Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum: Name our Baby Giraffe!

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Name our Baby Giraffe!

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Boy Oh Boy

Local residents will get the chance to name the newest arrival at the Great Plains Zoo—a baby giraffe.

The male Reticulated Giraffe was born September 16 and stands 6 feet tall. Mother and baby are doing well.

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED

Zookeepers have provided a list of names to choose from. Please email comments@gpzoo.org with your selection and a short explanation of your choice. Remember to include your name, address and phone number.

We will post some of the most compelling votes and reasons for your choices throughout the contest. Please indicate in your email if we have permission to publish your first name, city, state, vote, and reason for choosing. Not all votes will be published.
See what others are saying. >>

List of Names

A. Kareem Abdul Giraffe
B. Dabney (combination of Parents Davis and Libby)
C. “Tiger” (the Giraffe)
D. Dakari (African for “happiness”) WINNER!
E. Gamba (African for “Warrior”)
F. Jabari (African for “brave” or “fearless”)
G. Spots
H. Stormy (his birth was early, could it have been because of recent storms?)

Information: Reticulated Giraffe
Photos: New Baby Giraffe | Reticulated Giraffe
Video: Argusleader.com (outside link) | MSN.com (outside link)

Giraffe Name Chart

What you’re saying…

We have received hundreds of responses so far, we’ve listed a few below.

Name: Gail
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Vote: Dakari
Reason: I choose Dakari for two reasons. First because he looks like happiness and second Dakari goes well with Libby!

Name: Jan
Location: College Station, Texas
Vote: Tiger
Reason: ...I am alumni of Clemson University in South Carolina. Clemson’s mascot is the TIGER! Like any good alum, I would suggest that the latest bundle of joy be named TIGER, the giraffe.

Name: Lisa
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Vote: Jabari
Reason: I think the “little” guy looks like a brave/fearless soul.

Name: Monja
Location: NA
Vote: Gamba
Reason: The name will go with his strong presence and his meaningful eyes. He came early “prepared” so to speak as a warrior, ready for action. His eyes are deep and steady just a warrior’s, full of excitement and adventure. He wears the spots of his “clan” just as a warrior would do. He stands tall and proud. You can hear the whisper of his name on the lips of the visitors as they see him… “Gamba… there he is…” as they look on with wondrous amazement. And just as a mighty warrior, his name will be legendary and people will tell stories of how they once saw him and talk of his strong , but ever so beautiful and amazing presence.

Give him a name he is worthy of… GAMBA!

Name: Dawn
Location: Los Angeles, California
Vote: Dakari
Reason: Dakari is the best name for our new baby Giraffe. Why? We need more happiness in our lives and Dakari will bring happiness to many people.

Name: Tanya
Location: Livermore, Maine
Vote: Tiger
Reason: I think he should be named tiger because the choice I had isn’t one listed because I liked the name dakota.

Name: Marge
Location: Humphrey, Nebraska
Vote: Dabney
Reason: I pick Dabney because it’s only fitting to be named after your parents, especially since Dad, Mom and Baby all look so much alike!

Name: Josephine (age 6)
Location: Madison, South Dakota
Vote: Spots
Reason: ...because it’s a cute name and obviously he has a lot of “spots”!

Name: Kelsey (age 13)
Location: Camden, Tennessee
Vote: Stormy
Reason: Due to the storms he was most likely born early just as I was. My mom was afraid of storms and when the lights went out she had me.

Name: Sharon
Location: Warren, Maine
Vote: Dabney
Reason: I choose the name Dabney for 2 reasons; combinations of the parents and because it’s really cute, just like him.

Name: Steve
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Vote: Jabari
Reason: hi there, After seeing a feature on one of our news channels over here in ireland, I just had to visit your site and suggest a name for the new arrival. I didn’t realise that you had a list and had a suggestion, but hey, i’ve chosen Jabari – pretty cool if you ask me… best wishes
for the record – my original choice of name for a new giraffe would have been JIGSAW…..... feel free to use it in the future

Name: Sally
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Vote: Jabari
Reason: A grand name for the the elegant little fellow would be Jabari.

He must be brave and fearless to face the world of today with all it’s unrest and turmoil. He can stand tall with a name like Jabari knowing he will be a symbol to the world of kindness and integrity, Fearless of all that the future holds!

I think giraffes are one of the most amazing and unique animals on earth. I have a very large and unique collection of giraffes including a beautifull tattoo on my back that gazes back at anyone behind me from just below my neck.

Name: Savannah
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Vote: Dakari
Reason: A birth is always a happy time! And since this bundle of joy joined the world earlier than expected without any complications, gives more of a reason to celebrate happiness!

Name: Pam
Location: Osceola, Missouri
Vote: Dakari
Reason: I like the name Dakari. It means happiness and that is just what I think of when I see giraffes. They are so cute! No name could be better. Have a good day!

Name: Shannon
Location: Clanton, Alabama
Vote: Tiger
Reason: My second grade class at Clanton Elementary in Clanton, Alabama would like to vote “Tiger” for the baby giraffe’s name. Our reason is because our school mascot is the “Tigers”.

