ and “at the time I was the smallest skater on the all-star team,” she said.
Alyssa McClary wanted something to match her job as a cardiac nurse and a dinner with a friend led to her derby name, Angie O’Nasty, which is a play on the medical procedure angioplasty.
“Most people say ‘I thought you were Irish,’ ” McClary said.
For others, like Rebecca Jones-Ball, her derby name is a play on her given name and look, Bex in Spex. Yes, she wears glasses.
Melody Broider, who owns Spank Alley Skate and Board Shop, went with Spank Alley Sally because back in the 1970s, Spank Alley was another name for the penalty box and Sally just made sense.
Some at Granite State have gone away from the derby names and just use their given names.
And while each skater is allowed to choose their own name, as long as no one else in the organization or another one close by doesn’t already have it, their nickname is decided by the other members of the organization. So while the full name may sound cool, you always have to think about how it can and will be shortened.
As for us, we don’t play roller derby, but it sure would be cool to have a derby name. Now try thinking of one for yourself – and if you come up with anything good, let us know.
Insider staff
