I recently posed a question about what a human born on the moon might be called.
As we watched the latest triumph by SpaceX in launching U.S. astronauts from the Space Coast for the first time in nine years, we see the future of space is at hand.
We're looking at making it back to the moon, while establishing a base there.
You know, at some point down the road, a baby will be born there.
I asked NASA if they had ever considered what a moon child might be called, and the representative that reached out to me essentially said, "no."
So, my colleague Eric Rogers and I came up with a list of names, and we asked the readers to vote on which one they liked best. I also welcomed suggestions to my email.
Our list included: Mooners, Moonions, Moonies, Moonographers, Moononites, Lunarians, Amoonicans, Lunies, Moonarians, Moonoans, Moonfolk, Moonish and Moonese.
We had hundreds of votes, but before I get to the results, I wanted to share some of the great suggestions I got from readers.
The most-suggested moniker was “Lunatics.” Five different people between email and Facebook shared that thought.
While clever, I think that term might be better fitted for some here on Earth.
Some of the more creative suggestions included: “Moonbeams,” “Moonshiners,” “Moon drops,” and “Small Steps.”
Some people weren’t as creative, among them, “Moon babies” and “People.”
I’m not sure why “People” made me laugh, but it did.
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A few were rather well thought out:
“A girl would be a Lunet, a boy would be a Lunot.”
“If we call those from earth "Terrans," those from the moon could be "Alterrans." Or, less spectacularly, "Earthers" and "Luners."
“It depends on the parents' citizenship. If parents are not from the same country, dual citizenship. Add a hyphen after country — Luna or Moon. Lunican — Moonican?”
“We call those from Earth Earthlings. We should call them ‘Moonlings.’”
I personally was remiss for not thinking of this when I wrote my original column, but we certainly could call them “Moon Units.” (Some of you may get the Frank Zappa reference. If not, look it up!)
So, without further ado, I unveil to you the top three vote-getters for what humans born on the moon should be called.
No. 3: With nearly 10% of the vote, “Amoonicans.”
No. 2: With just over 19% of the vote, “Moonies.”
And the No. 1 name voted by you, here on Earth, to represent those born on the moon, with 41% of the vote: “Lunarians.”
It’s actually a sound suggestion. Based on the list, I think the voters got it right.
Should the first Lunarian be named Neil after Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot on the moon?
After doing some research, I learned Neil can be the name of a boy or girl.
According to nameberry.com, "the name Neil is a girl's name of Irish origin meaning 'cloud.'"
I'll let the future Lunarian's parents work that one out.
I will be sending this to the nice folks at NASA who dignified me with their response to my oddball query about what a human born on the moon should be called.
I thank you for taking part in helping us resolve this important matter.
My next moon project will have to do with syzygean perigees — as soon as I learn how to pronounce it.
Walters can be reached at twalters@gannett.com
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June 02, 2020 at 07:46PM
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