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Other Names for a Bucket List
Alternative names for a bucket list, from plain swaps like Life List to a few translations.
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Plenty of people like the idea of a bucket list and wince at the name. If that's you, you have options. Bucket List Journey points out that the term reminds some people of their own mortality, and says what matters is having the list, not what you call it. The phrase itself is younger than it feels: Wiktionary credits screenwriter Justin Zackham with coining it in 1999. Below are names to try on, from plain swaps to a few translations. The meeting-notes sense of the word is left out.
Why these items are on the list
- Life List. The plainest swap. Drops the bucket and keeps the point.
- Dream List. Wiktionary lists it as a coordinate term for the same thing.
- Life's Aspiration List. A bit formal, but it frames items as things you're aiming at.
- My Lifetime Goals. Works well if your items are more achievements than adventures.
- Things to Achieve in My Lifetime. Spells out the definition. Good as a subtitle under a shorter name.
- My Life's To Do. For people who think of the whole thing as one very long to-do list.
- Meaningful Life Goals. Bucket List Journey says every item should mean something to you, however small.
- Things to Conquer. A bit dramatic. Good for a list heavy on fears and firsts.
- Amazing Experiences To Be Had. Experience-first wording, listed among Bucket List Journey's alternative names.
- Wish list. Also a coordinate term on Wiktionary. Casual, and nothing about dying.
- Things to Do Before I Die. Close to the Cambridge Dictionary definition, if you want zero ambiguity.
- Löffelliste (German). Wiktionary gives Löffelliste as one German option, next to langfristige Wunschliste. Fun to say.
- Bakancslista (Hungarian). Wiktionary lists this as the Hungarian term. A conversation starter on the fridge.
- Veivilista (Finnish). Wiktionary lists it as the Finnish word for the before-you-die kind of list. Fun one to say.
- Loodjeslijst (Dutch). Wiktionary lists this and plain bucketlist for Dutch. Pick the one you can pronounce.
- Klakkslisti (Icelandic). Wiktionary's Icelandic entry. Say it out loud once before you commit.
Read it on your phone, tick the names you could live with, and the survivors are your shortlist. Sending it to a partner to veto is half the fun.
When to use it
Use it when you're starting a list of life goals and the word bucket feels wrong.