Home > Panda Watch > Archives > 2006 > December > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USVIPs vote for panda name
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What’s your favorite name for Zoo Atlanta’s panda cub?
With online voting continuing through Dec. 10 here, we asked celebrities and other V.I.P.s to name the female bear, choosing from the list of ten finalists provided by sponsors, Zoo Atlanta and Chinese officials. Some early feedback:
Atlanta Braves Brian McCann and Jeff Francouer like Xiao Tao (“Little Peach”).
Andre Benjamin of Outkast prefers Ming Yue (“Bright Moon”).
Falcons quarterback D.J. Shockley votes for Mei Lan (“Atlanta Beauty”).
Former CNN anchor Daryn Kagan also likes Xiao Tao (“Little Peach”). “I like the mention of “peach” for Atlanta,” she said.
Ever the diplomat, Mayor Shirley Franklin took a firm stand on three sides of the naming issue: Cheng Ya (“Pretty Atlanta Girl From Chengdu), Xia Tao (“Little Peach”) and Ming Yue (“Bright Moon”).
The winning name will be announced Dec. 15 from the following list of contenders:
1. Xiao Tao (shao-tao) “little peach”
2. Mei Tao (may-tao) “beautiful peach”
3. Mei Lan (may-lan) “Atlanta beauty”
4. Mei Li (may-lee) “beautiful”
5. Ming Xing (ming-shing)”bright star”
6. Ping Bao (ping - bao) “peacefulness and precious treasure” 7. Cheng Ya (chung-ya) “pretty Atlanta girl from Chengdu”
8. Ming Yue (ming-yuu) “bright moon”
9. Chang Jiang (chung-jung) “Yangtze River”
10. Tai Ji (tai-ji) “Tai Chi- philosophical foundation of Taoism”
Comments
By Guy Milner
December 5, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this
Shirley Franklin only wants to name the black parts of the panda.
By Pamela G
December 5, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this
I voted for Xiao Tao. The oldest known Panda in china is 34-year-old Tao Tao, so I like the idea of honoring her by having a “Little Peach” in America. Also, the American term “She’s a peach!” refers to somehing especially fine or beautiful, the very best. And, of course, Georgia peaches are the best! We already have three American Pandas named Mei (Mei Sheng, Hua Mei, and Mei Xiang), so Xiao Tao is preferable to Mei Tao.
By One
December 5, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this
Guy…..STFU!!!! Did Mayor Franklin p** in your cornflakes this morning? NO!!!!
By Capt
December 5, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this
Just call her SKEETER and be done with it. Enough aleady.
By Joe
December 5, 2006 01:26 PM | Link to this
i don’t understand the little part. do people not realize she will grow? thus no longer ‘little’!
By ummm
December 5, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this
I’ll be glad when they officially name Bling Bling. Then Bling Bling will have a name.
By DT
December 5, 2006 02:44 PM | Link to this
Guy, This is suppose to be a happy time for everyone that loves that panda. But like always we get some stupid person that think they are a comedian. Just name the bear already and shut up. Me personlly I like Ming Yue.
By Baiju
December 5, 2006 02:50 PM | Link to this
Seriously does anyone care how the “VIP”s voted???
I’m more important than them….
What makes an athlete or an entertainer a VIP puzzles me.
By r diva
December 5, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this
The panda could be named anything-her name will always be Bling Bling. Why fight it?
By mika
December 5, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this
haha VIPs who cares. what are we NIPs
By LX2
December 5, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this
Since we named an Ape Willie B., after a former Mayor, I thought we should have named her after Shirley Franklin. If you take the last three letters of Shirley, L-E-Y, then take the last three letters of Franklin, L-I-N, you have the name, “Ley Lin.”
By Guy Milner
December 5, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this
or, Lez Bien.
By Jane
December 5, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this
Pamela G, you know this panda is going back to China in a few years. Zoo Atlanta is only “renting” her and her Panda mom and dad.
Guy: you made me laugh!
By Abby
December 6, 2006 07:59 AM | Link to this
Why can’t we name her “Won Ton”? It’s cute and easy to pronounce.
By KUNG POW
December 6, 2006 08:00 AM | Link to this
It’s obvious now that the voting is rigged. Dems will demand a recount.
