It’s a great name. You might not think so now, but you will. It’s silly. Not everyone gets it. That’s part of why I like it. The other parts, of which there are many, are equally great.
It’s a superlative. Ok, everyone should get it at this point. “Orin is the best” … “Orin’s the best” … “Orinz-tha-best” … “Orin Zebest.” Get it? I’m receiving a compliment everytime someone says my name, albeit a back-patting, tongue-in-cheek, fake-it-till-you-make-it, aww-you-really-mean-it? kind of way.
It’s short. It’s memorable. Zebest: six letters. La Londe-Berg: eleven letters, one dash, one space. It’s pleasing in that manner; “Orin Robertjohn Zebest” is seven syllables of twenty letters, and omitting the middle name it’s ten letters. My initials, with the name change, would be O.R.Z. I like that the last name begins with a Z. Somehow having it near the end makes it more special—save Zebest for last. “Save Zebest for…” get it? Ha! There’s lots of neat little sayings one can make:
- Cross your fingers and hope for Zebest.
- Zebest of both worlds.
- “It was Zebest of times, it was zeworst of times…”
- “Zebest laid plans of mice and men.”
- Put Zebest foot forward.
- Zebest things in life are free.
- Honesty is Zebest’s policy.
- Zebest is yet to come!
See? And I like that. I don’t mind that it’s weird. Half the purpose is for the name to be a little out of the ordinary. Not that “La Londe-Berg” isn’t exactly unique. Lots of people change their names, especially in San Francisco it seems. I met a guy named Aaron Ximm the other day, and he told me that he changed his name when he got married (not a bad idea considering the confusion that a combined last name would cause if it belongs to only one of those combined). The name XIMM is actually Roman numerals for October 1st, 2000, Aaron’s wedding anniversary. And, since it was my girlfriend Lynae who came up with the idea anyways, and she’s said in the past that she’d be fine with being known as “Lynae Zebest,” well… umm, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. So right now the only thing to consider is how I’d like to go about it, and I would like to go about it.
You hear me? I know it’s a silly name. It’s not silly to want it, though. Future employers, friends, family, other… I appreciate your input. But don’t try to change my mind, thanks. I’ll close with a (paraphrased) quote:
Zebest ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible.
-David M. Ogilvy