People with unusual names are often asked about their names’ origins. I know a woman named Esmeralda, and many wonder if her parents’ inspiration was a bit character on the 1960s sitcom Bewitched. (To say my friend gets tired of this inquiry is to say that the Hindenburg disaster was a mere spark.)
But imagine being named Facebook.
Nope. I’m not kidding. A young father in Egypt named his daughter after the ubiquitous social networking site to show his appreciation for its role in the country’s recent political coup. TechCrunch.com reports:
The girl's family, friends and neighbors in the Ibrahimya region gathered around the newborn to express their continuing support for the revolution that started on Facebook. 'Facebook' received many gifts from the youth who were overjoyed by her arrival and the new name.
Associate editor Bob Hoose recently talked about social media’s role in the Egyptian revolution. He quotes George Will as saying, “All modern tyrannies have depended on an intellectual autarky—being able to seal off the consciousness of their people from the outside world … It can’t be done anymore. And it may be the case then that tyranny is just not feasible anymore.”
The death of tyranny through social networking? That would be fabulous, though it’s yet to be seen. But for right now, the name Facebook—as shocking as it seems at first—really is a declaration hope for those who have had no other voice. The baby’s father certainly sees it that way. So do the countless Cairo residents who’ve scrawled Facebook-centric signs or painted Facebook-themed graffiti all over the city.
It’s yet to be seen what sort of country Egypt will become. But today, most Egyptians seem pretty optimistic. And since Jan. 25, at least 32,000 new Facebook groups and 14,000 new pages have been created in the country. The people have spoken—on Facebook.
That’s all great. But I do hope we don’t see anyone name a baby YouTube anytime soon.
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