After many years of John Paul II, we will likely have to get used to calling the Pope by a new name. (He could always choose "John Paul III," but I imagine he will realize that he will have a hard enough act to follow without making it more difficult by suggesting the direct comparison.)

Henry is among those suggesting appropriate possibilities. I would like to offer some examples of names for which there is papal precedent but which perhaps are less likely or desirable:

• Hyginus
• Sisinnius
• Deusdedit
• Formosus
• Agatho
• Zozimus
• Hilarius
• Simplicius

Here are some names that have been used before that are more contemporary and "cool" than the above list:

• Zachary
• Victor
• Stephen
• Theodore
• Martin
• Nicholas

Then there are the names for which there is no precedent but might be choices worth considering:

• Andrew
• Matthew
• Luke
• Titus
  
• George Ringo

4 comments

1. TS on 10:09 AM

   More possibilities, to draw the sports-minded couch-taters:
   
   Dale
   Shaq
   Tiger
   LeBron
   
   And I'm always partial to Thomas for purely narcisstic reasons.

    
2. Anonymous on 5:11 PM

   "Then there are the names for which there is no precedent but might be choices worth considering.... Luke"
   
   Faithful Catholic to new Pope: "Luke!"
   
   New Pope to Faithful Catholic: "I am your Father!"

    
3. Therese Z on 9:22 AM

   Fan TAST ic! Luke....

    
4. Anonymous on 1:28 PM

   In that "Luke" theme, we could have Pope Lando II