A Belgian story.

I’m Quentin, a French first name with a Dutch last name. In Belgium, where the Dutch equivalent is Quinten, PR reps would often misname me, leading to confusion and even refusals.

A passionate traveller, I’ve seen people in every country struggle to pronounce Quentin. Between Quentin in French, Quinten in Dutch, and Kwentin in English, I simplified : “Call me Q“.

The nickname stuck. It felt approachable, unlike my full name which includes a particule and carries assumptions about privilege that don’t reflect reality.

By stepping away from my full name, I became “ungoogleable” and reclaimed both my privacy and the freedom to explore sensitive topics in my work.

And, to be honest, the fact that Q in French is slang for “ass” only makes it more fun.