Well if it hasn't then I have to chime in and say I prefer Nimrod to Nim.
Nim doesn't mean anything particular. Nimrodis seems that fine and Nim is an even worse choice.
or
How about:
NinaPLM or NPLM - Nim Is Not Araq's Preferred Language Name
niaFPL - Nimrod Is Araq's Favourite Programming Language.
NCAPA or nCap - Nimrod Kicks C and Python Ass or just nCAP for those with delicate constitutions
or nPACA or nPac, just the above with C and Python switch arounds
Akalnakan - A kick ass language needs a kick ass name
Yes and for me it's a feature that Nim doesn't mean anything in particular.
Let me repeat my reasoning for the name change here:
The name Nimrod was picked for several reasons, but ultimately doesn't work since nobody understands it.
I named it after the first king of mankind, because it is the language that should rule them all. That Nimrod also built the tower of Babel is a very nice side effect. The Babel reference both applies to the fact that there way too many programming languages out there, creating a mess and to the fact that Nimrod's macro system can be used in ways that people do not understand each other's code anymore.
However, people either do not get the scriptural reference or misinterpret it completey ("do you want to insult God?"). That it means "idiot" in the US and the word seems more common than I thought doesn't help either.
By the way, according to my adhoc surveys 4 out of 5 really do welcome the name change. :-)
I understand that the decision has been made, but I will like to state for the record that I don't think Nim is the best of names :)
I hope it turns out well in the long term.
It's hard to have a name convey much meaning. The name doesn't convey meaning to the thing being named. Our experience with the actual thing being named is what conveys all of the nuances of that real experience to the name. Forgetting that process, we think the name itself is endowed with all of those meanings, but that's because we remember it all backwards.
The one exception is when a name has strong negative connotations for an appreciable number of people. Then, the name can convey its bad connotations onto the thing being named.
So, a name that it is easy to say, remember, and type for speakers of many languages is a good thing. That it starts out without strong meanings makes it easier for it to later acquire meanings based on our qualitative impressions based on experiences using "nim".