‘I would give my children a completely different name today’

I received a birth announcement with the joyful mention that Zomer was born. She was Spring’s sister. I kid you not. So many thoughts went through my mind that I felt like I was almost in autumn already.

Baby names

Choosing a name was one of the easiest decisions about my pregnancy. That was really squeaky. And luckily I had my partner on board the baby name boat fairly quickly. After all, I had to do quite a bit of ‘preliminary work’ before the seed could even be planted. Six IUI attempts, one miscarriage and two IVF treatments later, it finally worked. You see, I had some psychological artillery in my arsenal to push a baby name through.

“Certain name associations simply buzz in our society with consequences”

And although I soon knew what name it would be, I was well aware of the responsibility that my choice would entail. I mean: a Floris-Jan-Hendrik-Cornelis baby has a different connotation than a Britney-Priscilla-Dewi-Kayleigh baby. Certain name associations simply buzz in our society with consequences.

Read also – In the time machine: these will be the most popular baby names in 2050 (!) >

Change name

I myself have only been at peace with my own name for a few years (and if I’m being honest, it’s more of a truce than peace), because Patricia still ends up high in ranks of common names. And I always say: there is nothing wrong with a little ordinary, but I prefer to fill that in myself.

Having said this I would give my children a completely different name today. For the simple reason that the association with both names is immediately a girl. And because our society attributes other core values ​​to this gender. Yup, I’d give them a name that doesn’t immediately reveal which gender they belong to. A name like Pascal, Sam, Kris or Robin for example.

“I would give them a name that doesn’t immediately reveal which gender they belong to”

In fact, I advocate a (gender neutral) name that you can change or adjust when you turn eighteen. And if you feel like it, also on your 21st or 22nd – or whenever you want. Okay, okay, maybe an administrative thing, although I think we’ll probably find a digital solution for that in the future. I mean, I got my first name in the late 1970s. Yoohoo. That was super long ago!

“But what do you want to be called Patricia?” Well maybe Summer or maybe something more gender neutral like Sky, Rain or Storm…

Would you rather listen to Patricia’s column? Which can. Every Sunday between 4 and 6 pm she reads it on Wild FM.

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