Pickleball got its name through a mix of playful associations and humor. According to the most widely accepted account, the sport was named after the “pickle boat” in rowing, which refers to a boat made up of leftover rowers from other crews. Joan Pritchard, the wife of one of Pickleball’s co-creators, Joel Pritchard, thought the hodgepodge of elements in the game—borrowing from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong and a wiffle ball—was similar to a pickle boat in crew.
An alternative (and less official) story suggests that the game was named after the Pritchards’ dog, Pickles, who would chase the ball during early games. However, this version is often clarified as a postscript to the official explanation, since the dog came along after the game was created.
Both stories highlight the lighthearted and family-friendly origins of Pickleball, which began in 1965 as a fun backyard game on Bainbridge Island, Washington.
The Dog Story: Some accounts suggest that the game was named after the Pritchard family’s dog, Pickles, who would chase after the ball during play. This playful behavior supposedly led to naming the game “pickleball” in his honor.
The Rowing Term Story: Joan Pritchard, wife of co-inventor Joel Pritchard, stated that she named the game after the “pickle boat” in rowing. In crew, a pickle boat is composed of oarsmen selected from the leftovers of other boats, similar to how pickleball combines elements from various sports.
It’s important to note that the Pritchard family has clarified that their dog, Pickles, was acquired a few years after the game’s creation and was actually named after the game, not the other way around.
Therefore, while the story involving the dog is charming, evidence suggests that the name “pickleball” more likely originated from the rowing term “pickle boat.”
The Pritchard family’s dog, Pickles, was a Cockapoo—a crossbreed between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. However, it’s important to note that Pickles was acquired a few years after the invention of pickleball and was named after the game, not the other way around.
