Brooklyn artist Brenda Zlamany used an unconventional method to name her newborn daughter 25 years ago: she let the baby decide. According to People magazine, Zlamany brought 100 index cards, each bearing a different name, to the hospital after giving birth. Instead of relying on trends or family suggestions, she read each name aloud to her daughter and watched for her reaction.
Five-Day Naming Process
Over the course of five days, one name emerged as the clear favorite. The daughter, now 25-year-old content creator and art journalist Oona Zlamany, recently revealed the story in a viral TikTok video. She explained that the process narrowed down to two finalists: Imogen and Oona.
“One name will rise above the rest that your child obviously has chosen as their name, or really clearly favours,” Oona said in the video. “When that was the case with me, it was clear at the five-day mark that Oona was the winner.”
Hospital Staff Nearly Intervened
According to Oona, hospital staff nearly intervened because her mother had taken so long to complete the birth certificate. “They were like, ‘If you don't name her, we're going to pick a name for the birth certificate,’” she told People.
Oona said her mother's approach reflected her personality. Brenda, an artist from Queens, New York, became a mother at 40 and raised her daughter on her own. Though unusual, the naming experiment ultimately gave Oona a name she has embraced throughout her life.
Impact on Identity
The content creator said having an uncommon name helped shape her identity and encouraged her to “beat to the tune of my own drum”. She added that she often receives strong reactions when introducing herself, particularly from people who remark on how distinctive the name is. Despite wondering how different her life might have been with a more traditional name, Oona said she would make the same choice again. “I feel like an Oona,” she told the outlet. “I wouldn't change it for anything.”
A Tribute to Her Mother
As a tribute to her mother, Oona revealed that if she has a daughter of her own one day, she plans to name her Imogen, the runner-up in the contest that ultimately gave her the name she proudly carries today.
