A true Belgian story.

My name is Quentin, it’s no secret. 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 an international struggle. So, 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 my reality.

Over time, Q also gave me privacy. By stepping away from my full name, I became “ungoogleable” and reclaimed the freedom to explore sensitive topics in my work without tying it to the name on my passport—avoiding ending on a no-fly list.

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