Teen Wants To Change Her Name After Years Of Bullying, Parents Call It A ‘Betrayal To God’

Research shows that one in five students report being bullied, often for reasons beyond their control—like being the new kid at school, a unique personality trait, or even a name. During these difficult times, we tend to rely on loved ones for support. But what happens when the support isn’t there, and your own family doesn’t understand?

This is the reality for a 15-year-old who shared her story online. After years of bullying over her biblical first name, she chose to go by her middle name instead. However, her parents, firmly rooted in tradition, refuse to acknowledge her new name, viewing it as disrespectful to her heritage. Keep reading to find out how she’s managing this delicate situation and the reactions she received from others.

Bullying can severely impact mental health, leaving lasting effects

Woman in wheelchair outside, wearing headphones, reading a book, enjoying a sunny day with trees and grass around.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

One teenager opened up about her struggle with her parents who refused to respect her wish to go by her middle name, hoping it would help her move past painful memories of bullying tied to her first name

“Text about a mom choosing a biblical name for daughter by opening a Bible, leading to issues with the uncommon choice.”

Text about a person being bullied due to their name and disability.

Text about choosing a middle name for more femininity, reducing bullying, and feeling happier.

Text discussing a person wanting to be called by their middle name, mentioning parental disagreement and concerns about bullying.

Text about a daughter disliking her biblical name chosen by her mother, expressing frustration.

Text about parents arguing the use of a first name at home, relating to choosing daughter's name from Bible.

Mother scolding daughter covering ears in living room, expressing dislike for her name selected from Bible.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

Text about being reminded of bullying each time a name was used.

Text about name disagreements and reactions to being called by a disliked name.

Text about disliking a first name due to past bullying, choosing to use a middle name instead.

Image credits: _Miccup

Teen girl looking at phone, appearing frustrated, while sitting near a laptop, wearing a yellow sweater in a living room.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

Bullying has moved beyond school hallways, following students online

In the past, bullying was something kids encountered mostly in school hallways or playgrounds. Sometimes, kids would snatch lunch boxes, and lockers became “prison cells” for students facing daily teasing. But with the rise of the digital age, bullying has found a new space to thrive: online. 

Now, in addition to physical bullying, many kids face cyberbullying, where threats and insults follow them from the classroom to their screens, making it even harder to escape.

Cyberbullying typically involves someone using electronic communication to send intimidating, threatening, or hurtful messages. Unlike traditional bullying, which ends when the school day does, cyberbullying can occur anytime, casting a shadow over a person’s life at all hours.

When you dig into it, cyberbullying includes a wide range of actions, each one designed to embarrass, hurt, or isolate the target. One common approach is sharing embarrassing or unflattering photos or videos online without the victim’s permission, making them vulnerable to ridicule in front of classmates and sometimes the entire school.

Spreading rumors online is another go-to strategy for bullies. These rumors often spiral out of control, with many people seeing and even sharing them, leaving the victim feeling powerless to set the record straight. 

Exclusion plays a significant role in online bullying too. Bullies might leave the target out of group chats or social media threads, creating a very public feeling of exclusion. For young students, the impact of these tactics can be deeply hurtful, as they often feel embarrassed and ostracized by their peers.

As screen time has soared in recent years, cyberbullying has escalated as well. Reports indicate that more than one in four middle and high school students have experienced cyberbullying in the past month alone. 

Cyberbullying doesn’t just happen randomly; some kids are targeted for specific reasons. About one in five teens say they were cyberbullied because of their gender, while another 20% report being targeted due to their racial or ethnic background. It’s not just a matter of personal issues—cyberbullying can reveal and amplify societal biases, making certain teens more vulnerable than others.

Teen girl upset by brick wall, classmates in background, dealing with name issues.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

When it comes to bullying, girls are often targeted more frequently

Research also reveals that girls are about twice as likely as boys to be both victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying. This doesn’t mean boys are immune, but it shows a pattern where young girls are often at the center of this issue, whether they’re being hurt or hurting others.

Standing up to bullies is no easy feat. It takes courage and support from loved ones to face such relentless negativity. Teens dealing with cyberbullying need understanding friends, supportive family members, and sometimes professional help to navigate this hurtful terrain. It’s a battle that requires a team.

In this particular case, the teenage girl found herself bullied for her biblical name. Seeking relief, she decided to go by her middle name and asked friends and classmates to respect her decision. Thankfully, her peers were on board and helped reduce the bullying. But her parents weren’t as supportive. 

Despite knowing how much pain her first name caused her, they refused to call her by her middle name, insisting on sticking to tradition rather than respecting her wishes. How do you feel about the actions of the author’s parents? Do you think they should be more understanding?  

Many people online supported the author, even suggesting that her parents were behaving like bullies

Reddit comment discussing parents choosing a random Bible name and refusing to change it.

Comment discussing disability and bullying, expressing protective feelings for a grandson with cerebral palsy.

Reddit comment discussing parental pressure about name choice and advice on considering a name change.

Reddit comment discussing name change, Christian marriage, and sarcastic remarks about unconventional names.

Online comment criticizing parents for choosing ridiculous names for kids, calling it selfish.

Online comment discussing being named from the Bible and related challenges.

Comment on Reddit about bullies inside a house.

Reddit comment discussing Biblical names, questioning their religious significance with 47 points six months ago.

Comment advising on dealing with parental choice of name from the Bible, discussing legal name change at 18.

Comment discussing a daughter's right to choose her own name despite a parent's unconventional choice.

Comment discussing parenting, disability, and name change support.

A social media comment discussing children's rights to choose their names, with emphasis on respect for their identity.

Reddit comment discussing parents choosing a child's name based on willingness, titled by TetraThiaFulvalene.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment offering advice on changing a disliked name chosen from the Bible.

Text comment discussing preferred name choice and legal name change options.

Reddit comment stating, "Nta no hate like Christian love," with username and upvotes.

Comment discusses using parents' first names instead of "Mom" and "Dad," emphasizing names as choices.

Reddit comment discussing dissatisfaction with a name choice from the Bible.

Reddit comment discussing a teen's decision to choose a name, mentioning God and bullying.

Text comment discussing a daughter's name from the Bible and advice on changing it.

Comment discussing name changes in the Bible, suggesting people often changed their names.

Discussion about changing names and nicknames, mentioning parental decisions on naming.

Online comment discussing naming children and identity choices.

Reddit comment criticizing parents' behavior towards daughter, calling them bullies.

Reddit comment about a daughter changing her name to something gender-neutral due to bullying.

Reddit comment discussing the importance of respecting chosen names, emphasizing it's not difficult to use them.

Comment about parents and bullying, questioning responsiveness to daughter's name issue.

Comment about parents and middle name, referencing older U.S. astronauts.

Reddit comment about parents' reaction to name change, mentions bullying and counseling.

Reddit comment discussing unusual names from random Bible words.

Text discussing name preferences and the importance of using full names.

Comment criticizing naming conventions, suggesting flexibility in name choice for kids.

Reddit comment discussing name change advice, emphasizing respect for individual preferences.

Reddit comment offering advice and support to someone dealing with parental issues.

Comment on name preferences; story of bullying and using different names over time.

Some felt the author was overreacting and argued that, in the end, it was just a name

Comment on naming choices: "YTA it’s a name. Chill" from mrsmunsonbarnes, 1 point, 6 months ago.

Reddit comment about naming a daughter, expressing confusion.

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