# EL Merge Client Release Naming

The Merge is an Ethereum upgrade where blockchain is switching the consensus mechanism from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS).

Following the general decision of selecting a star name for beacon chain upgrade, the Ethereum community decided to go with ***Bellatrix*** as the code name for CL clients' specs for the Merge upgrade.

## General consensus

Below is the [shortlist](https://hackmd.io/@poojaranjan/ELClientReleaseName#Shortlisted-4) of proposed names for EL clients specs for Merge based on the nominations recieved on [FEM Discussion thread](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928).

Based on the responses received on the FEM + [Twitter Poll](https://twitter.com/EthCatHerders/status/1501924903804669958) and general discussion in the community meeting organized, the rough consensus, we have a final winner 🥁🥁🥁

#
# 🗼 [Paris](https://hackmd.io/@poojaranjan/ELClientReleaseName#Paris-%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F--49) 🗼

We thank all proposers for sending nominations and all participants who voted and shared their thoughts in the community meeting to help us finalize the name for EL client code.

[EL specs](https://github.com/ethereum/execution-specs/blob/master/network-upgrades/mainnet-upgrades/paris.md) are updated.
[Recording](https://youtu.be/BnaF8pOMsMU) available for those who missed to join the call.

## Shortlisted (4)

### [Halocline](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/12?u=poojaranjan) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ + 22 


As described by the FEM proposer (radek), ***Halocline*** is the place where two different substances meet.

In oceanography, a halocline is a cline, a subtype of chemocline caused by a strong, vertical salinity gradient within a body of water. For underwater cave explorers, this can cause the optical illusion of air space in caverns. Passing through the halocline tends to stir up the layers.

(from Greek hals, halos 'salt' and klinein 'to slope')

For underwater cave explorers, this can cause the optical illusion of air space in caverns. Passing through the halocline tends to stir up the layers.

This analogy may relate to client developers working on the Merge.

Original proposal received 5 likes and 2 more in a comment in the same thread.

### [Serenity](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/6?u=poojaranjan) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ + 55

(Image: [Josh Sorenson](https://www.pexels.com/photo/ocean-under-crepuscular-clouds-378271/))

According to FEM proposer, an Ethereum developer (Matt Garnett), ***Serenity*** has generally referred to both the upgrade to PoS and the introduction of sharding. He thinks merging the EL and CL is momentous enough to overlook that.

However, another user (taxmeifyoucan) signaled that it might be confusing for the public since it is widely understood as `Eth 2.0`, with sharding.

Nevertheless, this proposal received 4 likes in the original post and 2 more in another one posted in the same thread.

### [Paris](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/4?u=poojaranjan) ❤️❤️❤️ + 49


Proposed by EvanVanNessEth with an argument that ***Paris*** was the first massive non-Devcon conference. Another FEM user also proposed Paris stating, "Paris is the City of Lights". To be noted, it was earlier agreed to name the EL upgrades on the name of Devcon city.

This proposal received 2 likes on the original comment with the proposal and 1 more in another one posted in the same thread.

### [Finally](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/5?u=poojaranjan) ❤️❤️ + 41


Proposed by T Jay Rush, ***Finally*** was without additional argument. Most likely the word is self explanatory.

It received 2 likes on the original comment with a proposal.

## Nominations received (12)

1. [Xirtalleb](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/2?u=poojaranjan) - Echo “Bellatrix”.
3. [Malaspina Glacier](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/3?u=poojaranjan) - The glacier that is a merger of multiple glaciers.
4. [Paris](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/4?u=poojaranjan) - First massive non-Devcon conference.
5. [Finally](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/5?u=poojaranjan) - No relevance provided.
6. [Serenity](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/6?u=poojaranjan) - Merging the EL and CL is momentous.
7. [Horizon](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/8?u=poojaranjan) - “The Horizon fork”, all about going beyond the horizon. Fits with earlier fork names like Homestead and Frontier.
8. [Los Angeles](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/9?u=poojaranjan) - The City of Stars.
9. [Holocene](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/10?u=poojaranjan) - The period after glaciers. From the Greek for words for whole and new.
10. [Halocline](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/12?u=poojaranjan) - The place where 2 different substances meet.
11. [Tigris or Euphrates](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/13?u=poojaranjan) - No relevance provided.
12. [Terminus](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/14?u=poojaranjan) - End of transportation line’, fits nicely with old testnet metro station names.
13. [Gaia](https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/el-merge-client-release-naming/7928/16?u=poojaranjan) - The personification of the Earth. It’s short, relatively unique, and may pair well with Bellatrix.