What’s in a name? Product marketers will tell you that a product’s name must evoke the essence of the product’s soul. Or, something like that. Since 2001, Apple has named each version of Mac OS X after a big cat. What’s next? The Lion King.

We’ve been so wrapped up in Mac software reviews and speculation on what Apple will do with their $20-billion cash stockpile that we haven’t given any thought to speculation that has no purpose other than wasting time.

Like, what name will Apple use on the next version of Mac OS X?

Forgive me, but I’m doing the chronological order from memory, and if memory serves me correctly, OS X launched as Puma, then Cheetah (or, Cheetah, then Puma), then Jaguar, advanced to Panther, became popular with Tiger, and finally exploded on the world scene and increased market share with Leopard.

If Apple sticks with a big cat naming convention then what’s left? Lion? Somehow the king of the jungle seems far too cartoonish, especially after Panther, Tiger, and Leopard, one after the other ate into Microsoft’s market share.

If the other half of my memory serves me correctly, I think I remember reading somewhere that Apple is done with the big cat names with Leopard. If so, most of my speculation ends here and now. Or not. Maybe. I should be definitive about it. Mostly.

To big cat or not to big cat, that is the next OS X question. The only big cat left is Lion, and Lion just sounds too weak after all the other big cats. Besides, most Lions just seem to lollygag around and not do much these days.

The only Lions of recent memory are in Disney animated movies with Elton John singing away, or really odd looking people-like Lions dancing on stage.

Lions are out. So, what’s in? What’s left? Apple still has, assuming my faltering memory stopped faltering for a moment, two other cat names trademarked and ready to use. Cougar and Lynx. I like Minx. Sounds rich, like Lexus. Stick a “y” in there and Mynx is good to go.

What’s the big name Apple intends to stick on the next version of Mac OS X, code-named Ballmer’s Nemesis (after Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who also played the part of the reanimated monster in Young Frankenstein)?

Should it be a high tech name? A made up name? Or, should Apple stick with earthly creatures? Barnyard animals are probably out. What about snakes? Cobra always seems to be the predator out to devour the competition, but it’s sooooo over used.

Even the somewhat descriptive number 64, doesn’t carry any weight with the buying public. Mac OS X 64 (for 64 bit operating system which, more or less, is already in Leopard).

How about OS X Wizard? Overdone, right? How about OS X Magic? Hmmmm. Not bad, but would evangelical right wingers like Rush Limbaugh stop using a Mac because it contained ‘magic?’ If he did, would that be a bad thing?

Any others? Zoom? Sky? Universe? Need something closer to home but still far out? Andromeda? Altair is a star barely 20 light years away. Wait. That’s been taken.

Maybe Apple will take a page or two out of ancient Roman and Greek culture? Zeus? Apollo? Hercules? Those have been done to death. Xena? Xenix didn’t fare so well, so that’s probably out, too.

Naming a world class operating system is a tough job. I’m sure Apple’s Steve Jobs has one of his marketing stars working on it night and day. Hey, about about DayStar?

Ocelot. Definitely ocelot.

I, too, remember something about Leopard being the last of the cats.

Andromeda has a nice ring to it. Better than Pluto.

I remember that as well, though my memory isn’t what it used to be...I am perfectly happy calling it OS 10.6 personally...I don’t need all the fancy names.

I am partial to scientific themes. What about Elements? There are many to choose from. One I think is perfect for Laptops is Iridium. Look it up.

Steve Jobs has former experience with Space Themes. Remember the black hole on those early NeXT computers? Very cool

These names may seem obscure, but they are catching on. I have always been able to get my screen and/or account names validated on the 1st try. Until now. I was stunned when Tachyonparticle was taken as a cell phone account name. I did manage to snake it for my Skype account.

One more cat for OS X! How about the Cheetah? Makes sense now doesn’t it?  The fastest cat for the fastest OS X, if they are going to end the cats then why not go out with a bang.

Just a thought for the next Apple OS name.

PRO~DUAL~INTEL~3/GIGAHERTZ - 09 May 2008 10:56 AM

One more cat for OS X! How about the Cheetah? Makes sense now doesn’t it?  The fastest cat for the fastest OS X, if they are going to end the cats then why not go out with a bang.

Just a thought for the next Apple OS name.

Cheetah was the very first cat name for OS X going back to 2001.

Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard.

Apple has trademarks for Cougar and Lynx, but I think we’re probably done with cats.

