Every House Needs a Name

We name our kids, we name our pets, we name our boats, some of us name our cars, so why not name our houses?

1.4 million houses have names in England. While that is only 5.4% of all homes there, it is significant. Most of those named houses were built before a numbering system was implemented; villages were small, so no need to use house numbers to identify where you were going. Of course, the wealthy back in the day in the UK named their manors, castles, and halls according to ancestry, location, or family titles. Some house names reflected the original owners like Emma Cottage, some were named after the owner's occupation or previous use like The Priory, and some were just named something pleasant, like Thistledown. The class clowns are not to be outdone with names like Dunroamin or Ersandmyne.

This tradition hopped across the pond with the colonists and you'll see more houses with names on the east coast than anywhere else in the US. Mount Vernon, Montpelier, Monticello, The Breakers, and Hildene are among the old and famous, but that hasn't stopped people from naming their houses in more modern times: 'The One' in Bel Air, Bridge House in Malibu, and (hello) Graceland, for example. We also cannot forget the architects who like to name their residential projects: Frank Lloyd Wright, Carlos Gilardi, Rafael Viñoly, Sir Norman Foster...you know, starchitects.

To those who say, "The street address is the name," we exclaim, "Good day!" Why shouldn't you come up with a clever name for your home? It shows affection to your house and adds character to the place you spend most of your time in. Take your name, for example. The Robbins Residence can't compete with Robbins Nest. Pick another language and go with it: Sorgenfri (sorrow free) or Hundehus (dog house). And for certain someone on Barbydell Drive needs to name their home "The Dreamhouse" (please let us know who you are when you do that).

We don't care if you live in a condo, ranch, or mansion. Give it a name! Believe it or not, a name creates a feeling in the purchaser’s mind that it is a property of greater significance, or at least has a story.  It draws more buyer interest. Really. Instead of going to see the property at 111 South Plymouth Street, you're going to go see Heatherheart House (or better yet, The Rock). This works better in England than here, but it's still fun and why not have more fun? 

If you don't know where to start, try searching the web for house name generators. There are at least a half-dozen sites to get your creative juices flowing. Whatever you do, when you name your abode don't take the numbers off the house (emergency services still like those), just crack open a bottle of champagne, get out the glasses and have a toast.