0:00:14.822,0:00:18.982 And in the past nine months,[br]I've named 250,000 Chinese babies. 0:00:19.502,0:00:20.642 (Laughter) 0:00:09.741,0:00:12.232 Hi, my name's Beau. 0:00:12.232,0:00:14.472 I'm 17 years old. 0:00:20.642,0:00:26.143 I named the first 162,000 for free[br]to promote the site. 0:00:26.143,0:00:28.960 And then I started[br]charging 60p for the service. 0:00:29.640,0:00:32.561 I currently name around 850 babies a day. 0:00:34.721,0:00:36.071 (Laughter) 0:00:36.071,0:00:38.239 On the 6th of September,[br] 0:00:38.239,0:00:41.415 a local newspaper came[br]to interview me about the site, 0:00:41.965,0:00:45.245 and to my surprise,[br]the BBC picked up the story. 0:00:47.365,0:00:49.127 After that, it just went crazy. 0:00:49.717,0:00:55.793 Within 48 hours, 187 news channels[br]in 18 different countries 0:00:55.793,0:00:56.802 had written a story, 0:00:56.802,0:00:58.965 and they were all talking[br]about 'Specialname'. 0:01:02.795,0:01:07.406 Basically, what's all this Chinese[br]baby naming stuff about? 0:01:08.386,0:01:10.526 In my first week back at school, 0:01:11.406,0:01:14.176 I had just done OK in my GCSEs, 0:01:14.176,0:01:17.365 and my plan was to ease my way[br]into my A-levels unnoticed. 0:01:17.365,0:01:21.526 I'm quite shy, so I like[br]to stay under the radar. 0:01:22.416,0:01:25.980 And I don't really like the way[br]I look in the photographs very often, 0:01:25.980,0:01:29.256 so the idea of being viral[br]and the whole experience 0:01:29.256,0:01:31.186 was very overwhelming. 0:01:31.186,0:01:34.808 I'd only told a few of my closest friends[br]about creating the site, 0:01:34.928,0:01:36.817 and I hadn't told my school, 0:01:36.817,0:01:39.407 because I didn't think anyone[br]would be very interested. 0:01:39.407,0:01:43.507 And when I began getting bombarded[br]with messages from teenagers 0:01:43.507,0:01:45.331 asking for advice,[br] 0:01:45.561,0:01:47.811 adults asking for me to employ them, 0:01:47.811,0:01:51.639 and some Russian man[br]asking for the rights to franchise, 0:01:51.639,0:01:53.314 it was slightly strange. 0:01:55.477,0:01:58.638 One of the strangest things[br]was my friend saying 0:01:58.638,0:02:03.842 that a girl where she lived had been set[br]a business studies homework on me. 0:02:05.229,0:02:07.702 I was fine with being[br]in the Gloucestershire Echo 0:02:07.702,0:02:09.782 next to the apple-picking festival, 0:02:09.782,0:02:12.732 but I really didn't know[br]how I felt about being a project. 0:02:15.322,0:02:18.056 One of the things I did like[br]was, after the Times article, 0:02:19.136,0:02:22.389 my friends were telling me[br]how their parents were having a go at them 0:02:22.389,0:02:23.912 for, 'Sitting around all summer, 0:02:23.912,0:02:26.200 and Beau's been naming all these babies.' 0:02:26.200,0:02:27.900 (Laughter) 0:02:27.900,0:02:30.355 And even prompted a half apology[br]from my mum and dad 0:02:30.355,0:02:32.480 for not joining the Young Enterprise Club, 0:02:32.480,0:02:35.322 which is like an entrepreneur[br]society at my school. 0:02:36.732,0:02:39.640 Yeah, so enough about me[br]and more about the site. 0:02:39.640,0:02:42.323 What's this baby naming stuff about? 0:02:44.008,0:02:50.052 I've been going to China with my mum[br]and my dad for about five years now, 0:02:50.052,0:02:54.472 and that's because my dad[br]has business in Nanjing. 0:02:54.472,0:02:57.378 So this meant that holidays in my family[br]were quite different. 0:02:57.378,0:03:00.709 My friends would go to Cornwall,[br]and I would go to the Great Wall. 0:03:01.239,0:03:03.295 I wasn't too happy about that. 0:03:04.295,0:03:07.525 And then in Chengdu, about two years ago, 0:03:07.525,0:03:10.183 with my mum and my dad[br]when we were visiting the pandas, 0:03:10.183,0:03:12.743 a business colleague of my dad, Mrs.Wang, 0:03:12.743,0:03:16.563 asked me to suggest an English name[br]for her three-year-old daughter. 