Name Game

Woog's godmother phoned while I was nursing Eli on the couch.

“So how come Eli gets a decent name and my hijado (godson) doesn't?” She complained in indignation.

Oh wow, I wanted to tell her, Eli deserves a decent name. If you can only see who he looks like. Har-har-har.

Seriously. Not that I love my second-born any less, but he isn't going to win any baby beauty contests. Fattest baby maybe. But looks?

Alright, so he takes after his father's side of the family. I'm not discriminating against my own husband. But I can't help being painfully honest, love and affection notwithstanding.

Still, as far as nicknames go, Eli wins hands down, considering Woog started out as “Ogbai”.

Seriously.

We had decided to name our first-born Ogbai (don't ask). And as he was a two-week old fetus at that time, we didn't think he'd mind. As expected, both sets of grandparents and various friends and relatives went up in arms. So on the pain of eviction, disownment and threats of all assorted forms of social stigma, we made a compromise to christen him Owen Gabriel. But “Ogbai” stuck

Distinctive, huh? No other baby is named Ogbai . Believe me, I've googled it up (so babies Apple, Suri, Pilot Inspektor, Kal-el, Shiloh Nouvel, ad nauseum – go eat your hearts out).

However, time, circumstance, and Atch's penchant for his version of Shirley Ellis' The Name Game changed that a bit.

By his father, Woog has been called: Baloogwai, Waloogwai, Woogwai, Woogie, Doogie, Darloogie, Traloogie...

Our son seemed to like the sound of “Woog”, so we called him that.

Eli's still young, I wanted to sooth Woog's godmother. Give Atch some time, and you'll soon behold a baby with a whole new identity.

Elijah Raphael, I wonder what's in store for you.

August 2006