Skip to content

Nickname Quote by Elizabeth Haydon

“Ven' is the Nain word for 'and.' It was my first word, and so was added to my name at the age of three, when I first spoke it. That is the Nain tradition; each child's first word becomes an official part of his or her name. As a result, three of my brothers are Petar Da-da Polypheme, Osgod No!…” quote by Elizabeth Haydon
Download Open image
““Ven' is the Nain word for 'and.' It was my first word, and so was added to my name at the age of three, when I first spoke it. That is the Nain tradition; each child's first word becomes an official part of his or her name. As a result, three of my brothers are Petar Da-da Polypheme, Osgod No! Polypheme, and Linus Poo-poo Polypheme. Personally, I think the Nain should rethink this tradition. As for my name, I think perhaps there should be a question mark after it - 'and?' - as if life is always posing the question of what I am to do next. I was born with more than my share of curiosity, and it gets me into a frightful amount of trouble. I want to know what comes next from the time I wake up in the morning, wondering what the day will hold, till the moment I fall asleep, imagining where my dreams will take me at night. It's like an itch; my skin or scalp hums with excitement whenever my curiosity starts to take over. And? And? And? Scratching it does nothing to help; the itch doesn't go away, and I just look like I have dandruff or fleas.””

Elizabeth Haydon

About This Quote

The narrator critiques a cultural tradition of embedding a child's first word into their name, linking it to endless curiosity and existential questioning.

In simple terms: Naming after a first word fuels endless curiosity.

Key Takeaway

Cultural naming can shape identity and inquisitiveness.

Themes

identity culture curiosity

Mood

playful introspective

Type

personal essay

When to use this quote

  • character development in fiction
  • personal naming ceremonies

Key Concepts

self‑concept linguistic tradition

Practical Applications

  • Reflect on how names influence self‑perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do names affect personal narratives?
  • Can questioning traditions evolve without losing heritage?
A Different Perspective

May overemphasize curiosity, overlooking other identity factors.

3.0 out of 5 (4 ratings)

More by Elizabeth Haydon

Explore all 17 Elizabeth Haydon quotes

More Nickname quotes

Browse all 55 Nickname quotes