0:03:17.503,0:03:20.421 I was surprised and obviously flattered. 0:03:20.421,0:03:22.944 I didn't want to give[br]a bad recommendation, 0:03:22.944,0:03:26.957 so I said, 'Oh, can you describe[br]your daughter a little bit more for me?' 0:03:27.802,0:03:32.766 She then said to me that her daughter[br]was pretty, intelligent, reserved, 0:03:32.766,0:03:34.453 but the main thing she stressed was 0:03:34.453,0:03:36.953 she wanted her daughter[br]to be able to surprise people 0:03:36.953,0:03:38.746 with the things she could achieve. 0:03:39.216,0:03:40.464 I gave it some thought, 0:03:40.464,0:03:45.274 and I suggested the name Eliza,[br]based on Eliza Doolittle from Pygmalion. 0:03:46.434,0:03:48.796 Luckily, Mrs.Wang was delighted, 0:03:48.796,0:03:52.216 and she then, in the rest of the holiday,[br]went on to describe to me 0:03:52.216,0:03:55.185 why Chinese babies would one day[br]need a Western name. 0:03:57.415,0:04:00.485 Chinese babies are given a Chinese name, 0:04:00.485,0:04:03.556 which contains around two or three[br]Chinese characters. 0:04:03.966,0:04:07.956 This creates a unique name[br]with a carefully constructed meaning, 0:04:07.956,0:04:10.442 and, I mean, this is great[br]if you're a Chinese, 0:04:10.442,0:04:12.715 but these names[br]don't work outside of China. 0:04:12.715,0:04:14.775 We can't read them,[br]we can't pronounce them, 0:04:14.775,0:04:16.656 and we can't remember them. 0:04:17.806,0:04:21.727 This means that also[br]there's another little problem, 0:04:21.727,0:04:25.027 and the Chinese characters[br]can't be used in email addresses. 0:04:25.347,0:04:27.108 So if you don't have a Western name, 0:04:27.108,0:04:31.448 you can't email, purchase online[br]or basically function in the 21st century. 0:04:33.308,0:04:38.602 So why don't Chinese parents just give[br]their child a Western name by themselves? 0:04:38.602,0:04:44.869 And this is because on the internet[br]in China a lot of it is censored, 0:04:44.869,0:04:47.537 and the majority[br]of websites are restricted. 0:04:47.537,0:04:51.438 So even if they were able to gain[br]access to a baby naming site, 0:04:51.438,0:04:53.529 they'd have to be able to read English. 0:04:54.219,0:04:58.849 Historically, your English teacher[br]in China would give you your English name, 0:04:58.849,0:05:02.466 or you'd pick one yourself. 0:05:02.636,0:05:04.837 And this is where it gets funny,[br] 0:05:04.837,0:05:10.572 and universities[br]start receiving applications 0:05:10.572,0:05:12.262 from Goofy Li, 0:05:12.942,0:05:14.434 Rolex Wang, 0:05:14.434,0:05:15.444 (Laughter) 0:05:15.444,0:05:16.914 and Gandalf Wu. 0:05:16.914,0:05:18.974 (Laughter) 0:05:19.814,0:05:23.727 Yeah, but while we're feeling superior[br]and we're laughing at the Chinese, 0:05:23.727,0:05:25.535 I do think it is important to remember 0:05:25.535,0:05:28.686 that these poor translations[br]can be embarrassing either way. 0:05:28.686,0:05:30.086 So for example, 0:05:30.086,0:05:32.844 this tough guy thought[br]he was getting a tattoo what said, 0:05:32.844,0:05:33.947 'Strength and Powerful' 0:05:33.947,0:05:36.547 when really it says 'Angry goldfish'. 0:05:36.547,0:05:38.567 (Laughter) 0:05:39.197,0:05:43.551 Also, I've realised[br]that we are actually all quite similar 0:05:43.551,0:05:46.575 and that mums everywhere[br]have one thing in common, 0:05:46.575,0:05:49.620 and that's that they want[br]the best for their child. 0:05:50.618,0:05:53.639 I thought that rather than make a mistake[br]and pick a silly name, 0:05:53.639,0:05:57.487 they'd enjoy using a service[br]where they can pick an appropriate name 0:05:57.498,0:06:00.194 based on their own choice[br]of characteristics. 