Just a few thoughts...

...on 'ship names.

I'm a hardcore fangirl. Will be til the day I die, most likely. But I just don't understand 'ship names. Who comes up with them? How does one certain name become so popular and become prevalent over all other names? Why, after one name gains ascendency, are no other names ever considered, even if they work better? And why are they usually so preposterous?

I mean,take the Merlin fandom for instance. Merthur? Really? How do you even pronounce that? Is it a hard 'th' or a soft 'th'? I know that Arthur is a soft 'th', but 'ship names are a whole different beast, so who knows. And, honestly, wouldn't Arlin work just as well (and not be so utterly silly)? But it's never even considered. And why does Merthur always remind me of Werther's originals?

Or Arwen. Honestly, you sound like you're talking about The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien would be appalled.

And don't even get me started on the Harry Potter 'ship names. They just make me giggle. Uncontrollably. Squidwarts, anyone? (If you'd like more info, go here: pairing names 1 and pairing names 2).

Then there's the Sherlock fandom and all it's silly 'ships. Like Johnlock. What is that? A gun? "Oh, yeah, I shoot a Johnlock when I'm out hunting." Crazy.

And my absolute favorite, the 'ship that tops them all in the absurd name contest: Sherlolly. Seriously? While I actually support this one (my Sherlock OTP, all the way), it still sounds absolutely AWFUL. I mean, the first thing it makes me think of is Sherlock and a lollipop. Or Sherlock AS a lollipop, depending on my state of mind. Ridiculous.

...On second thought, those last two might be pretty hilarious...

(To be fair, there is one, and only one, 'ship name I've ever actually liked: Caskett. It just sounds cool. But all others? Forget about it.)

Thoughts?