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Woman Stands Up To Half-Siblings Who Don’t Want Her Baby’s Name To Stand Out Among Theirs
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Woman Stands Up To Half-Siblings Who Don’t Want Her Baby’s Name To Stand Out Among Theirs

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The ancients believed that the name a person receives at birth influences their life and becomes a kind of sacred sign, connecting them with their ancestors, clan and the surrounding nature. Today we take it way simpler when naming kids, but this doesn’t mean that naming dramas have disappeared.

Quite the opposite – and here is another confirmation of this. The story from the user u/Any-Bit2864 has racked up nearly 5.3K upvotes in a few months, and over 1.5K various comments. The story is about how relatives tried to influence the name of an unborn child, and how the mom tried to defend her and her husband’s choice.

More info: Reddit

The author of the post lost her mom at the age of 5 and then her dad remarried another woman

Image credits: Brett Sayles (not the actual photo)

The mom gave the author the first name Acacia and the dad added the second name Claire

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Image credits: u/Any-Bit2864

The stepmom tried several times to ‘rename’ the girl with her second name, but to no avail

Image credits: CHUTTERSNAP (not the actual photo)

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Image credits: u/Any-Bit2864

Recently the author got pregnant and the spouses decided to give their baby a ‘nature’ name too

Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo) 

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Image credits: u/Any-Bit2864

However, the stepmom tried to push various ‘classic’ names and even called the mom-to-be ‘rude’ for dismissing her ideas

The heroes of our story today are the Original Poster (OP) and her husband, both 25 years old, who are about to have their first child. And, of course, on the eve of this significant event, the author’s relatives began to try to guess what name the baby would receive.

As for the name, the OP has her own history, and it’s actually a long one. The thing is that her mother herself bore a not very common name, in a ‘nature’ style, and gave a similar name to her daughter. Meanwhile, her dad chose the girl’s middle name – so our heroine’s name is Acacia Claire.

When the girl was 5 years old, her mom, alas, passed away and her father soon remarried another woman, let’s call her ‘Jane.’ And their next children had quite common names. However, Jane tried to ‘rename’ the original poster too, suggesting that she be called simply Claire. But the girl was adamant, considering the name Acacia to be a kind of connection with her late mom.

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And so, years later, Acacia married a guy who, by the way, also has a ‘nature’ name – and much rarer than his wife’s – and the couple decided to give their baby something in the same style. However, the less time remained before the birth, the more actively Jane and the author’s stepsiblings tried to find out the baby’s name – and they themselves suggested different ‘darling’ names, which, in their opinion, would blend perfectly with other family names.

But mom-to-be didn’t give up – and only said that it was her and her spouse’s business what name their child would have. The stepmom, however, said that the OP is ‘callously’ dismissing her ideas – and that it wouldn’t be easy for the kid to live with an unusual name in the future. Acacia claims, however, that in 25 years of her life she has never encountered any problems over her unusual name.

Image credits: Mark Timberlake (not the actual photo)

Well, relatives – even if they are the closest ones – very often come up with various ideas about children’s names, and then are sincerely offended when no one obeys these ideas. For example, my own eldest daughter’s name is Eva – and when I told my family about this idea, my grandma was horrified, saying that my daughter would definitely be bullied – simply because the wife of a certain and very notorious German also had that name!

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Now Eva is ten, she loves her name… and needless to say, she has never experienced bullying for this specific reason in her life. Perhaps children today are less erudite than my late grandma – or maybe the old lady was just a tad bit entitled… As, indeed, were the relatives of the original poster.

Yes, people in the comments subjected the author’s stepmom to massive criticism, claiming that it was absolutely none of her business what a mom would name her baby. “Ah another stepmom trying to assert her dominance over a childs dead mother. That is exactly what this is,” one of the commenters wrote. “Be prepared for them to refuse to call your child by their name and to put them on a time out until they do,” another one added.

As for advice to the expectant mother on what to do next, the opinions of commenters are also almost unanimous – to stand her ground. Period. “Frankly, I would name the kid after your mother after all this harassment. Both first and middle name,” one person supposed. “I think you need to cut WAY back on contact with them,” another one claimed. “The fact that they sincerely believe that they have the right to dictate to you what your child’s name should be feels creepy.”

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By the way, as for attempts to name a child not the name given at birth, but the name that relatives like best, this actually happens quite often. We have at least two examples of such situations: this one abount grandparents trying to ‘rename’ the teen and this one – about the rude sister attempting to push new mom rename her newborn daughter. So please feel free to read these tales as well and maybe add your own point of view on this particular case in the comments as well.

People in the comments, meanwhile, sided with the author massively, urging her to not give up and stand her ground

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Oleg Tarasenko

Oleg Tarasenko

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

Read less »
Oleg Tarasenko

Oleg Tarasenko

Writer, BoredPanda staff

After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

Read less »

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

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Trillian
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is SO weird for people who are not the parents to expect some say in the naming of a baby. I mean, you can judge all you want (quietly!) but it is none of your business. Get a pet if you have a name left over.

Papa
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Speaking as a grandparent, I don't see a thing wrong with kindly offering your thoughts about a grandchild's name, but it should stop there. Either your suggestion will be considered, and maybe accepted, or it won't. In either case, let it go.

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Shark Lady
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one connection she has to her mum and her dad wants to erase that. OP is going to miss her mum even more once baby is earthside, her father is behaving like an oversized toddler and should be showing his unconditional love and support. They also shouldn't be stressing OP out while she is pregnant.

Helena
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

" once baby is earthside" Thank you for this. Makes it sound like this baby is beaming down from a spaceship after some wicked adventures.

Load More Replies...
Fox with a Dragon Tattoo
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is perverse.. demanding to "have a say" in how someone names their kid. And the whole "fits in with us" is super culty and creepy.

Load More Comments
Trillian
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is SO weird for people who are not the parents to expect some say in the naming of a baby. I mean, you can judge all you want (quietly!) but it is none of your business. Get a pet if you have a name left over.

Papa
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Speaking as a grandparent, I don't see a thing wrong with kindly offering your thoughts about a grandchild's name, but it should stop there. Either your suggestion will be considered, and maybe accepted, or it won't. In either case, let it go.

Load More Replies...
Shark Lady
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one connection she has to her mum and her dad wants to erase that. OP is going to miss her mum even more once baby is earthside, her father is behaving like an oversized toddler and should be showing his unconditional love and support. They also shouldn't be stressing OP out while she is pregnant.

Helena
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

" once baby is earthside" Thank you for this. Makes it sound like this baby is beaming down from a spaceship after some wicked adventures.

Load More Replies...
Fox with a Dragon Tattoo
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is perverse.. demanding to "have a say" in how someone names their kid. And the whole "fits in with us" is super culty and creepy.

Load More Comments
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