Wife Accuses Husband of Being "Unreasonable" Because He Doesn't Want to Name Their Baby "Novalynn," "Ryleigh," or "Caeleigh"

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
May 8, 2023 3:00 PM EDT

Millennials are killing the normal name industry, or at least so it seems. The weird names young parents give their kids have become bonafide memes at this point. I don't know if we'll ever get to a point where McKinsleigh will be considered a normal name by the majority of the population. At the same time, we felt the same way about the name Britney, and nobody bats an eye at that anymore. 

My favorite millennial naming convention is giving your baby an old lady's name. I know two babies named Maude, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. There are definitely ways around giving your kid a unique name without messing up their life, and giving them an older name is one of them. One father tried to save his unborn daughter from a life of correcting the spelling and pronunciation of her name, but his wife wouldn't have it. 

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  • 01
    Font - AITA for refusing to name my kid a ridiculous name? My (28m) wife (27f) is pregnant with our first baby, and I'm so thrilled to be a father! We recently had some scans, and found out that it's a girl. We had an agreement that we wouldn't talk about names until we knew the gender, so of course on our way home from the gynecologist, we immediately started discussing. We've talked about this a little before, and we agreed that we both have veto power. I suggested my all time favorite name, A
    via u/NeverlyLane
  • 02
    Font - She suggested another name, Ryleigh (Riley, and again she did spell it out). I vetoed it and suggested Riley spelled the normal way. She refused. She then suggested Novalynn. I vetoed, suggesting Nora as an alternative. She again refused.
    via u/NeverlyLane
  • 03
    Font - This continued a few more times, until she snapped at me, calling me unreasonable for vetoing all her picks. She said, "What's the point in talking about it if you veto all my choices, you controlling asshole!" I responded "Maybe if you picked something normal, we might get somewhere, but you won't even try to compromise!" She looked really hurt, and we drove the rest of the way home in silence. Now I'm wondering if I'm in the wrong for vetoing her picks and for what I said to her. AITA?
    via u/NeverlyLane
  • 04
    Font - Cautious-Spited • 14h NTA. You're doing your daughter a favor by vetoing these names. ... Reply 12.4k
    via u/Cautious-Spited
  • 05
    Font - RavenWood_9. 13h Yeah, mom may never see it this way but maybe if she can imagine being her kid and having to either explain how to pronounce or spell their name correctly over and over for their entire life - substitute teachers, doctor's appointments, as an adult meeting with new clients/staff/customers EVERY SINGLE TIME... that's not a burden you should put on your child for a first name just because you think it makes the name cooler. It's still the same name as the usual spelling, ju
    via u/RavenWood_9
  • 06
    Font - Chickadee12345. 12h I know, right. I have an unusual last name, it's only 6 letters, but I usually have to spell it 3 times. Thankfully my parents gave me a simple first name. I can't even imagine having to explain how to spell any of those names. 4821 821
    via u/Chickadee12345
  • 07
    Font - starofmyownshow. 12h Partassipant [1] My middle name is Bayleigh (I think I spelled it right......) originally that was supposed to be my first name... I'm so glad it's not .. 4751 751
    via u/starofmyownshow
  • 08
    Font - Kaiju Corpse 11h Think I'll name my kid BayBleighd. Through years of intense spin training, they'll become the fiercest battle-top the world has ever seen. 4 1.1k
    via u/KaijuCorpse
  • 09
    Rectangle - _Blazed_N_Confused_. 11h 1 Award How about Brockleigh? 1.5k
    via u/_Blazed_N_Confused_
  • 10
    Font - Reb-Lev 14h ● 1 Award Thank you for standing up for your unborn child. People should really stop naming their children traghedeighs and consider the fact that they will be adults one day. NTA ... Reply 5.9k
    via u/Reb-Lev
  • 11
    Font - BookOfGoodIdeas 14h Asshole Enthusiast [5] ● NTA. While you did veto all of her choices, she vetoed all of yours. And hers all sucked (when factoring in spelling). ... Reply 2.6k
    via u/BookOfGoodIdeas
  • 12
    Font - Moulitov 10h ● 1 Award And OP made suggestions. When we started discussing names, my partner was vetoing everything without suggesting any alternatives. It's frustrating for sure, but OP and wife will get through it. Super magical when a name clicks.
    via u/Moulitov
  • 13
    Font - I think the problem here is that they are approaching this from two very different starting points, so it may make sense to go back to the drawing board, research more names, peruse the top 100 for your country and others. Maybe compromise on a sensible first and silly middle name. Perhaps try to find some research about the effects of names on children to read together. And, of course, NTA. As long as OP is being kind about it. Pregnancy hormones can do a real number on you.
    via u/Moulitov
  • 14
    Font - Flamesoutofmyears. 14h ΝΤΑ I'm a teacher. The things some of these "creative" parents name their kids. Like I TOTALLY understand your parents baby name book had like five names in it and wanting something a bit different. But like, normal. Do you have ANY IDEA how badly some of them get teased for their names?! You can have a totally normal name like Michael and it's still "lol, ask him if he likes it" or "Michael Michael motorcycle". This shit is compounded when you have to go through li
    via u/Flamesoutofmyears
  • 15
    Rectangle - ThatBFjax 13h Partassipant [3] ● Then they go to field trips and get sad cause they can't get a keychain with their name. I'm sorry, Brayxleigh, maybe next time. ... 660
    via u/ThatBFjax
  • 16
    Font - munichbish. 13h NTA. I have a relatively common name with an odd spelling and I hate it. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Constantly having to explain it when I go to a new doctor's office, the DMV, ordering a bloody coffee! It's a never-ending conversation starter from hell. Not to mention that TSA and airport security have it out for me the second they see it on my passport. Do not name your kid something weird because you're setting them up for this life. *Feel free to show this c
    via u/munichbish
  • 17
    Font - Lost Spell_2699. 13h I am in agreement with you here. I too have a common name with a unique spelling. I have rarely had anyone reading it pronounce it correctly and unless I am doing something official I don't even bother to spell it and just deal with the incorrect spelling. And, even though I am 42 now, I am still disappointed when I walk past the personalized souvenir racks knowing I will never find my name. G 294
    via u/ Lost_Spell_2699
  • 18
    Font - ms_bloodymary. 13h I knew Novalynn sounded familiar but couldn't quite place it. Then it hit me, it sounds like insulin. There's an insulin called novolin, which sounds very similar lol. ... Reply 794
    via u/ms_bloodymary
  • 19
    Font - MamaForTheLove . 13h Asshole Enthusiast [6] 1 Award NTA. Baby names are hard and it does sound like she wants something unique and you'd rather have something traditional. I would definitely try to find a compromise for a name that is both unique but not too "out there" I know that's difficult but there is a name out there you guys can agree on. I recommend this app called Kinder. It's basically the tinder of baby names, you guys swipe left or right based on if you like the name on screen
    via u/MamaForTheLove
  • 20
    Font - krakeninheels • 11h Partassipant [1] This is a great idea. I would also suggest looking at some old fashioned names less common than Anna, perhaps one will be unique enough for her but still traditional enough for him. Arabella, Cordelia, Lydia, Imogen... 181 ↓ ...
    via u/krakeninheels
  • 21
    Font - OnlyIn Japan99999 - 13h Partassipant [3] NTA. When my son was 5 years old, we took him to a football/soccer camp. They had to have their names written on their shirts. I noticed one boy with the name "Sporticus" - yes, spelled exactly like that. I felt sorry for what he was going to go through later in life. ... Reply 314
    via u/OnlyInJapan99999

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