Pony names are weird (rant)

Sometimes pony names are simple. Rarity is always Rarity, and Fluttershy is always Fluttershy. Then we move onto tricker ones, like Rainbow Dash, Applejack, or Twilight Sparkle. Is Dash a last name, or is it the second half of a first name? Is Applejack's last name Apple? Shining Armor seems like a first name, if only because it kind of makes sense to tack a Sparkle to the end of it. Shining Armor Sparkle. Don't even get me started on Mi Amore Cadenza. What is that, french or something?

I've been working on a Daring Do story. I think's it's going to be hilarious. At first, I've been referring to her as Daring-Do, because there's a hyphen on the cover of the book of the actual show. I think it's literally the first time and last time that printed words appear in the show. Everywhere else it's just scribbles. But then I get this bright idea. Why not read other Daring Do fan fictions, and see how others handle her name? But guess what? Not a single other story puts a hyphen in the name! Even if the hyphen spelling is "canon" it's only going to be distracting if I'm the only one doing it. Other writers seem to treat Daring as a first name, and Do as the last name. So I might as well be a conformist and do the same.

If Daring Do ever has a son, she should name him Howdy. Howdy Do. Oh, but that would only work if she keeps her last name after marriage. Like pony names weren't already complicated enough. Maybe her dad or brother can be named Howdy.

It would stink to a have a first and last name that fits together, like Twilight Sparkle, and then have a non-matching for a name after marriage. Like if Twilight got married to Big Macintosh. Twilight Apple? What the frak is a Twilight Apple? "I'm sorry but we can't get married because then my name would sound totally dumb." Conversely, in a matriarchal society, Macintosh Sparkle sounds a little bit better, but not by much.

See, I think I got confused by all this because I always thought of pony names being like Native American names. Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, etc, etc. But you can't just call someone Sitting, can you? That would sound stupid. And poor Crazy Horse would just become Crazy.

Actually, come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that Rainbow Dash was called Miss Dash by Harsh Whinny at some point. I feel as if there shouldn't be a space in Harsh Whinny, but whatever. I'm all ranted out.