Once upon a time, we didn't yet know what we'd call you. You were a concept, a tiny cluster of cells working hard to grow bigger and stronger by the day. Your father and I gave you nicknames and bounced potential names back and forth after learning that we were expecting a boy. He wanted to give you a Vietnamese name so that you will always retain your roots. After having my Vietnamese name butchered through school before adopting an American one, I wanted your name to at least be pronounceable in English.
You were born in the year of the Sheep, a zodiac sign shy, mellow, and docile by nature. I wanted a name for you that would encourage you out of your shell. We settled on "Luc," which means "Strength," or "Power" and can easily be pronounced like "Luke" in English. I gave you the middle name "Aiden," from the Irish meaning "Little Fire," a spark of hope and warmth to light up the dreary winter in which you were born.
A lot of people think you were named after Luke Skywalker as Star Wars Episode 7 aired close to the time you were born. Others think of yet another Star reference, Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Or that perhaps you were named after teen heart-throb Luke Perry from the 90's popular drama, Beverly Hills 90210. Or that maybe your father chose the name based on his preference for modern country music and the iconic singer Luke Bryan.
Well, maybe your name does have a little bit of fame persuasion. On December 12, 2015, about a month before you came into the world, your father and I were watching UFC 194, Aldo vs. McGregor. The Fight of the Night was between middleweight champion Chris Weidman, who happened to be fighting underdog Luke Rockhold. Your father was still tossing up names in the air for consideration as the fight entered the fourth round and Luke was declared winner by TKO. "See?" I said to him then, "Luc is a strong name." That's when we were settled.
In the end, maybe your name is not just from one thing, but a culmination of many things, complex as a human personality despite its simple three letters. Once, there was a time when I was afraid to voice your name, wondering with a new mother's anxiety whether you will arrive safe and join us soundly. Once, I only referred to you by nicknames and only in the secret chambers of my mind did I test out the sound of your real one, hoping it will infuse you with the strength of its meaning. And now we can finally call you by name, my little Luc.
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