hi um my name’s Bo I’m 17 years old and in the past nine months I’ve named
in the past nine months I’ve named
in the past nine months I’ve named 250,000 Chinese babies I named the first
250,000 Chinese babies I named the first
250,000 Chinese babies I named the first 162,000 for free to promote the site and
162,000 for free to promote the site and
162,000 for free to promote the site and then I started charging 60p for the
then I started charging 60p for the
then I started charging 60p for the service
service
service I currently name around 850 babies a day
I currently name around 850 babies a day
I currently name around 850 babies a day [Music]
[Music]
[Music] in this on the 6th of September a local
in this on the 6th of September a local
in this on the 6th of September a local newspaper came to interview me about the
newspaper came to interview me about the
newspaper came to interview me about the site and to my surprise the BBC picked
site and to my surprise the BBC picked
site and to my surprise the BBC picked up the story after that I just went
up the story after that I just went
up the story after that I just went crazy within 48 hours a hundred and
crazy within 48 hours a hundred and
crazy within 48 hours a hundred and eighty-seven news channels in 18
eighty-seven news channels in 18
eighty-seven news channels in 18 different countries had written a story
different countries had written a story
different countries had written a story and they were all talking about special
and they were all talking about special
and they were all talking about special name um
name um
name um basically what’s all this Chinese baby
basically what’s all this Chinese baby
basically what’s all this Chinese baby naming stuff about and that’s that in my
naming stuff about and that’s that in my
naming stuff about and that’s that in my first week back at school I had just
first week back at school I had just
first week back at school I had just done OK in my GCSEs my plan was to ease
done OK in my GCSEs my plan was to ease
done OK in my GCSEs my plan was to ease my way into my a levels unnoticed I’m
my way into my a levels unnoticed I’m
my way into my a levels unnoticed I’m quite shy so I like to stay under the
quite shy so I like to stay under the
quite shy so I like to stay under the radar and I don’t really like we’re
radar and I don’t really like we’re
radar and I don’t really like we’re looking photographs very often so that
looking photographs very often so that
looking photographs very often so that idea of being viral and the whole
idea of being viral and the whole
idea of being viral and the whole experience was very overwhelming
experience was very overwhelming
experience was very overwhelming I’d only told a few of my closest
I’d only told a few of my closest
I’d only told a few of my closest friends about creating the site and I
friends about creating the site and I
friends about creating the site and I hadn’t told my school because I didn’t
hadn’t told my school because I didn’t
hadn’t told my school because I didn’t think any won’t be very interested and
think any won’t be very interested and
think any won’t be very interested and when I began getting bombarded with
when I began getting bombarded with
when I began getting bombarded with messages from teenagers asking for
messages from teenagers asking for
messages from teenagers asking for advice and adults asking for me to
advice and adults asking for me to
advice and adults asking for me to employ them and some Russian man asking
employ them and some Russian man asking
employ them and some Russian man asking for the rights of the franchise
for the rights of the franchise
for the rights of the franchise it was slightly strange and one of the
it was slightly strange and one of the
it was slightly strange and one of the strangest things was my friends saying
strangest things was my friends saying
strangest things was my friends saying that a girl where where she lived had
that a girl where where she lived had
that a girl where where she lived had been set a business studies homework on
been set a business studies homework on
been set a business studies homework on me and I was fine with being in the
me and I was fine with being in the
me and I was fine with being in the Gloucestershire Echo next to the apple
Gloucestershire Echo next to the apple
Gloucestershire Echo next to the apple picking festival but I really didn’t
picking festival but I really didn’t
picking festival but I really didn’t know how I felt about being a project um
know how I felt about being a project um
know how I felt about being a project um one thing I did like was after the Times
one thing I did like was after the Times
one thing I did like was after the Times article my friends are telling me how
article my friends are telling me how
article my friends are telling me how their parents are having a go at them
their parents are having a go at them
their parents are having a go at them for
for
for sitting around all summer and Bo’s been
sitting around all summer and Bo’s been
sitting around all summer and Bo’s been naming all these babies home and even
naming all these babies home and even
naming all these babies home and even prompted a half Paula G for my mum and
prompted a half Paula G for my mum and
prompted a half Paula G for my mum and dad for not joining the young enterprise
dad for not joining the young enterprise
dad for not joining the young enterprise club which is like an entrepreneur
club which is like an entrepreneur
club which is like an entrepreneur Society at my school um yeah so enough
Society at my school um yeah so enough
