Roller Derby Names: Give ’em Up
This is fun. Recently I received the following email from former Greenwillow designer Victoria Jamieson:
I have a problem that I thought you or the astute readers of your blog might be able to help me with. I recently joined a recreational roller derby league here in Portland, and I’m looking for a kickin’ children’s book-themed roller derby name. Some names already on the list:
Encyclopedia FrownGreen Eggs and Wham
Sarah, Pain and Brawl
Makillda
Mo Pain Willems
Knuckle Bunny
Anne Surly
Marilla Cutthroat
Edward Sullen
Victoria needs more suggestions. Here were a couple of mine I thought of right off the top of my head:
- The Skivving Tree
- Millions of Cuts
- Blue Bruises for Sal
- Kicka Kicka Boom Boom
- Olivida
- Strega Paina
Can you think up more? Admittedly, I’m jealous. If I were able to skate upright for longer than 30 seconds I would SO want to be on a roller derby league. And Victoria says that she learned to skate in New York from this guy:
And I am not woman enough to learn from that man.
Filed under: Uncategorized

About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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The Roller Express
Cloudy With a Chance of Maim
Goodnight Goon
Pow!jama Time
Toot and Puddle…OF BLOOD!
Incredible entries so far! Well played!
And a great idea, too.
Jacob Have I Shoved
Anne of Mean Gables
The Hungry Tigress
Punch the Bunny
Judo Blume
Too much fun!
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse of Pain
Alexandra and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Elbow
Cat in the Cast
Goodnight Boom
Harry the Derby Dog
Deck’d her Seuss
Bread and Slam for Frances
Scrambled Skates of America
Wheel’ya Bedelia
Bam-bi
Miss Nelson is Missing Teeth
Rinker Belle
Bruiseday.
I’m sure David Wiesner would be happy to send a drawing of a frog in a sling for the mascot.
Slam Bangs and Moonshine
This feels like a kidlit version of Garbage Pail Kids… (I’d love to see Nathan Hale do the Toot and Puddle card!)
Few final more:
Holly Black Eye
Lucy “Mad” Montgomery
Laura Ingalls Wild-Thing
The Lion, the Bitch and the War
Bitch to Terabithia
Hermione Danger.
I think they should go with “Shove You Forever”
Pretty much any love to shove title is gold. Jacob Have I Shoved may be my favorite so far. And may I submit:
Guess How Much I Shove You
Viola Stomp
Nancy Bruiser
Ha ha! I KNEW this was the right place to turn for help! Thanks for the cornucopia of great suggestions! I agree, I love the “Shove” titles, too. And if David Weisner were to send in an original drawing of a frog in a sling, well- I’d take it. For the team.
A few others from my original blog post:
Violent Baudelaire
Kat Hiss Everdeen
Splat the Bunny
Pippi Longstalking
Madeleine M’Angle
Greenwillow Category:
Ida B Sting
Chrysanthemaim
I hope it’s not to late to chime in with a few more:
Black-and-Blueberries for Sal
The Painbow Fish
Fear Mr. Henshaw (although I feel as if I’ve seen that name before)
The Rumble Book
How about The Planked Floors of Splintered Hands and Chipped Teeth?
Margaret Mayhem
Joan Ache’in
Marion Dame Power
Veruca Assault
Curious Gore
The Floor Ax
Baddie Woodbrawn
The Wonderful Wizard of Ows
James and the Giant Punch
Are You My Shover?
Ramona Maimby!
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
I know the pun is the point, but I think that name’s derby dirty as is!
Malice in Wonderland
whoa, some of these are awesome. i’m partial to veruca assault, violent baudelaire, knuckle bunny and decked’er seuss. let us know what you end up with, victoria!
How about Nancy Drew Blood?
Uh, Violent Baudelaire’s my derby name.
I’ve always thought “Pain Austen” would be a good roller derby name. : )
how bout Ron wheeler (Ron Weesly)
Harry Pusher ( Harry Potter )