In recent decades, a notable trend in parenting has emerged: parents are increasingly choosing unique names for their children to help them stand out rather than blend in. Social scientists attribute this shift in American naming practices to the growing emphasis on individualism.
A San Diego State University professor, explained to the BBC, “As American society has become more focused on individualism, parents have leaned towards names that distinguish their children, resulting in a rise in distinctive names and a decline in traditional ones.”
Nonetheless, opting for unique names can come with its own set of challenges. Such names can be seen as either innovative, over-the-top, and potentially awkward.
This trend has sparked debates within families, particularly between expectant parents and their relatives. However, as illustrated in the story, it can create tension among friends.
A Reddit user, previously known as Shayleigh, recently aired her concerns about a friend’s choice of baby names on the AITA (Am I The Asshole) forum, seeking opinions on her stance.
She shared, “One of my friends recently discovered she is expecting and is thrilled about becoming a mother. I’m excited for her and believe she’ll be a great mom, but there’s an issue: her choice of baby names is quite problematic. She wants the names to be unique, but her selections are outlandish.”
The names in question are ‘Danger’ for a boy (with that unique spelling) and ‘Tinkerbelle’ for a girl. The latter blends Tinkerbell from “Peter Pan” and Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.”
Shayleigh expressed her concern that such names might lead to her friend's child being bullied. Drawing from her own experience of being teased for her unique name, Shayleigh changed her name at 19 due to the stress it caused.
Stop Bullying notes that bullying can lead to significant emotional issues, including anxiety and depression, which may persist into adulthood.
The feedback led to a rift between the friends.
“She was hurt by my comments and accused me of being unsupportive and a terrible friend,” Shayleigh recounted. “She hasn’t responded to my texts for over a week, and I’m beginning to feel regretful about what I said.”
Despite the fallout, many commenters supported Shayleigh’s honesty.
“A name should be appropriate throughout a person’s life—from infancy to retirement. She’s only considering how cute the names would be for a baby, not the potential long-term effects,” noted Regular-Switch454. Another user, Thoughtinspace, agreed, emphasizing, “The names need to suit the child as an adult as well. She needs to consider that.”
Fortunately, the friends eventually reconciled. “I carefully presented some of the points I mentioned earlier and suggested using ‘Belle’ as the formal name with ‘Tinkerbelle’ as a nickname, which she found appealing,” Shayleigh reported. “She decided to keep ‘Daynger’ as a middle name, which is less problematic than using it as a first name. On the plus side, the child can proudly say, ‘Danger is my middle name.’”