Mar 19, 2005 17:54
19 yrs ago
English term

Rich Milky

English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature children's literature
Dear native English speakers!

Would anyone please advise how it would be better to translate a cow’s name if its name literally means “The One Giving Rich Milk”? Would the name “Rich Milky” be OK, would it suit a cow anyway?
Or, maybe, “Milky Rich” would be better? Like “Milky White”, you know, the name of a cow from one English fairy tale (don’t remember the name of it)?
Please give your suggestions.

P.S. I am translating a Russian fantasy book for children into English, that’s what I need the cow’s name for.

Discussion

Melanie Nassar Mar 19, 2005:
To tell you the truth, I think Kim had an excellent idea with Buttercup. It is easily recognizable as a cow's name and it indicates the richness of the milk.
marybro Mar 19, 2005:
using Rich as the surname could be understood as "very wealthy"...
Non-ProZ.com Mar 19, 2005:
What about Creamy Rich - as if a name and a surname? The sourse Russian name consists of 3 words.
Non-ProZ.com Mar 19, 2005:
It is important to let the reader know that the cow gives rich, creamy milk, and that must be reflected in its name. Yes, it - or, I guess, I might say she - can talk, and she's a very dood-natured cow.
Melanie Nassar Mar 19, 2005:
I don't think you should try to translate the cow's name so literally. But if you really want to, use something with cream or creamy in it.

Responses

+8
28 mins
Selected

Daisy Cream

suggestion

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Note added at 31 mins (2005-03-19 18:26:35 GMT)
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or for marketing, \"Daisy Creme\"

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Note added at 1 hr 27 mins (2005-03-19 19:22:17 GMT)
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Miss Daisy Cream might appeal more to children
Peer comment(s):

agree juvera : This is a very neat twist to the usual "Daisy" cow name, and would fit her perfectly. :-)
21 mins
thanks...I was influenced by the Krispy Kreme donut I had for breakfast LOL...also...here is Missouri, every farmer has a cow named Daisy
agree PB Trans
3 hrs
thanks, Pina
agree Shane London : Yes Sounds nice. Just right for a children's story
4 hrs
thanks, Shane
agree Alp Berker
5 hrs
thanks, Alp
agree Alfa Trans (X)
11 hrs
thanks, Marju
agree gtreyger (X)
1 day 3 hrs
thanks, good to hear from the Russian perspective!
agree Mikhail Kropotov : nice!
1 day 13 hrs
thanks, SirReal
agree sonja29 (X)
1 day 23 hrs
thank you, sonja
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I like your version most of all. Thank you very much for your help. Thank everybody!"
+12
9 mins

Buttercup

"Rich Milky" wouldn't be OK, in my opinion - it doesn't sound like a natural way to name a cow in English. I think your idea borrowed from another story (Milky White) might be good for a
name. Buttercup suggests the richness of butter.

http://www.expage.com/namesofthecows

Peer comment(s):

agree David Knowles : Good idea!
1 min
agree Melanie Nassar : yes, this would work
6 mins
agree Ian Burley (X)
7 mins
agree Tony M : Oh yes, that's perfect --- and has been used before. 'Rich' is no good, because it sounds like a boy's name!
9 mins
disagree Robert Donahue (X) : Buttercup to me is more suggestive of a type of flower than the richness of the cream. Don't get me wrong, it's a perfectly acceptable name for a cow. : )
14 mins
Two meanings are suggested by the name: the flower and butter in a cup.
agree tazdog (X) : Agree with Dusty. Here, Kim, yours has a picture, too: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Dolls-Bears/Beanie-babies/auction-2...
1 hr
agree Refugio : The whole point of the name Buttercup for a cow is the double meaning, and it seems an excellent choice here. I would avoid the word Rich.
1 hr
agree Louise Gough
2 hrs
agree Madeleine MacRae Klintebo
3 hrs
agree Alp Berker
5 hrs
agree Anna Maria Augustine (X) : My great grandmother had a cow called Strawberry -she was tempermental - the cow, I mean!
5 hrs
agree Vladimir Dubisskiy : Buttercup rules!
7 hrs
agree Can Altinbay : Yes, I would say Buttercup would get the meaning across. Agreed on not using "rich". Also, I think "Milky White" suggests the cow's coloring, so I wouldn't use it, either.
14 hrs
agree msherms : yep
17 hrs
neutral juvera : It has been used too often before. It is just boring.
1 day 2 hrs
neutral Charlesp : yea, why not?
1 day 2 hrs
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-1
45 mins

" rich-milk" or "creamy-milk"

