Eben

My brother in-law has been called Eben his entire life. Not until his first day of kindergarten did his mom tell him that Eben was short for Ebenezer. Since it was on the official school registration rolls he needed to know. He cried. It was his father's desperate attempt to keep alive two family names passed down the male line for 6 generations to his only son. He got saddled with two questionable names, Ebenezer Earl. Poor child. His mom made a heroic effort to get to his teachers early on the first day of school every year to see that when roll was called Eben was the name that was used. When he became an adult he very quickly legally changed his name to Eben Ebenezer Brown but only ever used Eben E. Brown or E.E. Brown. Hardly anyone knew that Ebenezer was his name. He passed down Ebenezer and Earl as middle names to his boys. He only used the conspicuous E. where the middle name is requested on forms for his boys. Funny thing is his boys have a great sense of humor about the names and are not bothered by them.

I love this very attractive uncommon name - it's cool but sensible!

I don't like the name Ebenezer because it's too long and sort of awkward to say, but I like Eben because it's short and simple yet beautiful and unique.