Hello,
Even though I have no intention of breeding (well currently, but you never know what's in the future) whilst attending Crufts last year my other half became aware of affixes and thought it would be a nice way to link our first dog to us. He intends to purchase one as a gift for me for my graduation. Anywho, there is one I absolutely adore but I've just found a similiar name already in use. The one I have my heart set on is Amaranth, it's a shade of red-purple, my grandmas favourite colour is purple, his grandmas favourite colour was red, my birthstone is red, his purple and it also means everlasting in Greek. It's loaded with meaning and feels just right, however, I'm worried the KC won't allow it. So, I'm asking for some help. How did you pick your affix? I would love a name which has reference to red and purple, as those colours seem to have followed us for our whole lives as well as having so much sentimental meaning.

Any ideas, suggestions or advice muchly appreciated  :)

I would have thought that the likelihood is that it has been taken, being fairly common. Most of us have to invent words as pretty much all existing words have been taken. You will have to supply a long list of alternatives. You can check within your own breed on the KC website, type in the kennel name and any name as a word and it will tell you if to conflicts with a kennel name or registered name in the breed, but it can't tell you for ALL breeds and it isn't foolproof.
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/namecheck/Default.aspx

It can be very frustrating to get a name granted. I got my third choice myself, and I don't even know why as I doubt the first and second were taken. My fist choice was Maligold, second Malingold, third Goldmali. (Made up from two breeds.)

Also bear in mind it isn't a one off fee, you have to pay every year for as long as you want to keep the name.

>Any ideas, suggestions or advice muchly appreciated

Goldmali is right.  Their seems to be no way that you can work out what will be allowed.  I wanted to use the affix "Troubador" as it was one I used for years showing cavies.  I have just tried Marianne's link and their is no reason why it can't be used.  Yet it was my first choice out of about half a dozen I had submitted.  This was some years ago. 

So, to give you ideas and advice isn't that easy.  But I used a totally made up name as my 3rd choice, which they approved.  Remember being approved still has a waiting time as anyone who thinks you have chosen a name too far similar to theirs, has the right to object.

A word of warning.  :-)  Once I was using my affix I googled the name.  It was the name of an amoeba!  Just a tip for you.  :-)

If you got one that was way down your list and you didn't really like, could you withdraw, or would you just have to let it lapse? Can one person have two active affixes?

No affect on my life at all just always questions I've wondered about!

I believe they not only check names already in use but also Companies house, place names, Christian names and Surnames. You can also use google and check Companies House yourself to save putting forward names they will definitely refuse.

16 years ago, I applied for Aramis (an anagram of my own name, Marisa) but was it wouldn't be allowed as it was a word in common usage (!) but I was allowed Aramisty which is an anagram of my name and the bitch I wanted to have my first ever litter from (Misty). Yet Aramisty seems very similar to Aramis to me?

Some affix can be similar but in different breeds in my own there is ellhars and in gunshots there is an ellgars

Does anyone know if the KC still publishe the affix book? I've been looking online but cannot seem to find it anywhere. I'd love to look at all the different names and get some ideas :)

Wow - I feel lucky to have got my first choice !

> Wow - I feel lucky to have got my first choice !

Yes, you should be! My first and only choice was rejected out of hand.
It took me 18 months to think of something else that felt just as right, and in the end it's turned out to be even more relevant and personal to my family history. So it's not hugely memorable, but it IS significant, and derives from local field names going back to the Middle Ages.

> Yes, you should be! My first and only choice was rejected out of hand.

what happens if you cant get your only choice? do the kc give you your money back? or hold it indefinitely until you find another choice?

It would be nice if the KC gave an explanation why the names are rejected, not a deep one just "already in use" or "Registered Company" etc.

At least then you would have an idea where to start with your next list.

When I applied for my affix I had a couple rejected as being words commonly used as names when registering pups. But when I tried to register my current litter of pups I was told that a very common word could not be used as it was an affix!!

I wanted 'Luphen' which is our website name and had been since before we got dogs (half my name, half my husband's) but wasn't allowed, but they did allow Luphenex. Bit annoying as some years on I wanted to call a girl 'Let me entertain you' and ended up having to leave out the 'r' halfway through 'entertain' as it was 1 character too many!

Back when I was showing dogs in the US, I had one with the name one letter too long and we just drew an extra box on the registration form. The AKC weren't bothered at all. Thankfully I never registered a litter in the US on the affix I wanted, seeing as I ended up with my 12th choice when I decided I was staying in the UK and applied for an affix.

> The AKC weren't bothered at all.

unfortunately the uk KC are bothered and count the letters and reject any names that are too long. :(

I applied for my affix several years ago and it took me several weeks and in excess of 50 attempts to find one I liked that the KC would let me have. In the end I was sending lists of 10+ suggestions at a time! I do love my affix  but I am not sure it is entirely apt now I have a second breed.

I applied for my affix nearly 30 years ago and got my first choice :)

When I applied for my affix I had a couple rejected as being words commonly used as names when registering pups. But when I tried to register my current litter of pups I was told that a very common word could not be used as it was an affix!!

Not so strange as that kennel name could have been registered decades ago -it could even have been a historical one no longer in use but protected by the relevant breed club. Just unfortunate.