Galaxy?

jonny_m - 09 May 2008 01:07 PM

PRO~DUAL~INTEL~3/GIGAHERTZ - 09 May 2008 10:56 AM

One more cat for OS X! How about the Cheetah? Makes sense now doesn’t it?  The fastest cat for the fastest OS X, if they are going to end the cats then why not go out with a bang.

Just a thought for the next Apple OS name.

Cheetah was the very first cat name for OS X going back to 2001.

Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard.

Apple has trademarks for Cougar and Lynx, but I think we’re probably done with cats.

Galaxy?

Sorry I did not know! I joined Mac in Dec of 06. It sounded good to me though. Guess it shows that I am still a fresh to Mac. Got to learn some how.

PRO~DUAL~INTEL~3/GIGAHERTZ - 09 May 2008 02:05 PM

Sorry I did not know! I joined Mac in Dec of 06. It sounded good to me though. Guess it shows that I am still a fresh to Mac. Got to learn some how.

Not to worry. I did it from memory and still got Puma and Cheetah mixed up. It’s funny, but ‘Cheetah,’ the fastest cat, wasn’t a very fast OS X.

I think the cat names are probably dead for now. Galaxy sounded good. Andromeda is my favorite, but I can’t tell you why.

Ron, I am just glad Apple probably isn’t listening to you, or the rest of us, for advice on names… sorry, but “Mynx”!!?? Help me, help me…

I thought that the cat names are only code names, not really meant to be used so much, but I guess Apple kind of promoted the big cat names after the first few OS X releases. If I remember right, we didn’t even use the cat names so much in referring to X until about Jaguar’s time. Then, when Jaguar was being released, it seemed that everyone began referring to OS X by the cat names.

Anyway, seems to me that the folks at Apple have better sense than to listen to too much of what we say about their naming ideas. So far, they have done pretty well; here’s hoping they don’t disappoint ("Andromeda"??!! , “Galaxy”?? oh me...)

GuyGene - 10 May 2008 01:17 AM

Ron, I am just glad Apple probably isn’t listening to you, or the rest of us, for advice on names… sorry, but “Mynx”!!?? Help me, help me… Anyway, seems to me that the folks at Apple have better sense than to listen to too much of what we say about their naming ideas. So far, they have done pretty well; here’s hoping they don’t disappoint ("Andromeda"??!! , “Galaxy”?? oh me...)

I assume he was being funny about Mynx, or Minx, which is a non-existent cat. From Apple’s Dictionary:

There is no breed of cat called the Minx cat although the term is widely found, and erroneously used, on the internet and usenet. Advertisements regularly appear for Minx Cats, adding further credence to this non-existent breed.

The term is a common error or colloquially used by people unfamiliar with the Manx cat, a tailless breed of cat originating from the Isle of Man, Great Britain [1].

The similarly pronounced portmanteau word Mynx is sometimes used to indicate a first generation cross between a Manx cat and Sphynx breed or a supposed hybrid between the Manx breed and the wild Bobcat [2]. This crossbreed is known for their very short tails.

The term “Minx” in popular culture

In the movie Austin Powers, Austin (while vocalising his inner monologue) says of Vanessa Kensington “...and I bet she shags like a minx”

In the fifth season of American Idol, judge Simon Cowell compared contestant Kellie Pickler to a minx. The contestant replied, “Wow I’m a mink!” The correct spelling in this case is minx and the definition for this is “a girl or young woman who is considered pert, flirtatious or impudent.”, and was intended to be a positive remark.

It’s always interesting to speculate about trends and future trends. Once Apple’s code names became THE names for OS X, it was natural to follow along for each subsequent generation of OS X. What was it? Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard. Even Apple sees that the trend probably should not continue.

Which brings us back to the future. What’s the next generation of OS X going to be named? ‘Galaxy’ class, named after stars or planets, or other galactic phenomenon is intriguing, but probably a little too geeky.

Maybe they won’t use a public code name at all? Just plain old vanilla OS X 10.6. Or, maybe it gets named after tools. OS X ‘Hammer’.

There are several big cat names that have not yet been used.  If Apple wants to get interesting they could even use Sabretooth, or Kzinti.

Mr Squid - 11 May 2008 04:43 PM

There are several big cat names that have not yet been used.  If Apple wants to get interesting they could even use Sabretooth, or Kzinti.

MacDailyNews ran a link to the Cat article and the commenters there came up with a huge list of potential names that Apple could use.

Some of them are good, some are typical and expected, some of them are downright nasty.