Mom regrets naming daughter after realizing it sounds like a bad habit

A name is a gift that a parent bestows upon their child, second only to the gift of life itself. It is a unique identifier that often stays with a person throughout their lifetime, forever linking them to their origins.

In early April 2024, a new mother, known online as Mean Wranglers, took to Reddit’s Name Nerds community to share her story and seek support. Only a week after naming her newborn daughter, she found herself regretting the choice. Here’s why one commenter described the name as “pretty terrible sounding.”

According to her post, she and her husband spent nine months debating potential names for their baby girl. She favored the name Ottilie, while her husband preferred Aubrey. Ultimately, they settled on the name Etta as a compromise. However, shortly after their daughter’s birth, the husband changed his mind, proposing the name Sigrid instead.

Sigrid, a name of Scandinavian and Old Norse origin meaning “beautiful victory,” initially seemed acceptable to the new mother. However, she soon began to have second thoughts, fearing that the name’s phonetic similarity to “cigarette” could lead to teasing and bullying for her daughter.

Seeking reassurance, she turned to the Reddit community for their opinions. The responses were mixed. Some users supported the name, highlighting that bullying can happen regardless of how common or uncommon a name is. One user shared, “I don’t see any problem with Sigrid. I have a common name and was still mildly bullied with a nursery rhyme that had the name in it.”

Others, however, echoed the mother’s concerns. One commenter noted, “I’ve thought about it for a while, and it’s pretty terrible sounding. As an American, the way I read it sounds exactly how southerners say cigarette.” This comment sparked a debate, with another user defending the name by pointing out that regional accents can significantly alter how a name is perceived.

Amid the varied responses, one piece of advice stood out: “You’re only a week into postpartum. It’s natural to be a bit panicked in general. Give yourself time to settle in before you think about changing something as big as her name. See if it starts to settle in and feel more familiar.”

The new mother concluded her post by mentioning she would discuss a potential name change with her husband, suggesting Beatrix as an alternative.

What advice would you offer to this new mother? Share your thoughts in the comments section and spread this story to gather more opinions!