Society at my school um yeah so enough about me and more about the site what’s
about me and more about the site what’s
about me and more about the site what’s this baby naming stuff about and that’s
this baby naming stuff about and that’s
this baby naming stuff about and that’s that I’ve been going to China with my
that I’ve been going to China with my
that I’ve been going to China with my mom and my dad for about five years now
mom and my dad for about five years now
mom and my dad for about five years now and that’s because my dad has business
and that’s because my dad has business
and that’s because my dad has business in Nanjing this met in the holidays my
in Nanjing this met in the holidays my
in Nanjing this met in the holidays my family were quite different my friends
family were quite different my friends
family were quite different my friends would go to Cornwall and I would go to
would go to Cornwall and I would go to
would go to Cornwall and I would go to the Great Wall and I wasn’t too happy
the Great Wall and I wasn’t too happy
the Great Wall and I wasn’t too happy about that and then in Chengdu about two
about that and then in Chengdu about two
about that and then in Chengdu about two years ago with my mom my dad when we
years ago with my mom my dad when we
years ago with my mom my dad when we were visiting the pandas a business
were visiting the pandas a business
were visiting the pandas a business colleague of my dad’s mrs. Wang asked me
colleague of my dad’s mrs. Wang asked me
colleague of my dad’s mrs. Wang asked me to suggest English named her for your
to suggest English named her for your
to suggest English named her for your daughter
daughter
daughter I was surprised and obviously flattered
I was surprised and obviously flattered
I was surprised and obviously flattered I didn’t want to give a bad
I didn’t want to give a bad
I didn’t want to give a bad recommendation so I said oh can you
recommendation so I said oh can you
recommendation so I said oh can you describe your daughter a little bit more
describe your daughter a little bit more
describe your daughter a little bit more for me and she then said to me that her
for me and she then said to me that her
for me and she then said to me that her daughter was pretty intelligent reserved
daughter was pretty intelligent reserved
daughter was pretty intelligent reserved but the main thing that she stressed was
but the main thing that she stressed was
but the main thing that she stressed was she wanted her daughter to be able to
she wanted her daughter to be able to
she wanted her daughter to be able to surprise people with the things that she
surprise people with the things that she
surprise people with the things that she could achieve and I gave it some thought
could achieve and I gave it some thought
could achieve and I gave it some thought and I suggested the name Eliza
and I suggested the name Eliza
and I suggested the name Eliza based on Eliza Doolittle from Pygmalion
based on Eliza Doolittle from Pygmalion
based on Eliza Doolittle from Pygmalion luckily mrs. Wong was delighted and she
luckily mrs. Wong was delighted and she
luckily mrs. Wong was delighted and she then in the rest of the holiday went on
then in the rest of the holiday went on
then in the rest of the holiday went on to describe to me why Chinese babies
to describe to me why Chinese babies
to describe to me why Chinese babies will one day need a Western name Chinese
will one day need a Western name Chinese
will one day need a Western name Chinese babies are given a Chinese name which
babies are given a Chinese name which
babies are given a Chinese name which contains around 2 or 3 Chinese
contains around 2 or 3 Chinese
contains around 2 or 3 Chinese characters and this creates a unique
characters and this creates a unique
characters and this creates a unique name with a carefully constructed
name with a carefully constructed
name with a carefully constructed meaning and I mean this is great if
meaning and I mean this is great if
meaning and I mean this is great if you’re Chinese but these names don’t
you’re Chinese but these names don’t
you’re Chinese but these names don’t work outside of China we can’t read them
work outside of China we can’t read them
work outside of China we can’t read them we can’t pronounce them and we can’t
we can’t pronounce them and we can’t
we can’t pronounce them and we can’t remember them this means that also
remember them this means that also
remember them this means that also there’s another little problem and that
there’s another little problem and that
there’s another little problem and that Chinese characters can’t be used in
Chinese characters can’t be used in
Chinese characters can’t be used in email addresses so if you don’t have a
email addresses so if you don’t have a
email addresses so if you don’t have a Western name you can’t email purchase
Western name you can’t email purchase
Western name you can’t email purchase online or basically function in the 21st
online or basically function in the 21st
online or basically function in the 21st century so why don’t try knee
century so why don’t try knee
century so why don’t try knee parents just give a child or western
parents just give a child or western
parents just give a child or western name by themselves and this is because
name by themselves and this is because
name by themselves and this is because in the internet on the internet in China
in the internet on the internet in China
in the internet on the internet in China a lot of it is censored and the majority
a lot of it is censored and the majority
