We’ve been naming our boats and cars as long as they’ve been around. Naturally, a group as eclectic as tiny house enthusiasts would name their Tiny Homes. After all, that is how Tumbleweed got named. When the very first Elm was built in 1999 it was named “Tumbleweed” because it was mobile and provided roots at the same time.

First Tumbleweed 1999

From Star Trek to Seinfeld to Monty Python, the strangest or sometimes most ordinary of things can inspire a tiny house name. Terry Lee’s tiny house name reaches back to her childhood. “My Mom called me TuraLee so my tiny has my childhood nickname,” she explained. Nikki tried to get creative when naming her tiny, but couldn’t find anything that fit. In the end, it just became “The Tiny” and her friends know exactly what she means. Ashley Gerow insisted that her Tiny House name reflects her Texas Pride, and fittingly named it “TinyTex”.

As a tiny house owner myself, I can relate. My house’s name came about haphazardly. Two days before Christmas I signed all the paperwork and shouted “It’s a Festivus miracle!” recalling on of my favorite TV shows, Seinfeld. The name stuck, but that hasn’t stopped one friend from complaining that it’s a mouthful. When I shared my story online, many people wrote me back and told me their stories.

Lei Wiley from Washington State built her tiny house from recycled/upcycled materials. The décor was infused with bold colors and references to vintage movies, comics and pop culture. Lei explains “I grew up watching ‘The Golden Girls’ and reruns of ‘Maude’ on TV. I ultimately chose the name ‘Bea Arthur’ because of my love for the actress.” She went on to explain that Bea used her fame and wealth to help marginalized communities long before supporting them was popular. “I feel like our house is colorful and bold like the characters she played and also a safe, nurturing space where all are welcomed, supported and accepted.”

Kathi McNaughton and Jim McCue designed their home with a focus on how all the different spaces from the kitchen to the office complimented each other. “In trying to come up with a name for our home,” McNaughton says, “we decided ’Harmony Haven’ was perfect!”

For Cary Davis, mixing butterflies and Star Trek was a priority. “First, my wife, Sandy, has been interested in monarch butterflies since elementary school,” Davis says. “We are also Star Trek fans, and there was a starship the USS Monarch (in the battle with the Borg). So we called it the Tiny Monarch.”

Abigail and Blaine Parker converted a Jayco 5^th wheel into a tiny home. Inspired by Blaine’s Monty Python Fandom they named their tiny home conversion “Tim the Encamper.” Abigail explains, “Just as Tim the Enchanter had lead the Knights of the Round Table on their quest for the Holy Grail, Tim the Encamper would lead us on our quests for an adventurous life.”