0:06:01.150,0:06:04.800 There are 16 million babies born[br]in China every year, 0:06:04.800,0:06:06.798 and now they're allowed two babies each. 0:06:06.798,0:06:09.375 I thought it might be profitable to help. 0:06:09.375,0:06:11.515 (Laughter) 0:06:12.265,0:06:16.480 So, I think the best way to show you[br]is to just show you. 0:06:17.020,0:06:19.180 Let's pick a special name. 0:06:19.180,0:06:20.930 So here's the homepage. 0:06:20.930,0:06:23.641 There's two icons, a boy and a girl, 0:06:23.641,0:06:25.159 and below are cartoons 0:06:25.159,0:06:28.977 where you can see how bad your life[br]will be without a special name. 0:06:30.087,0:06:33.829 First off, there's a kindergartener[br]who's happy she has a special name 0:06:33.829,0:06:36.458 because it means that her teacher[br]can remember her name, 0:06:36.458,0:06:38.401 and she can make friends easily. 0:06:38.401,0:06:41.389 Then, there's Minnie,[br]who didn't have a special name. 0:06:41.389,0:06:43.001 She couldn't go to university, 0:06:43.001,0:06:46.611 and she now just has to sit at home[br]while Catherine and William graduate. 0:06:47.051,0:06:49.661 Then, there's a businessman[br]who is embarrassed 0:06:49.661,0:06:51.490 because he doesn't have a special name 0:06:51.490,0:06:54.641 and he knows that his English name[br]has a bad meaning, 0:06:54.641,0:06:57.691 so he doesn't want[br]to give his card over to his partner. 0:06:58.541,0:07:02.289 OK, so today I'm going[br]to pick a baby girl. 0:07:02.979,0:07:06.276 And then, there's 12 characteristics,[br]and I'm going to pick five 0:07:06.276,0:07:10.703 which I think best represent[br]how I want my baby to be when she's older. 0:07:11.244,0:07:15.396 Today, I think I'm going to make her[br]intelligent, confident. 0:07:15.412,0:07:17.492 I'd quite like her to be honest, 0:07:17.492,0:07:20.251 and I'd also quite like[br]her to be creative, 0:07:20.251,0:07:23.216 and we don't want her[br]to be too much of an overachiever, 0:07:23.216,0:07:25.273 so empathetic. 0:07:25.853,0:07:29.527 Then we begin the naming process[br]by clicking on the green button. 0:07:29.527,0:07:30.870 And then it'll start to load 0:07:30.870,0:07:33.505 as a specialist is beginning[br]the naming process. 0:07:33.505,0:07:37.295 Then, when the icon pops up,[br]we know our name's been chosen, 0:07:37.295,0:07:39.913 and when I press the green button, 0:07:39.913,0:07:41.215 you put in your Alipay ID, 0:07:41.215,0:07:43.830 which is the equivalent[br]of PayPal in China. 0:07:44.495,0:07:46.945 I get 60p; you get three names. 0:07:47.795,0:07:49.101 Here are three names: 0:07:49.631,0:07:51.565 Karen, Ella and Julia. 0:07:51.565,0:07:54.475 Each name is displayed with a meaning, 0:07:54.475,0:07:55.968 and then with that name, 0:07:55.968,0:07:59.258 you also get two examples[br]of a famous person with that same name. 0:07:59.258,0:08:02.602 For example, Karen: [br]Karen Carpenter, the singer, 0:08:02.602,0:08:07.412 and Ella: Ella Henderson,[br]X-Factor contestant. 0:08:07.412,0:08:11.167 Below there's - I didn't mean[br]that to be offensive - 0:08:11.167,0:08:12.667 (Laughter) 0:08:12.667,0:08:16.848 there's an orange button,[br]and then if you click on this button, 0:08:16.848,0:08:20.960 you can then share your three suggestions[br]with friends and family via WeChat. 0:08:21.620,0:08:23.462 But I'll get back to that. 0:08:23.462,0:08:26.689 A lot of people ask me[br]how I have time to name all these babies. 0:08:26.689,0:08:31.225 And much like Google has time to find[br]everything for everyone all at once, 0:08:31.225,0:08:32.619 I use an algorithm. 0:08:33.249,0:08:34.647 The techie people in the room 0:08:34.647,0:08:37.649 will know how simple[br]a filter and score algorithm is, 0:08:38.269,0:08:42.028 but the basic principle[br]is that I built a database of 4,000 names, 0:08:42.028,0:08:44.208 added five characteristics to each name 0:08:44.208,0:08:47.208 which I think best represent[br]what that name means. 