PARENTS these days are going the extra mile to ensure they name their babies something unique.
The only problem is that names which were once rare eventually become popular when other mums and dads start nabbing them for their own kids.
So the real challenge is coming up with something that’s weird enough to stand out from the crowd - and odd enough that nobody else would want it.
And that’s why I ought to give myself - or rather my parents - a pat on the back.
When it came to me, my mum and dad liked the name Colin and thought they’d add a twist.
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All they did was change one measly little letter, saying 'it can’t make that big a difference' - or so they thought.
Not only was I the only ‘Colan’ born in 1993 - I’m the only once since then.
The only other recorded uses of the name were in 1974 and 1979 so there’s a decent chance it’ll be extinct now.
And for the past 30 years I’ve had to explain that my name is just pronounced Colin but has a weird spelling.
Every time I have to give my name I need to clarify the ‘a’ and then people ask me questions about it I can’t answer.
It was annoying at school when teachers read your name off the register and came up with a hundred and one ways to butcher it.
Some thought I was French, some thought I was Irish, and others asked if it was a typo.
Even now as a journalist, it’s amazing how many people subtly deny my name.
I’ll never understand how they are able to type my name correctly when they enter my email address, only to then say ‘Hi Colin.’
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Truthfully, I’m not that offended. I know people with unusual spellings of Rachel, Kirsty, Katie, Aidan and Chris who share similar frustrations.
And when you think about it, for better or worse, it does help you stand out from the crowd.
So while parents should think about the long-term turmoil of giving their kid a weird name - explaining mine has taken years off my life expectancy - it’s not all bad.
Deep down, I kind of like being described as 'Colin with an A' by so many people.
