How to Get Your Hash Name
Understanding the process, traditions, and legendary stories behind hash names.
How to Get Your Hash Name
Your hash name is more than a nickname—it’s a badge of honor, a story, and sometimes a warning. Here’s everything you need to know about earning yours.
The Tradition
In the Hash House Harriers, real names are rarely used. From your first trail, you’re called “Just [First Name]” or simply “Virgin.” Your hash name comes later—and it’s always given to you by the pack.
How It Works
1. Run as a Virgin or “Just [Name]”
First-timers and new hashers are “virgins” until they get named. You’ll be called “Just [Your Real First Name]” during this period.
2. Do Something Memorable (Good or Bad)
Hash names usually come from:
- An embarrassing moment - Falling into a creek, losing shoes, wardrobe malfunctions
- A personality trait - Talking too much, being cheap, being late
- A physical feature - Red hair, height, distinctive laugh
- A profession - Sometimes ironically twisted (Dr. [Name] → “No Cure”)
- A particularly stupid or brilliant move on trail
3. The Naming Ceremony
Once you’ve done something worth naming (usually 3-5 runs), the pack will hold a naming circle:
- Stories are told about your misadventures
- Several name options are proposed
- The pack votes or the mismanagement decides
- You drink a down-down to accept your fate
The Rules (Unwritten but Universal)
- You don’t choose your name - It finds you
- You can refuse once - But the next one is permanent
- Never question a name’s spelling - “Why is it spelled that way?” is always “Because that’s how hashers spell it”
- Own it - Even if embarrassing, your name is your hash identity
Legendary Name Origins
| Name | How They Got It |
|---|---|
| Piss Bucket | Knocked over the communal pee container at an away weekend |
| Freezer Burn | Passed out drunk in a hotel freezer and lived |
| Cramp My Style | Chronic leg cramps, refused to stretch |
| Dongle | IT guy who always had the right adapter |
| Menage à Trois | Showed up to trail with two dogs |
| Lost in Space | Could never read a map, always calling “On-On?” |
Can You Change Your Name?
Rarely. Some kennels allow “rebirth” ceremonies if:
- You move to a new city and start fresh
- You achieve something extraordinary (marathon, rescue, epic trail)
- The pack agrees your old name no longer fits
But most hashers wear even embarrassing names with pride—they’re proof you’ve lived the hash life!
Tips for New Hashers
- Don’t try too hard - The best names happen organically
- Share your stories - The pack needs material to work with
- Embrace the cringe - Your most embarrassing moment becomes your identity
- Never say “That’s not fair!” - Fairness has no place in hashing
“What’s in a name? That which we call a hasher by any other name would smell as… well, pretty much the same after trail.”