When I was five years old, my family had a guinea pig named Thomas, who lived in a tank on the fireplace hearth. My father also had a cousin named Thomas, who lived in a house someplace else. There was no connection between those Thomases; I am fairly certain they never met.

My youngest brother was born that year. My parents were going to name him Thomas after the cousin, but it was decided that this would prove too confusing because of the guinea pig. They instead named him Timothy.

On the other hand, I was named after my father, and it did not seem to occur to anyone at the time that that might be confusing: I have spent a lifetime being handed his mail and the telephone when someone calls to ask for him. I am currently investigating a business deal in which everyone involved, save one, is also named David and has the same last initial.

I have spent all of this time playfully renaming Goblin, but I think it is time to rename myself.

Any suggestions?