Woman Steals Sister’s Baby Names For Her Own Kids, Is Upset Daughter Legally Changes Hers

There are numerous criteria parents consider when choosing a name for their child. Some focus on the way the names sound, while others are more interested in their meanings.

Reddit user Worthless-Ferret, however, got hers because of her mother’s desire to get back at her own sister—it was meant as a dig at her cousin.

So, unsurprisingly, she eventually decided to change it. But that, among many other things, didn’t sit well with her mom, who threatened to cut the girl out of her life if she did.

It’s not uncommon for parents to name their children after their relatives

Middle-aged woman with blonde hair in a dark jacket outdoors, expressing tension related to mom daughter name change conflict

Image credits: EyeEm (not the actual photo)

But this mother did it out of spite for her own sister

Text about mom throwing a fit when daughter legally changes her name and cuts contact over it.

Mom throws a fit over daughter changing her name, causing family resentment and leading to no contact between them.

Text excerpt describing family name conflicts, illustrating mom throws a fit when daughter changes her name situation.

Teen changes her name to Evelyn, mother refuses to accept it, causing family conflict and going no contact over name change.

Teen girl looking down with sad expression, reflecting tension from mom throwing a fit over name change conflict.

Image credits: EyeEm (not the acual photo)

Text about a mom throwing a fit and going no contact after daughter changes her name, causing family conflict.

Text excerpt about a mom throwing a fit when daughter changes her name and goes no contact after misunderstanding.

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Image credits: Worthless-Ferret

It’s pretty common for parents to name their children after themselves or their relatives, but it’s all about intention

“One of the most durable ways in which names have been used to mold identity and to advertise kinship and group membership is naming a child after a parent or other relative—usually referred to as namesaking,” says Frank McAndrew, Ph.D., who is the Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology at Knox College.

“It has been suggested that the desire to have children may be an attempt to symbolically extend one’s own life into the future, and there is evidence that people who are forced to think about their own mortality not only express a stronger desire for children but are also more likely to express a desire to name future offspring after themselves.”

According to McAndrew, the few things that we know about namesaking are that boys are namesaked more often than girls and that naming kids after someone on the father’s side of the family is more common than after the mother’s side, especially for boys. Middle names are the most frequent method of namesaking, and first-born males are the children who are most likely to be namesaked. Curiously, adopted children are more likely to be namesaked than non-adopted kids.

However, reducing such a big part of your child’s identity to a petty revenge act is a decision that’s bound to backfire.

Family estrangement—the process by which family members become strangers to one another—is still a taboo, but recently, it’s been changing in some circles

Advocates for the estranged have begun a concerted effort to normalize it. Getting rid of the stigma, they argue, will allow more people to get out of toxic relationships without shame. There is relatively little data on the subject, but some psychologists cite anecdotal evidence that an increasing number of young people are going no contact with their parents. Others think that we’re simply becoming more transparent about it.

Becca Bland, who founded a nonprofit estrangement group called Stand Alone, toldThe New Yorker that society tends to promote the message that “it’s good for people to have a family at all costs,” when, in fact, “it can be much healthier for people to have a life beyond their family relationships, and find a new sense of family with friends or peer groups.”

But Bland has also noticed a generational divide. Older people often have a sense of duty when it comes to family, and this means that “they won’t break relationships even if they find them very dysfunctional.”

However, estrangement doesn’t have to be forever, and parents who want to reconcile with an estranged child are often asked to write an “amends” letter to show if a dialogue might be opened. The letter might acknowledge mistakes and note, “I know that you wouldn’t have cut off contact unless it was the healthiest thing for you to do.” When Bland brings estranged adult children and their parents back into conversation, it “can be very powerful for them,” she said, and many do find the courage to express what they’ve needed and wanted to say for a long time. Sadly, this case wasn’t it.

After sharing her story, the girl joined the discussion in the comments, where people reassured her that she did the right thing

Screenshot of an online discussion about a mom throwing a fit and going no contact after her daughter changes her name.

Reddit user discusses mom throwing a fit after daughter changes her name, leading to going no contact over it.

Screenshot of a Reddit thread discussing a mom upset over daughter changing her name and going no contact.

Screenshot of an online discussion where a user expresses relief over going no contact after a mom throws a fit about a name change.

Reddit users discuss a mom throwing a fit and going no contact after daughter changes her name.

Reddit users debate name change and identity in a discussion about a mom throwing a fit over daughter changing her name.

Comments discussing a mom's reaction and no contact after her daughter changes her name, highlighting family conflict.

Reddit conversation about a mom upset and going no contact after daughter changes her name.

Reddit discussion about mom throwing a fit and going no contact after daughter changes her name.

Screenshot of a Reddit conversation about a daughter changing her name and the mom's upset reaction.

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Screenshot of an online comment discussing a mom throwing a fit and going no contact after daughter changes her name.

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Screenshot of an online forum comment discussing mom-daughter conflict over name change and setting boundaries in their relationship.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a mom's extreme reaction after daughter changes her name and goes no contact.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a mom’s reaction when daughter changes her name and goes no contact.

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