Parenting
By Jamie Taylor
I was just 24 when my first son, Ethan, entered the world. At that time, I felt like a responsible adult, but looking back now at 35, it’s clear I was still quite young myself. My partner, Sara, was the same age, and after being married for about a year, we were excited to learn we were having a boy. We dove into the task of naming him, and I must admit, I tossed out some pretty bizarre suggestions. Among them were names like Barnaby and Champ. I honestly can’t recall my thoughts on Barnaby, other than it seemed quirky, and I thought it would help him stand out.
Naturally, Sara reacted as if I had suggested a crime. By this stage of her pregnancy, her belly was quite noticeable, and she firmly placed a hand on it and declared, “There’s no way our child is going to be named after a cartoon character!”
I insisted a bit longer, inviting both our mothers into the debate. Everyone thought I was out of my mind, acting as if I had lost my senses by proposing such names. Looking back, I realize I was being rather naive.
I didn’t fully grasp the weight of naming a child. I wanted a name that would make our son memorable, but I didn’t consider the broader implications of that choice. Barnaby might have been unique, but it wasn’t a strong name; it merely associated him with a fictional figure.
Next, I suggested Champ for his first name. This time, the resistance wasn’t as strong, but it still didn’t win anyone over. It felt more like a compromise by this point. After much discussion, Sara and I finally settled on Ethan Champ Taylor. The idea was that he could have a fun middle name, and if he desired, he could go by Champ when he was older.
Here’s the thing about naming a child: it’s almost impossible to escape the opinions of family and friends. They’ll tell you it’s too ordinary or too strange, and someone will inevitably mispronounce it. They might mention someone they once knew with that name who was unpleasant, as if that should sway your decision. Suggestions will pour in, even if you don’t like them, and people will insist on discussing the matter.
I can’t explain why this happens, but I do know that if you pick an unusual or slightly quirky name, you’ll likely receive some bewildered looks throughout your parenting journey. Your child may even be met with the kind of sympathy typically reserved for those who struggle with hygiene.
Ethan is now 11, almost 12. At every parent-teacher meeting, medical appointment, or school form where we list his full name, people pause and remark, “His middle name is Champ?” The twisted expressions they make leave me wondering if they might consider reporting me to social services.
Honestly, is Champ really that bad? Not at all. I’m sure there are plenty of people named Champ, and they’re probably just fine. I remember a friend whose uncle was called Champ, and he was a great guy. There are certainly worse names out there; I once met a kid named Metallica at a park. I strive to reserve judgment on what parents name their kids, but I’ll admit I had to raise an eyebrow at that one.
Now, as for Champ, it’s not a common name, and people definitely seem to have mixed feelings about it. Ethan is old enough to express his preferences, and he doesn’t use his middle name. In fact, he prefers to be called Little E, which was completely unexpected.
Could this change when he hits high school? Could he decide to embrace Champ? Perhaps. But for now, he rarely mentions his middle name, and when others discover it, he tends to look down, clearly embarrassed.
At this moment, I find myself somewhat regretting the choice of his middle name. Is it a monumental issue? No, not really. It’s a minor regret, just enough to make me ponder my thought process back in my twenties. I’m certain other parents experience similar feelings—perhaps they named their children after someone they later disagreed with or a name that no longer resonates with them. It may not warrant a name change, but it’s a valid feeling that can arise from time to time.
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In summary, naming a child can lead to unexpected regrets as they grow older. It’s a decision filled with emotions and societal pressures, and while the weight of that choice can linger, it is often not significant enough to warrant a name change.
Keyphrase: Regretting Your Child’s Name
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