What's in a Name?

So I received this very random call from my RSA (Retirement SAVINGS Account) officer on a routine data update call and after the initial pleasantries he goes on to ask if he was speaking to “Ukechi”. The sparks in my head went off with a vengeance! You know that pop sound you hear when pop-corn is being made in those fancy pop-corn machines? Yup, that was exactly how it went! How dare he fail to pronounce my name right I thought to myself! I responded totally disgusted with his error saying my name is “Nkechi” and went on to spell my name using phonetics ; N-November, K- Kilo, E- Echo, C – Charlie, H- Hotel, I – Indigo. He apologized profusely at this unfortunate error and well let’s just say I wasn’t so upset anymore.

So here’s my take. A name often time as common as it may seem is a unique identifier and with most people, they sometimes have very deep significance and meaning to the bearer. I have always appreciated traditional names especially because of the variety of dialects, languages and ethnic groups and the significance of these names to each of the ethnic groups. My time in the United Kingdom provided a global opportunity for appreciating cultures and languages. I noticed a sense of excitement whenever people from different origins mixed-up. There was always this sort of enthusiasm to pronounce people’s names right, multiple times until they have mastered the right pronunciation. Some of my Indian, Malaysian, Kenyan and Bulgarian friends preferred to call my name in full rather than the abbreviated version I adapted for ease of pronunciation. They felt it was easier to pronounce “Nkechi” even if it sometimes was pronounced with a silent ‘t’ (Nketchi) rather than the ‘Nk’ or ‘Nkay’ I had adapted as an abbreviated version of my name. At least they got an ‘A’ for effort. I was once asked to pronounce my name at my job until my South African boss was satisfied he had mastered the right pronunciation. Since that is the only official name I have you can imagine my excitement when people put in a lot more effort in pronouncing my name.

It was no surprise therefore when the ‘Share a Coke” campaign finally hit the Nigerian market that I noticed a new love for personal identity and ownership. For most part of the campaign, you could practically feel the excitement when a friend, colleague, boo, bae, wifey, hubby or kids find their names on a bottle of coke. The personalization of the brand created a large platform for more people to connect/re-connect with the brand by simply making it about ‘You”. With one simple tweak to the label, Coke once again became part of a popular culture, globally.

I had gone to a store to GET groceries in my city and was amazed at how people were scampering by the Coke shelf to find their name or a friend’s on the bottle. The most hilarious recreations I have seen are people who frustrated with countless search for their name on a Coke bottle re-produced theirs by mask-tapping original names and printing theirs over it.

There is something actually special in being identified by ONE’S name. It produces a sense of personal identity and belonging. Well for me, it means such individual is part of something eternally special! So I ask you all, what’s in a name? What are YOUR thoughts on the Coca-Cola ‘Share a Coke’ campaign? And have you found YOUR name on a bottle of Coke yet? Feel free to share!

I leave you with this commercial from Share a Coke Australia. It captures the depth that was put into re-capturing the Coca-Cola consumer market in Australia and the growth they have experienced since the campaign was launched over a year ago.

Till next time, live, love, laugh and share!

Toodles!!

Kechy!