Call Me Jesse
The Man Who Killed Jesus (the Name)
I go by Jesse Gonzalez now.
Let’s get one thing straight. My passport name is Jesús García González. Born and raised in Madrid. Spanish as hell, a classic name. Common and Biblical.
But somewhere along the way — specifically the moment I crossed a border — that name stopped being a name and turned into an icebreaker sideshow.
Every meeting, zoom and every coffee with a stranger.
Wait… like Jesus?”
“Are you really named after God?”
“Should I pray to you?”
“Where’s your beard?”
“Do you walk on water too?
No, Pieternela, I don’t.
I write TypeScript. I’m a product designer and researcher. I build research software tools with lots of colors, clean up toddler puke at 2 AM and drink magnesium like a 90-year-old biohacker. There is nothing divine going on here.
Moving from Spain to the Netherlands: Culture Shock, Name Edition
When I moved to Amsterdam I knew life would change. Language? Sure. Weather? Obviously. But my name turning into a daily comedy bit? Didn’t see that one coming.
In Spain my nickname is “Curi” — a sweet, short version of a larger three-generation family name. For friends and core crew only. But here? No one gets it. I’d get more recognition introducing myself as “Wi-Fi Not Detected.”
So yeah, that died too.
I Considered a Full Rebranding, Like a Company Does
If my name was now a liability, I had to choose something people could say without giggling or breaking into theology class.
So I explored:
Jes Gonzalez
Sounds like a UI element that didn’t load properly. With pros being closer to my real name, no Jesus jokes, short and kinda cool. BUT,
- People think it’s short for Jessica
- Still gets weird looks
- Doesn’t feel natural out loud
Jex Gonzalez
Yeah, no. Feels like the name of a cyberpunk DJ who lives in a data center. It is unique as hell, Google SEO loves it and it has total brand control, but:
- Do I want to explain that every time instead of Jesus now?
- Slightly too try-hard for someone who just wants to build things and sleep well.
J.G. Gonzalez
Very author-y. Might use this if I start writing sci-fi. It is mysterious and cool and works for serious stuff. But again:
- Not friendly
- No one knows how to say it out loud
- Am I writing manifestos or building productivity apps?
And finally: Jesse Gonzalez
- People actually know how to say it.
- No God jokes.
- Real name in many cultures.
Still feels close to “Jesús” but without the divine baggage. Feels like me — but cleaned up for international airspace.
It’s kind of plain though and I might meet another Jesse someday and feel weird about it.
So yeah. It’s Jesse now. People might pronounce it Jess-ie (very international) and that’s cool with me, let’s see how it holds.
If you know me from back in Spain and still call me Curi — don’t stop. You’re family. That name is sacred.
But if you’re meeting me now, from work, from the internet, from the indie dev scene, or from some random productivity forum — just call me Jesse, Jesse Gonzalez.
No sermon. No sandals. Just me, my code, my tools, my kid, and my magnesium pills.
tl;dr
Yo — 🎤
I’m not Jesus, stop that prayer,
I don’t float, I climb the stairs.
No robe with beard, no holy flair.
Just code, matcha, and ergonomic chairs.
You want a name that works? Then yes:
It’s Jesse G, no need to guess.
No more gospel, no more stress,
Just Jesse Gonzalez — say it, bless.
Current work: ctw.studio