By Cindy
December 6, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this
How exactly is Shirley Franklin “ever the diplomat?” I’m so sick of hearing about her. Besides, wasn’t she endorsed by a convicted criminal?
By Tina G
December 6, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this
I like the name Mei Li. It’s simple!
By cee
December 6, 2006 09:17 AM | Link to this
How is it that even something as happy as naming a little (to grow bigger) miracle brings out the worst in people? Guy and Kung Pow, please give it a rest. DT, I’m with you.
By Anne
December 6, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this
Why not ‘Mei Tao Lan’ (Atlanta Peach Beauty)? This has no ‘little’ but gives the name to Atlanta and our Georgia Peach.
By Renee
December 6, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this
I think you all need a life.
By Pamela G
December 6, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this
Jane: Yes, the cub may indeed return to China, although there is a growing movement to retain some of the cubs whose genetic makeup is not immediately needed. However, she will always be an American-born Panda, even to the Chinese. When San Diego’s Hua Mei was return to China, she was welcomed with a parade and the Chinese press referred to her as the “American Beauty”. The American-born Pandas are, and always will be, treasured celebrities.
By Capt
December 6, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
How about “None Hung Low”
By Rublabub
December 6, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this
I like Mei Lan - Our American cubcake is a celebrity so doesn’t that make her a VIP (very important panda)???
By koz
December 6, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this
VIPs? Just because they are famous, it doesn’t make them important!
Poor choice of wording by the AJC.
By koz
December 6, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this
VIPs? Just because they are famous, it doesn’t make them important!
Poor choice of wording by the AJC.
By koz
December 6, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this
VIPs? Just because they are famous, it doesn’t make them important!
Poor choice of wording by the AJC.
By koz
December 6, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this
VIPs? Just because they are famous, it doesn’t make them important!
Poor choice of wording by the AJC.
By susan wright
December 6, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this
I thought of another name for the panda that fits. Would you consider
By koz
December 6, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this
As you can tell this form is slow - and I am impatient!
By KPH
December 6, 2006 03:56 PM | Link to this
I have a question. What does “mai” mean in Chinese? It appears in 3 name choices but the English translations dont contain any of the same words. My vote is Mei Tao, Beautiful Peach.
By KPH
December 6, 2006 03:59 PM | Link to this
Sorry the question shuld have been what does Mei mean in Chinese?
By Denise Lira
December 6, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this
I love the option number 4 for the baby panda
“beautiful”
Thanks
Denise
By Humbug
December 6, 2006 06:11 PM | Link to this
Hey folks…This is Atlanta so the name has to include King or Jackson. She will probably be named Coretta.
By MEI TAO
December 7, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this
MEI TAO means “beautiful peach” and also “American peach” as the word “mei” is used in the Chinese word for “America.” (beautiful country)
I loved “little peach” at the beginning, but our cubcake is getting SO BIG SO FAST - I think MEI TAO is the best life-long name.
The only other idea I have -after seeing all the names - is YUE TAO for “moon peach” since this beautiful Georgia peach was born under a full moon. Maybe if these two names are close, ZOO ATLANTA and the CHINESE will pick the combination.
In any case, please vote for our “peach” in some format!
MEI TAO is the best of the current options with YUE TAO an even prettier combination for the sweetest panda cub ever born in America!
By YUE TAO or MING TAO
December 7, 2006 09:46 AM | Link to this
I like this idea! HOW ABOUT YUE TAO or **MING TAO” as a collaborative compromise????
MOON PEACH or BRIGHT PEACH!
They are both beautiful (mei) names for a beautiful panda cub - that will also one day be a wonderful mom!
By Fulton
December 7, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this
Can you morons LEAVE YOUR POLITICS OUT OF ONE ISSUE FOR A MINUTE and just offer a friggin’ NAME for the Panda??? Personally, she’s Bling-Bling to me. It’s cute and appropriate!!
By CJ
December 7, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this
Bling Bling still gets my vote.
By susie
December 7, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this
Name her Mei Tao, she looks like a beautiful peach, after all she was born in Georgia and lives in Georiga so that fits her nicely.
By Missy
December 7, 2006 04:17 PM | Link to this
I vote for Bling Bling