a lot of it is censored and the majority of websites are restricted so even if
of websites are restricted so even if
of websites are restricted so even if they were able to gain access to a
they were able to gain access to a
they were able to gain access to a baby-naming site they’d have to be able
baby-naming site they’d have to be able
baby-naming site they’d have to be able to read English and historically your
to read English and historically your
to read English and historically your English teacher in China would give you
English teacher in China would give you
English teacher in China would give you your English name or you’d pick one
your English name or you’d pick one
your English name or you’d pick one yourself and this is where it gets funny
yourself and this is where it gets funny
yourself and this is where it gets funny and universities start receiving
applications from goofily Rolex Wang and
applications from goofily Rolex Wang and Gandalf whoo yeah but while we’re
Gandalf whoo yeah but while we’re
Gandalf whoo yeah but while we’re feeling superior and we’re laughing at
feeling superior and we’re laughing at
feeling superior and we’re laughing at the Chinese I do think it is important
the Chinese I do think it is important
the Chinese I do think it is important to remember that these poor translations
to remember that these poor translations
to remember that these poor translations can be embarrassing either way so for
can be embarrassing either way so for
can be embarrassing either way so for example this tough guy thought he was
example this tough guy thought he was
example this tough guy thought he was getting a tattoo what said strengthen
getting a tattoo what said strengthen
getting a tattoo what said strengthen powerful when really it says are we
powerful when really it says are we
powerful when really it says are we goldfish
also I’ve already I’ve realized that
also I’ve already I’ve realized that we’re actually all quite similar and
we’re actually all quite similar and
we’re actually all quite similar and that mum’s everywhere have one thing in
that mum’s everywhere have one thing in
that mum’s everywhere have one thing in common and that’s that they want the
common and that’s that they want the
common and that’s that they want the best for their child I thought that
best for their child I thought that
best for their child I thought that rather than make a mistake and pick a
rather than make a mistake and pick a
rather than make a mistake and pick a silly name they’d enjoy using a service
silly name they’d enjoy using a service
silly name they’d enjoy using a service where they can pick an appropriate name
where they can pick an appropriate name
where they can pick an appropriate name based on their own choice of
based on their own choice of
based on their own choice of characteristics there’s sixteen million
characteristics there’s sixteen million
characteristics there’s sixteen million babies born in China every year and now
babies born in China every year and now
babies born in China every year and now they’re allowed two babies each I
they’re allowed two babies each I
they’re allowed two babies each I thought it might be profitable to help
so I think the best way to show you is
so I think the best way to show you is to just show you and let’s take a
to just show you and let’s take a
to just show you and let’s take a special name so here’s the homepage
special name so here’s the homepage
special name so here’s the homepage there’s two icons a boy and a girl and
there’s two icons a boy and a girl and
there’s two icons a boy and a girl and but our cartoons where you can see how
but our cartoons where you can see how
but our cartoons where you can see how bad your life will be without a special
bad your life will be without a special
bad your life will be without a special name and first off there’s a
name and first off there’s a
name and first off there’s a kindergartener who’s happy she has a
kindergartener who’s happy she has a
kindergartener who’s happy she has a special name because it means that her
special name because it means that her
special name because it means that her teacher can remember her name and she
teacher can remember her name and she
teacher can remember her name and she can make friends easily
can make friends easily
can make friends easily then as many who didn’t have a special
then as many who didn’t have a special
then as many who didn’t have a special name she couldn’t go to university and
name she couldn’t go to university and
name she couldn’t go to university and she now just has to sit at home while
she now just has to sit at home while
she now just has to sit at home while Catherine and William graduate
Catherine and William graduate
Catherine and William graduate then there’s a businessman who is
then there’s a businessman who is
then there’s a businessman who is embarrassed because he doesn’t have a
embarrassed because he doesn’t have a
embarrassed because he doesn’t have a special name he knows that his English
special name he knows that his English
special name he knows that his English name has a bad meaning so he doesn’t
name has a bad meaning so he doesn’t
name has a bad meaning so he doesn’t want to give a card over to a partner
want to give a card over to a partner
want to give a card over to a partner okay so today I’m gonna pick a baby girl
okay so today I’m gonna pick a baby girl
okay so today I’m gonna pick a baby girl um and then there’s 12 characteristics
um and then there’s 12 characteristics
um and then there’s 12 characteristics I’m gonna pick five which I think best
I’m gonna pick five which I think best