0:08:47.208,0:08:52.125 The user then picks five characteristics, 0:08:52.125,0:08:56.839 and then the algorithm[br]matches my five to their five, 0:08:56.839,0:09:00.348 and three suggestions are given. 0:09:00.831,0:09:03.530 Why three? This is the cool bit. 0:09:05.000,0:09:08.240 I'm 17, I don't know you,[br]I can't name your baby. 0:09:10.335,0:09:12.645 (Laughter) 0:09:13.280,0:09:16.850 So basically, you get three suggestions 0:09:16.850,0:09:20.290 which I think best match[br]how you would like your child to be. 0:09:20.290,0:09:25.059 Then you share these three suggestions[br]via WeChat with your friends and family, 0:09:25.059,0:09:27.301 and then without the risk[br]of a cultural mistake, 0:09:27.301,0:09:28.881 you pick your special name. 0:09:28.881,0:09:32.370 In short, the parent picks[br]their baby's name, not me. 0:09:32.370,0:09:34.584 I just give three suggestions. 0:09:34.584,0:09:36.044 So for example, 0:09:36.964,0:09:42.520 'Ella' is liked by grandfather,[br]'Julia' is liked by a little sister, 0:09:42.520,0:09:43.562 brother likes 'Ella', 0:09:43.562,0:09:47.032 and then obviously, the husband[br]will agree with his wife. 0:09:50.372,0:09:52.153 It's a fun process, 0:09:52.153,0:09:55.290 and it brings all friends and family[br]together a really happy time. 0:09:55.290,0:09:58.942 It takes three minutes; it costs 60p. 0:09:58.952,0:10:03.942 And yeah, I just thought[br]it was a nice thing actually. 0:10:03.942,0:10:07.784 Sometimes it's not about just making[br]the money; it's just a nice thing. 0:10:08.424,0:10:11.335 Ever since the story[br]about my website went viral, 0:10:13.245,0:10:15.355 I've been given[br]some amazing opportunities, 0:10:15.355,0:10:18.664 one of which is being able to come here[br]and talk to you today. 0:10:19.244,0:10:22.666 I've also tried to make sense[br]of what happened in that first week 0:10:22.666,0:10:24.554 when I came back to school, 0:10:24.554,0:10:26.924 and this is about as far as I've got. 0:10:26.924,0:10:28.874 So, I'm going to read it with you. 0:10:29.864,0:10:32.546 I think in the diverse world[br]that we live in 0:10:32.546,0:10:35.286 when every day[br]we are prompted by the media 0:10:35.286,0:10:38.135 to focus on and fear[br]the differences between cultures, 0:10:38.135,0:10:40.695 we see war and terror and sadness. 0:10:41.155,0:10:42.589 I think maybe the reason 0:10:42.589,0:10:45.746 newspapers in 18 different countries[br]reported this story 0:10:45.746,0:10:49.101 was because actually we are more the same[br]than we are different. 0:10:49.608,0:10:52.926 We'd rather laugh off our cultural[br]differences than fear them. 0:10:53.016,0:10:56.386 We'd rather celebrate success[br]than read more failure. 0:10:56.386,0:10:59.775 And this story invited people[br]to be optimistic for 24 hours. 0:11:00.345,0:11:03.444 If a British child can make[br]something from nothing, 0:11:03.444,0:11:06.317 then maybe the future is not that bleak. 0:11:06.837,0:11:09.302 The story also shared[br]the human side of China, 0:11:09.752,0:11:13.008 a country often depicted[br]as a sinister global power. 0:11:13.018,0:11:15.338 While we're laughing at silly names, 0:11:15.338,0:11:19.328 we're also reminded that actually[br]we're all trying to fit in and get along. 0:11:19.688,0:11:21.760 Imagine the global impact[br]that could be made 0:11:21.760,0:11:25.054 if next week the same newspapers 0:11:25.054,0:11:27.374 printed a story[br]about how similar we all are. 0:11:27.514,0:11:31.288 Maybe then we could feel safe enough[br]to enjoy the differences. 0:11:31.288,0:11:33.489 I think that would be special. 0:11:33.989,0:11:35.759 (Applause) (Cheering) 0:11:35.759,0:11:37.298 Thank you.