Parenting
When my first child, Alex, arrived into the world at just 24 years old, I thought I had it all figured out. Now, at 35, I realize I was still quite young, navigating the daunting journey of parenthood. My wife, Sarah, and I had been married for about a year when we learned we were expecting a boy. Excitedly, we began brainstorming names. I’ll admit, I suggested some pretty outrageous options. While I can’t recall every single one, two that have stuck with me are Barnaby and Zippy. I thought Barnaby sounded whimsical and would make my son unique.
Naturally, Sarah looked at me as if I had lost my mind. By that point in her pregnancy, she placed her hand on her belly and said, “No way are we naming our child after a cartoon character.” I pushed on, bringing our mothers into the discussion, but everyone unanimously thought I was being ridiculous. In hindsight, I see their point—I wasn’t fully grasping the long-term implications of naming a child. I wanted something distinctive, but I didn’t consider how a name like Barnaby could be perceived.
Next, I proposed Zippy, which didn’t face as much opposition, but it still wasn’t a winner. It felt like a compromise, and after much discussion, Sarah and I settled on naming our son Alex Zippy Thompson. The idea was that he could have a trendy middle name, and if he ever wanted, he could adopt it when he was older.
One thing I learned about naming children is that opinions from family and friends will come flooding in. They will insist the name is too common or entirely too bizarre. Some might even change the pronunciation beyond recognition. Others will recall someone they knew with the same name who was less than pleasant, as if that’s relevant to you. They’ll make suggestions you dislike, but their persistence can be hard to ignore.
I’m not sure why this occurs, but if you choose an unusual or quirky name, be prepared for a lifetime of raised eyebrows. People often look at your child with the same sympathy they might offer to someone who obviously needs a shower.
Now, Alex is nearly 12, and with every parent-teacher meeting, every medical form, and all the official documents that require his full name, there’s always a pause followed by, “His middle name is Zippy?” That response is often accompanied by a curious look, as if they might be inclined to report me to child protective services.
Is Zippy truly a terrible name? Not really. In fact, I’m sure there are readers who either bear the name or know someone who does. I once had a friend whose dad was named Zippy, and he was one of the coolest guys I knew. Sure, there are worse names out there; I once met a child named after a rock band—a name that was quite the conversation starter.
Returning to Zippy, the truth is it’s not very common, and people often seem to take issue with it. Now that Alex has formed his own opinions, he doesn’t use his middle name. In fact, he has opted for “Lil’ A” instead. I certainly didn’t see that coming.
Could his name preferences change once he reaches high school? Perhaps he may want to go by Zippy then. Who knows? But right now, Alex rarely brings up his middle name. When others discover it, he tends to look down, clearly not thrilled with the attention it garners.
In this moment, I do harbor a slight regret regarding his middle name. Is it catastrophic? Probably not. It’s a minor regret, enough to make me ponder my youthful decisions. I know other parents likely share similar feelings—maybe they chose a name that once seemed perfect but now feels off, or perhaps they named their child after someone they no longer admire. Changing the name might not be necessary, but those feelings linger, prompting reflection on past choices.
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Summary
Naming a child can lead to unexpected regrets as they grow. Many parents face scrutiny from family and friends about their choices, and names that seemed unique can become sources of embarrassment. Reflecting on these decisions can prompt a mix of nostalgia and regret, but ultimately, it’s a shared experience among many parents.
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