What’s in a name? A lot if it’s Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher ...
LONDON — Many people from Asia choose a Westernized forename to make it easier for their friends and colleagues from that part of the world, as many Westerners struggle to get their vocal chords around some Chinese names.
But they are unlikely to swap popular choices such as David or Emily to follow in the footsteps of one of Britain’s most quirky and eccentric members of parliament.
Conservative lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg and his wife Helena have named their newly arrived son Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher.
As the name implies, it’s Rees-Mogg’s sixth child. However, baby-name books say Sixtus is derived from the Greek name Xystus, meaning “polished”, and should not be confused with the Latin name Sextus, meaning sixth.
Picking name options from the new arrival’s five siblings may not prove much help either. The other members of the Rees-Mogg clan are called Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius, Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan, Peter Theodore Alphege, Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam and Mary Anne Charlotte Emma.
Quirky style
Rees-Mogg’s quirky style of addressing his fellow MPs in the House of Commons has proved so popular that he is emerging as a star on social media in Britain.
There are even T-shirts on sale showing the bespectacled MP with the words: “The Mogg Father”.
One comment appearing on a popular social media site on Wednesday to celebrate the arrival of the MPs sixth child, said: “How wonderful, congratulations!!! Now let’s get Sixtus and the others into number 10!”
One of the top-selling national tabloids was even suggesting on Wednesday that “with Theresa May on the skids, he’s being tipped to run for the top job” as prime minister.
The son of the renowned former editor of the Times newspaper, William ReesMogg was educated at top school Eton before heading to Oxford.
One of Britain’s best known political sketch writers, Quentin Letts, has even described Rees-Mogg as “the honorable member of parliament for the early 20th century”.
Rees-Mogg earned a place in the record books five years ago when he used what would become the longest word ever printed in Hansard, the official record of debates in the Houses of Parliament.
The word was the 29-letter floccinaucinihilipilification, which means the “act or habit of estimating as worthless” and Rees-Mogg said that it “came to mind as it does from time to time”.
The highly euro-sceptic Conservative explained in a media interview that the use of the word had helped in his criticism of judges in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
How wonderful, congratulations!!! Now let’s get Sixtus and the others into number 10!”
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