A Belgian story.

I’m Quentin but with a French first name and a Dutch last name — with its Dutch equivalent, Quinten — confusion was constant. At work, I’d often forget my badge, and Security would misname me Quinten, leading to refusals.

Between Quentin in French, Quinten in Dutch, and Kwentin in English, my name became a struggle.

I simplified “Call me Q“.

The nickname stuck. It felt approachable, unlike my full name with a particule, which carried assumptions about privilege that didn’t reflect reality.

By stepping away from my full name, I became “ungoogleable” and reclaimed 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.