Reader Response


"There´s no such thing as a perfect name. I think that human beings should be allowed to name themselves when they turn eighteen. Until then, pronouns." (245)

According to Chapter nine of "The Namesake", Nikhil was with Moushumi at a

gathering in Brooklyn, at Donald and Astrid´s house, a couple that were old

Moushumi's friends since she was engaged with Graham. By the time, Astrid 

was expecting to have a baby, so they were trying to find a name for her 

baby. Suddenly something came into Moushumi's mind, and by mistake she 

told to her friends the most private secret of  Nikhil's life: she said "Nikhil 

changed his name". At that moment everybody was concerned about it, 

desiring to know more about what Moushmi had just mentioned. Therefore, 

Nikhil was forced to tell more about his own story. He started to tell the story 

about his father and "The Overcoat". And he ended with this phrase: "There´s 

no such thing as a perfect name. I think that human beings should be 

allowed to name themselves when they turn eighteen. Until then, pronouns.".

I disagree with Nikhil, because trough "The Namesake", I've had read

chapters that make me understand more about his life. Even though he was  

very uncomfortable with his name when he was a kid, now that he has turned 

30 years old he is very sorry about what he did because the meaning of Gogol 

is more important than he had imagined. It is for that reason that I think that

children should not choose their at the age of 18. They have to be named by

their parents in the way that they decide, and at the moment that they are 

born. 

Children cannot grow up being calling as his or her, they need to have a name

that make other recognize them. If is a case as Gogol, where for some 

reasons they don't like their name, they have the opportunity to change it to 

another name and continue their life as they prefer.

I think that if Nikhil had known everything that he knows now, he would keep 

his old name "Gogol", because in that way he will feel as he never defraud 

his father.

If I had to named myself at the age of 18, I would have chosen the same 

because I love my name. I don't remember any day that I had to discuss with 

my mother about my name. I think she chose the perfect name for me.

I was named after a name of one of my mother's cousin. The were very close, 

and she asked my mother to please name me in honor to her. I have no 

problem with that, I think that thanks her I have a beautiful name: Evelyn, 

which I know means LIFE. It is nothing that I can change. I can't ask for more.