Name: Tammy
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Vote: Dakari
Reason: I’m surprised Dakota was not in the list of names! That would be a great name for him, but since I have to choose from the list, I choose Dakari.

This world needs more happiness in it, and this baby giraffe brought just that to alot of people. There is nothing more beautiful than a new life, and how can that not bring happiness?

Name: Nola
Location: Yucaipa, California
Vote: Dakari
Reason: How about Vidar which is Norwegian and means tree warrior? (It has letters from the parents except the r). But if I am picking off of your list of names, I like Dakari as I think there is something about a new baby bringing happiness to everyone near. I wish GPZoo lots of success with the new baby! :)

Name: Anita & Maya
Location: Barrington, New Jersey
Vote: Stormy
Reason: We pick stormy as his name: He is cute & the storms helped bring him here early!!

Name: Terri
Location: Pittsburg, Kansas
Vote: Dakari
Reason: Dakari is a wonderful name and my vote. Before I even read the name list, I thought to myself it needed to be an African word. What better word than Happiness?? Babies convey happiness and can’t help but bring a smile to even the most skeptic of souls.

Name: Shar
Location: Halsey, Oregon
Vote: Dakari
Reason: I like the name Dakari.

I am originally from Miller, South Dakota and was thinking of Dakota, which is very generic and then I saw Dakari and the meaning of happiness was neat too. The new baby, as shown in the pictures looks very much at home and happy; mama looks delighted with herself too.

I was interested obviously when I saw So. Dak. and had to think for a minute where there was a zoo there. LOL Then I remembered when one of my boys was in Sioux Valley Hospital, my husband and I went to the zoo to pass time while we were at Sioux Valley.

Thank you and good luck with naming your new family member.

Name: Pam
Location: Libby, Montana
Vote: Dabney
Reason: I think the baby should be named Dabney. I am a South Dakota native now living in Libby, MT and I think it would make a Great Name. Actually, I thought Sodak would be great, but it was not one of the choices.

Name: Randi
Location: Urbandale, Iowa
Vote: Stormy
Reason: This baby definitely needs to be named “Stormy”. This name “fits” with his parents names. The other names don’t seem right, somehow. You know how gut feelings are….

Name: Donna & Teresa
Location: Christiansburg, Virginia
Vote: Tiger
Reason: We would like to see the baby named Tiger-to keep it simple.

Name: Linda
Location: Lake Worth, Florida
Vote: Dakari
Reason: I like the name, Dakari. I thought he looked like a “Lil’ Dakota” but Dakari is close enough. Just looking at a face like his makes you smile and a smile shows happiness.

Name: Alex (age 7)
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Vote: Stormy
Reason: I vote for Stormy because I like storms and I want to be a tornado chaser when I grow up.

Name: Deborah
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Vote: Jabari
Reason: I think that every young male should have a strong name especially one that grows to such grandeur. Jabari is my pick. Any baby that comes early, lives through a storm and has to drop 6 feet upon its birth and lives to tell about it deserves a name that his ancestors can relate to and be proud of along with his own giraffe community.

Name: Rachel
Location: Arkansas
Vote: Dabney
Reason: I chose Dabney because I was named for family members (but not my parents), and I think thats a great tradition to carry on!

Name: Cheri
Location: Glendale Arizona
Vote: Dakari
Reason: Your baby Giraffe, is the most precious thing, as I believe they are the most graceful animal, I believe that with the names provided I would vote, D. Dakari (African for “happiness”) Thank you for sharing in this miracle…

Name: Jason, Brandon & Cambrie
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
Vote: Jabari
Reason: The [removed] kids, Jason, 8, Brandon, 6 and Cambrie, 3, choose the name Jabari.

We think this is the perfect African name because he will be brave and fearless and will not be afraid of the world, says Jason. It sounds very masculine and strong. He’s a beautiful baby. Congrats Libby and Davis and the Great Plains Zoo!

Name: Allison & Kimberly
Location: Portage, Michigan
Vote: Stormy
Reason: We have picked Stormy from your list of names because we liked the idea of coming into this world early on the heals of recent storms. But we would rather call him spotso if we had our own choice. We saw him on the news and fell in love! He is so cute and Allison is a giraffe lover. Thanks for giving us a chance to put our two cents in.

Name: Michele
Location: Wantagh, New York
Vote: Stormy
Reason: Although I think the best name for the giraffe would be “Chuck Norris”, I would have to say that the second best name would be Stormy. It’s a little mysterous and will add a little bit of character to this cute little guy.

Name: Rylee (age 8)
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Vote: Stormy
Reason: Hi my name is Rylee. I am 8yrs old. I love giraffes and I collect them. I am from Phoenix Arizona. I think you should name the baby giraffe “Stormy”. It fits him well. He is beautiful.

Name: Jessica
Location: Aurora, Illinois
Vote: Dabney
Reason: I choose the name Dabney for three reasons. One because it is a combination of his parents’ names. He will always have a piece of his parents with him no matter what. Two because, after a little research, the name is actually a

Hebrew name meaning “beloved” and he is definitely “beloved” by all. And three, when I first saw the choice of Dabney, I knew that it was the one. He just looks like a Dabney to me.