I’m gonna pick five which I think best represent how I want my baby to be when
represent how I want my baby to be when
represent how I want my baby to be when she’s older today I think I’m gonna make
she’s older today I think I’m gonna make
she’s older today I think I’m gonna make her intelligent confident I quite like
her intelligent confident I quite like
her intelligent confident I quite like her to be honest
her to be honest
her to be honest and I’d also quality to creative and we
and I’d also quality to creative and we
and I’d also quality to creative and we don’t want it to be too much of an
don’t want it to be too much of an
don’t want it to be too much of an overachiever so empathetic and then we
overachiever so empathetic and then we
overachiever so empathetic and then we begin the naming process by clicking on
begin the naming process by clicking on
begin the naming process by clicking on the green button and then it will start
the green button and then it will start
the green button and then it will start to load as a specialist is beginning the
to load as a specialist is beginning the
to load as a specialist is beginning the naming process then when the icon pops
naming process then when the icon pops
naming process then when the icon pops up we know our names being chosen and
up we know our names being chosen and
up we know our names being chosen and when I press the green button you put in
when I press the green button you put in
when I press the green button you put in your ally PID which is the equivalent of
your ally PID which is the equivalent of
your ally PID which is the equivalent of PayPal in China and I get sixty P you
PayPal in China and I get sixty P you
PayPal in China and I get sixty P you get three names here are three names
get three names here are three names
get three names here are three names Karen Ella and Julia each name is
Karen Ella and Julia each name is
Karen Ella and Julia each name is displayed with a meaning and then with
displayed with a meaning and then with
displayed with a meaning and then with that name you also get two examples of a
that name you also get two examples of a
that name you also get two examples of a famous person with that same name for
famous person with that same name for
famous person with that same name for example Karen Karen Carpenter the singer
example Karen Karen Carpenter the singer
example Karen Karen Carpenter the singer and ella ella henderson X Factor
and ella ella henderson X Factor
and ella ella henderson X Factor contestant below there’s I didn’t mean
contestant below there’s I didn’t mean
contestant below there’s I didn’t mean that to be offensive there’s an orange
that to be offensive there’s an orange
that to be offensive there’s an orange button and then if you click on this
button and then if you click on this
button and then if you click on this button you can then share your three
button you can then share your three
button you can then share your three suggestions with friends and family by
suggestions with friends and family by
suggestions with friends and family by WeChat but I’ll get back to that and a
WeChat but I’ll get back to that and a
WeChat but I’ll get back to that and a lot of people ask me how I have time to
lot of people ask me how I have time to
lot of people ask me how I have time to name all these babies and much like
name all these babies and much like
name all these babies and much like Google has time to find everything for
Google has time to find everything for
Google has time to find everything for everyone all at once I use an algorithm
everyone all at once I use an algorithm
everyone all at once I use an algorithm the techie people in the room will know
the techie people in the room will know
the techie people in the room will know how simple a filter and school algorithm
how simple a filter and school algorithm
how simple a filter and school algorithm is but the basic principle is that I
is but the basic principle is that I
is but the basic principle is that I build a database of four thousand names
build a database of four thousand names
build a database of four thousand names at five characteristics to each name
at five characteristics to each name
at five characteristics to each name which I think best represent what that
which I think best represent what that
which I think best represent what that name means the user then picks five
name means the user then picks five
name means the user then picks five names five characteristics and then it
names five characteristics and then it
names five characteristics and then it algorithm matches my five to their five
algorithm matches my five to their five
algorithm matches my five to their five and three suggestions are given
and three suggestions are given
and three suggestions are given why three this is the cool bit I’m I’m
why three this is the cool bit I’m I’m
why three this is the cool bit I’m I’m 17 I don’t know you I can’t name your
17 I don’t know you I can’t name your
17 I don’t know you I can’t name your baby and so basically you get three
baby and so basically you get three
baby and so basically you get three suggestions which I think best match how
suggestions which I think best match how
suggestions which I think best match how you would like your child to be then you
you would like your child to be then you
you would like your child to be then you share these three suggestions via we
share these three suggestions via we
share these three suggestions via we chat with your friends and family and
chat with your friends and family and
chat with your friends and family and then without the risk of a cultural
