If you’ve spent any time around a five-year-old, you already know they have… opinions. Strong ones. About their socks, their sandwich, which cup has more juice. So when a kindy teacher handed his class a “Hello My Name Is” sticker and said “pick anything you like” – what happened next was absolutely unhinged. In the best possible way.
Meet Mr Lake, the Teacher Who Started Something Beautiful
Jordan Lake, a fifth-year kindy teacher and popular Instagram creator, recently shared a video of a little experiment he ran with his class. Armed with a Sharpie and a stack of name tags, he sat down and asked each kid the same question:
“What do you want your name to be for the rest of the day?”
No rules. No suggestions. Just, go.
The first kid? Didn’t even blink. “Marshmallow,” she said. Done.
The next? “Ochy.” And when Mr Lake asked if it meant something, the kid just shrugged and said, “I don’t know – I think Ochy is the perfect name.”
Honestly? Same.
The first clip racked up over seven million views. And when Mr Lake posted the full class list? The internet absolutely lost it.
When Kindergarteners Choose Their Name, the Full Roster is a Work of Art!
Here’s who showed up to school:
- Morty
- Kipper
- Marshmallow
- Hello. Jorbee
- Shady
- Foggy
- Bhum Bhum Kachoom
- Wiggly
- Cindy
- Ochy
(Yes, Bhum Bhum Kachoom is a real child who exists and we are so grateful for him.)
Watch the original viral clip here:
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And here’s the full class reveal:
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The Comments Section Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity
When the video spread, thousands of people chimed in – and not just to laugh (though there was plenty of that). Adults who’d had a moment like this as kids came flooding in with memories they’d clearly held onto for decades.
One person wrote about their first-grade teacher who called a student “Baby Spice” for an entire year – and that kid wrote the name on every single test.
Another remembered a teacher who called a student “Strawberry Fields” for a whole school year. Another commenter recalled a family holiday where she got to use a made-up name for the whole trip – and said it turned a regular beach holiday into something she’s never forgotten.
One speech therapist put it beautifully – she noted that beyond the cuteness, the activity gives kids a chance to step into a whole new identity, even temporarily.
And plenty of adults just said: “We all needed a teacher like you.”
Why This Actually Matters (It’s Not Just Cute)
Here’s the thing. Kids spend a huge chunk of their day being told what to do, where to sit, when to eat, and how to behave. Which is appropriate – they’re five. But research consistently shows that agency, even tiny amounts of it, is deeply meaningful to young children.
Experts say that giving children more independence, even at a young age, builds confidence, encourages critical thinking, and helps them start to shape their own sense of identity. In the classroom specifically, when kids feel like they have a choice, they’re far more engaged – which is probably why every single child in Mr Lake’s class was completely invested in the activity.
And names? Names are different. We choose our clothes and our lunch – but our names are just given to us. Being handed the enormous responsibility of picking a new one, even just for Tuesday afternoon? That’s a big deal when you’re five.
Being called “Jorbee” all day by your teacher – because you want to be a bee and sting your brother, obviously – goes way deeper than a giggle. It’s a moment of being truly seen and truly heard. And based on every adult who jumped into the comments with a childhood memory still crystal clear, those moments stick.
How to Try This at Home (or in the Classroom)
Teachers, this one’s an easy yes. A pack of name tag stickers, a Sharpie, and about ten minutes before morning circle. That’s it.
And for mums at home? Try it on a weekend. Tell your kids they can pick a different name for the day – and watch the chaos unfold. You might end up sharing dinner with “Dragon,” “Sparkle,” and “Jeff.” And honestly? Those are the dinners they’ll talk about when they’re thirty.
Mr Lake will likely be one of those teachers his kids remember for life. Not because of a lesson plan or a test result – but because he gave a class of kindergarteners a Sharpie and said, “You get to choose today.”
That’s the kind of teacher we all deserved. And if you’re raising one of those kids right now? You’re welcome to steal the idea.
