A derby name (also called a roller derby name or skater name) is a nickname or pseudonym adopted by a participant—typically a skater, but also referees and officials—while playing or officiating the sport of roller derby. The term refers specifically to the on-track alter ego used within the roller derby community.
Origin and History
Although some skaters in pre-2000 banked-track roller derby used nicknames, the tradition of derby names as a widespread practice did not emerge until the early-2000s revival of the sport in Austin, Texas. This was mirrored by skaters such as Ivanna S. Pankin of Arizona Roller Derby, who had previously used her derby name while working as a musician.
Characteristics
Derby names are often puns or wordplay, and in some cases this wordplay may extend to the skater's number. The ideal derby name is described as showing "both aggression and humor" and revealing something about the skater. According to legal scholar David Fagundes, the ideal derby name "sounds something like a real name" in that it has a plausible first and last name, "connects to derby," and contributes to an "overall persona." For example, the name "Tara Armov" (a play on "tar and feather") is cited as an ideal-type name. Other names may reflect a skater's profession (e.g., "Hydra," chosen in part because the skater was a hydrologist), playing style, or personal interests.
Registration and Norms
The International Rollergirls' Master Roster serves as a centralized, community-maintained registry of derby names, containing approximately 40,000 entries. The roster originated as a spreadsheet kept by the skater Hydra and was launched publicly in November 2004. Although the roster does not permit identical or very similar names, this is not reflective of official WFTDA (Women's Flat Track Derby Association) policy, which allows skaters to have the same derby name. Many leagues will only submit a skater's name to the roster once the skater has shown significant commitment to the sport.
Legal and Cultural Aspects
A small number of skaters choose to trademark their derby names, which can occasionally lead to legal conflict. For example, Mad Rollin' Dolls skater Crackerjack was sued by the manufacturers of the Cracker Jack snack food after attempting to trademark her name. Some skaters choose to skate under their legal names instead, either due to dissatisfaction with a previous derby name or in an effort to legitimize the sport. Others argue that derby names are an important part of the sport's culture and reflect the use of nicknames in many other athletic contexts.