I am not a native speaker, but I suggest " rich-milk" or "creamy-milk", which are adjectives used as nouns. Furthermore, since the name is to be used in a children book, I believe, it is better that the name be explicitly denotative of "cow's rich milk/cow giving rich milk".
Peer comment(s):

disagree Robert Donahue (X) : This is for a children's book presumably being translated into English. I don't see 5 year olds clamoring for the latest "Rich-milk" or "Creamy-milk" toy. If we were talking adjectives, sure. We're looking for names here though.
15 mins
Thank you.
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1 hr

Milky

How about just "Milky".... "Milky the Cow"... Just a suggestion :)
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1 hr

Milky

How about just "Milky".... "Milky the Cow"... Just a suggestion :)
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+2
22 mins

Creamy

I could use a little more explanation to give a more definitive answer. Is this a talking cow? Character traits (i.e., friendly, happy, wistful, etc...). Creamy seems to work for me here given the lack of context. Miss Creamy? Interestingly enough, there is a stuffed toy with that name. Disturbing to look at, but nevertheless....

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Note added at 1 hr 58 mins (2005-03-19 19:53:24 GMT)
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Miss Creamyrich
Miss Creamymilk
Miss Milkbutter
One of the beauties of English in my opinion is its inherent flexibility.

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Note added at 2 hrs 0 min (2005-03-19 19:54:56 GMT)
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Like I said, Buttercup is a swell name for a cow but making the leap from buttercup to thinking of rich, creamy milk is a stretch.

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Note added at 2 hrs 5 mins (2005-03-19 20:00:01 GMT)
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Asker: What about Creamy Rich - as if a name and a surname? The sourse Russian name consists of 3 words.

Oh, I don\'t think you can do that. I\'d recommend finding a suitable surname. Mary Ellen Creamymilk. ×òî-òî â ýòîì ðîäå.

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Note added at 2 hrs 21 mins (2005-03-19 20:16:09 GMT)
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Asker: What about Creamy Rich - as if a name and a surname? The sourse Russian name consists of 3 words.

Oh, I don\'t think you can do that. I\'d recommend finding a suitable surname. Mary Ellen Creamymilk. ×òî-òî â ýòîì ðîäå.
Peer comment(s):

agree gtreyger (X) : That is a VERY disturbing picture. I like Creamy.
10 mins
Thank you. Truth be told I was loathe to post it. Apparently it's pretty popular in Australia.
neutral Nesrin : My Creampuff looks a LOT cuddlier ( http://www.teddybeargifts.biz/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&... ) :-)
28 mins
Indeed, and far less disturbing too. I still think that the name works though but I like yours as well. : )
agree sonja29 (X)
1 day 23 hrs
Thank you Sonja.
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+2
46 mins

Creampuff

Creampuff is "A shell of light pastry filled with whipped cream, custard, or ice cream." (Dictionary.com). BUT according to the dictionary it can also mean:
(Slang.) A weakling.
(Slang.) An old, especially secondhand car in very good condition

That may put you off using that word, but I still think it sounds like a nice name for a cow... I made a search for "named creampuff/ cream puff" on Google, and got a few search results, people calling their dogs, birds and cats "creampuff", and even this cow:
http://www.teddybeargifts.biz/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&... !

Other suggestions: "Milky way" and "Milkshake"

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Note added at 3 hrs 11 mins (2005-03-19 21:05:52 GMT)
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How about \"Cremosa\"?
True, it\'s not an English name, but it\'s the Italian/Spanish/Portuguese word for \"Creamy\", and I think it\'s widely understood (one Chupa Chups lollipop flavour is called \"Cremosa\"), and it sounds better than Creamy as a female name.
Peer comment(s):

agree Robert Donahue (X)
7 mins
agree Bjørn Anthun : I love 'Cream Puff'
20 mins
disagree Refugio : Not a good name for a flesh-and-blood (even though storybook) cow. The reason it works for a stuffed toy is that the cow is plush and fluffy.
59 mins
agree RHELLER : I like Milky Way
3 hrs
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+3
3 hrs

Buttery Bessie

Another common cow name: Bessie.

Buttery is a synonym for rich, creamy...

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Note added at 3 hrs 43 mins (2005-03-19 21:38:09 GMT)
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Or... Bessie Buttermilk??
Peer comment(s):

agree RHELLER : I like Bessie too :-)
14 mins
agree Mikhail Kropotov
1 day 10 hrs
agree sonja29 (X)
1 day 20 hrs
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23 hrs

Milkrich/Milk-Rich

How about just Milkrich/Milk-Rich?
As in "rich in milk" - seeing you say that it's important to let the reader know that the cow gives rich milk. Also it sort of sounds like a name, methinks.
:-)
HTH
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