Name dropping: Suburban leaders weigh in on belugas

Suburban leaders weighed in on their favorite choices to name Shedd's baby beluga whale. Nunavik, meaning friendly, beautiful, and wild, had several fans, but other names also got plenty of support.

• Des Plaines Mayor Marty Moylan picked Akiak, as did several members of his staff after a poll was taken of employees on the 6th floor of City Hall. Moylan said he liked the name because of its Inuit meaning - brave.

• Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson picked Akiak "since the baby had to go through so much after birth just to survive. It truly is brave!"

• Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik wants the baby beluga to be named Nunavik. "It fits the character, personality and image," she said.

• Mary Ellen Johnson, editor of the Bloomingdale Village Almanac, author and former Lake Park District 108 school board member, said Nunavik is her favorite pick. "I like to think of myself as Nunavik: friendly, beautiful and wild - at 60!" she said.

• Itasca Community Library Director Betsy Adamowski votes for Opipok. "It means admirable and that is exactly what I think the baby beluga will be ... admired by every person who visits the Shedd Aquarium. Also, the name can be shortened to Opi and I think that is cute," she said.

• Roselle Village President Gayle Smolinski has a suggestion of her own. "I wish there had been a choice that translates into 'fighter,' because this little guy has certainly had to do that since birth. Out of the choices given, I vote for Opipok. His whole birth and first weeks of life were a team effort among the Shedd team, his mother and the newborn. As an elected official, I admire that example of co-operation!"

• Naperville Mayor George Pradel votes for Kimalu, a traditional Inuit name given to special people. He picked it because it is similar to Club Mamalu in downtown Naperville. "It's a special name for a special place downtown to have food and I think it's a whale of an idea to use Kimalu."

• Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz likes Nunavik, meaning friendly, beautiful and wild. "I love what Shedd does to try and replicate natural surroundings. It is my hope the little one will feel as close to 'in the wild' as possible."

• Hanover Park Mayor Rod Craig also votes for Nunavik. "To encourage young people with a name that embodies the elements of friendliness, beauty, and being from the wild I believe is good. Living in the wild is about grace and courage. A name can model that for all to come and visit."

• Inverness Mayor Jack Tatooles likes Kimalu, which is a traditional Inuit name given to special people. "It's a special name for a special event here in our Chicago. It has a nice ring to it."

• Prospect Heights Mayor Dolly Vole votes for Nunavik, meaning friendly, beautiful, wild. "This name describes a baby beluga perfectly. The gentle, friendly closeness it shares with its mother as it grows; a beautiful and graceful animal to watch swim; and in the waters of the world, has the opportunity to be wild and fun loving."

• River Trails Elementary District Superintendent Dane Delli favors Ipiktok, meaning very keen or sharp. "The new baby whale will enjoy this trait as it watches and analyzes all the people that parade by its tank everyday."

• Northwest Suburban High School District 214 member Alva Kreutzer prefers "Nunavik, meaning friendly, beautiful, and wild. "Native American (First Nation) people have the heart and soul into the land. First Nation people utterly respect animals/nature, and Nunavik is fitting for a beautiful, wild creature."

• Sarah Jerome, superintendent of Arlington Heights Elementary School District 25 likes Akiak, meaning brave. "I think it must take much bravery to live in captivity and out of one's natural habitat. In fact, we have so many acts of bravery all around us. It is good to hear the word and give it appropriate appreciation."

• Mount Prospect Mayor Irvana K. Wilks votes for Aniuk, the Inuit word meaning snow for drinking water. "My husband (a fisherman) and I have vacationed in Alaska for several years. The Inuit people are pretty amazing and live with their traditions and also assimilate into some of the culture of the lower 48 (as they call the rest of the United States)."

• Kurt Laakso, principal of Prospect High School, favors Nilak, meaning freshwater ice. "I like Nilak because it sounds both strong and calming, which is how belugas seem to me."

• Jon J. Ridler, executive director, Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce, like Nunavik, meaning friendly, beautiful, and wild. "Nunavik not only describes this new precious marine mammal, but it also paints a picture of the land where the Inuit people live along side of the beluga white whale."

• Al Larson, mayor of Schaumburg, also prefers Nunavik. "I like the translation, but it also sounds like a high-tech name for a high-tech world. Sooner or later, belugas have got to get with it, too!"

• Maine Township High School District 207 Superintendent Kenneth Wallace picked Kimalu - a traditional Inuit name given to special people. "I chose Kimalu because educators strive to be special people in the lives of students. As a leader, it's what I look for first in teachers and leaders."

• Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder also prefers Kimalu. "The baby beluga is special to Chicagoland because all animals are special, and we should not forget that."

• Rolling Meadows Mayor Ken Nelson chose Opipok, meaning admirable, or to admire. "When you look at these animals, watch them move with such grace, such sense of freedom even in the environs of the aquarium ... such a nobility, you can't help but admire them. They are truly one of God's creatures and I am in awe of their beauty."

• Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod favors Nunavik, "Friendly, beautiful, and wild; just like my wife, Joane."