then without the risk of a cultural
then without the risk of a cultural mistake you pick your special name
mistake you pick your special name
mistake you pick your special name in short the parent picks their baby’s
in short the parent picks their baby’s
in short the parent picks their baby’s name not me I just give three
name not me I just give three
name not me I just give three suggestions so for example Ella is like
suggestions so for example Ella is like
suggestions so for example Ella is like my grandfather Julia is like my little
my grandfather Julia is like my little
my grandfather Julia is like my little sister brother likes Ella and then
sister brother likes Ella and then
sister brother likes Ella and then obviously the husband I agree there with
obviously the husband I agree there with
obviously the husband I agree there with his wife it’s a fun process and it
his wife it’s a fun process and it
his wife it’s a fun process and it brings all friends and family together a
brings all friends and family together a
brings all friends and family together a really happy time it takes three minutes
really happy time it takes three minutes
really happy time it takes three minutes cost sixty P and yeah I just I thought I
cost sixty P and yeah I just I thought I
cost sixty P and yeah I just I thought I thought it was a nice thing actually
thought it was a nice thing actually
thought it was a nice thing actually sometimes it’s not about just making the
sometimes it’s not about just making the
sometimes it’s not about just making the money it’s just a nice thing and ever
money it’s just a nice thing and ever
money it’s just a nice thing and ever since the story about my website went
since the story about my website went
since the story about my website went viral I’ve been given some amazing
viral I’ve been given some amazing
viral I’ve been given some amazing opportunities one of which being able to
opportunities one of which being able to
opportunities one of which being able to come here and talk to you today and I’ve
come here and talk to you today and I’ve
come here and talk to you today and I’ve also tried to make sense of what
also tried to make sense of what
also tried to make sense of what happened in that first week when I came
happened in that first week when I came
happened in that first week when I came back to school and this is about as far
back to school and this is about as far
back to school and this is about as far as I’ve got so I think in the diverse
as I’ve got so I think in the diverse
as I’ve got so I think in the diverse world that we live in when every day
world that we live in when every day
world that we live in when every day we’re prompted by the media to focus on
we’re prompted by the media to focus on
we’re prompted by the media to focus on and fear the differences between
and fear the differences between
and fear the differences between cultures we see war and terror and
cultures we see war and terror and
cultures we see war and terror and sadness I think maybe the reason
sadness I think maybe the reason
sadness I think maybe the reason newspapers in 18 different countries
newspapers in 18 different countries
newspapers in 18 different countries reported this story was because actually
reported this story was because actually
reported this story was because actually they’re all more the same than we are
they’re all more the same than we are
they’re all more the same than we are different would rather laugh our
different would rather laugh our
different would rather laugh our cultural differences than fear them we’d
cultural differences than fear them we’d
cultural differences than fear them we’d rather celebrate success than read more
rather celebrate success than read more
rather celebrate success than read more failure and the story invited people to
failure and the story invited people to
failure and the story invited people to be optimistic for 24 hours if a British
be optimistic for 24 hours if a British
be optimistic for 24 hours if a British child can make something from nothing
child can make something from nothing
child can make something from nothing then maybe the future is not that bleak
then maybe the future is not that bleak
then maybe the future is not that bleak the story also shared the human side of
the story also shared the human side of
the story also shared the human side of China and a country often depicted as a
China and a country often depicted as a
China and a country often depicted as a sinister global power while we
sinister global power while we
sinister global power while we while we’re laughing at silly names
while we’re laughing at silly names
while we’re laughing at silly names we’re also reminded that actually all
we’re also reminded that actually all
we’re also reminded that actually all trying to fit in and get along
trying to fit in and get along
trying to fit in and get along imagine the global impact that could be
imagine the global impact that could be
imagine the global impact that could be made if next week the same newspapers
made if next week the same newspapers
made if next week the same newspapers printed a story about how similar we all
printed a story about how similar we all
printed a story about how similar we all are maybe then we could feel safe enough
are maybe then we could feel safe enough
are maybe then we could feel safe enough to enjoy the differences I think that
to enjoy the differences I think that
to enjoy the differences I think that would be special
would be special
would be special [Applause]
”
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