'I think both are just trying to overpower the other one at this point': Wife wants to name daughter 'hippy name,' is shut down by traditionalist husband

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Mar 3, 2024 3:00 PM EST

Names are incredibly important. They're your first impression of someone- the first thing they're going to associate with you. We all have associations with names, good and bad. For example, I could never trust someone named Bridget, but I have good things to say about every Gloria I've ever known. Johns are extremely hit or miss, but Charlies are usually always good. And don't get me started on anyone who goes by their initials. 

When you're having a baby, what to name them is not as high on the priority list as, say, making sure they're birthed healthily, but it's a huge deal nonetheless. You don't want to be caught at the last minute and say the first thing that comes out of your mouth, because then you might have to change it, like Kylie Jenner. The couple in this Reddit story is caught in this very conundrum. If I were them, I'd take it to a third party. 

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  • 01
    020 r/AmltheAsshole u/Traditional-Pea3387 • 8h AITA for telling my wife our daughter will not be given a unique or weird hippy name?
    via u/Traditional-Pea3387
  • 02
    My wife (28f) and I (30m) are expecting a baby girl in March. We have not yet decided on a name and it's becoming worrying that we might not reach an agreement on what to call our daughter. We have very different ideas about what the name should be. My wife likes nothing too classic and normal like the names I have suggested (Elizabeth, Emily, Natasha, Hannah, Katherine, Francesca, Matilda, Annabelle, Isabelle, Vivienne, Sadie and many others). My wife has suggested some names I would consider f
    via u/Traditional-Pea3387
  • 03
    We have thrown out hundreds if not thousands of names and any time I ask her why she dislikes any of the more known/common classic names, she said she likes none of them, she either finds them boring or old leaning and she doesn't like that. I told her it would be better for our child to grow up with a name that sounds normal vs one made up to be unique. She told me she would never agree to a name like Elizabeth or Amelia (another name I suggested). I told her I will not agree to a unique or wei
    via u/Traditional-Pea3387
  • 04
    We took some time after that and have not returned to names in about 4 days. I can see she's bothered by my choice of words but I can see she's also frustrated and feels our daughter's due date looming over us as well. AITA?
    via u/Traditional-Pea3387
  • 05
    Single-Aardvark9330 - 8h NAH Have you looked at names that are both kinda normal and nature inspired? I'm thinking things like Rose, Fern, Violet, Lily, or even summer. Or are they not unique enough for her?
    via u/Single-Aardvark9330
  • 06
    sparklinghufflepuff • 6h I agree with the NAH. Though I'd argue skye, ember and Lennox aren't that modern/hippy either. I think both are just trying to overpower the other one at this point.
    via u/sparklinghufflepuff
  • 07
    Key_Scarcity5295.5h Winter spelled normally is fine too. It seems they're both being difficult
    via u/Key_Scarcity5295
  • 08
    bookdrops 7h · YTA just for dismissing the names Asteria and Seraphina/Serafina as "modern," "hippy" names when they are hundreds if not thousands of years old. Go pick other reasons to claim to dislike those names. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteria_(mythology) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serafina You guys should split the difference by naming your daughter Tiffany, a name that will annoy both of you through having a long historical medieval heritage while also sounding irritatingly modern
    via u/bookdrops
  • 09
    NonaAndFunseHunse 7h First: You both need to be able to compromise. This will not be the last time! Second try the following: - You need to find a solution both can accept. I recommend you have a nice dinner and both be in a very poositive mood. Then you each get the task of finding 5 names you think the other would like and you do not hate the most yourself. Write them all down and let them grow on you. Find the compromise. Another option: Try and have a talk: what do you each want? You wife wa
    via u/NonaAndFunseHunse
  • 10
    The_Clumsy_Gardener • 7h Info: what about floral based names? They are historically used but also frilly and nudge that hippy trend your wife likes. Flora Daisy Poppy Rose Lily Jade (plant and Jewel) Violet
    via u/The_Clumsy_Gardener
  • 11
    Wankeritis. 7h Partassipant [1] Or gemstone names for the same reason. Ruby, Jade, Emerald, Beryl, Amber, Pearl, Opal, Gemma
    via u/Wankeritis
  • 12
    Own-Kangaroo6931. 8h Aficionado [12] NAH You each have a preference, you can't change that. Why not compromise and have a first and middle name? When the kid grows up they can settle on which they prefer to be called. Like, "Elizabeth River [surname]". I have a friend whose wife is Hungarian and strongly wanted the kids to have Hungarian names, he didn't want them to have "unpronounceable" names and strongly wanted traditional English names so they wouldn't be singled out/picked on for being imm
    via u/Own-Kangaroo6931
  • 13
    Emmereen 8h Enthusiast [6] ● ESH. It's okay to have different preferences, but you two are insulting each other. You'll need to compromise. Maybe each of you can choose a name.
    via u/Emmereen
  • 14
    Blobfish_Blues . 7h Partassipant [1] It feels like at this point you're both rejecting names for the sake of rejecting them and refusing to let the other "win" I recommend you both drop the subject for at least a week, then come together and figure it out because if you can't work together to pick a name for your child then you aren't going to work as parents. ESH
    via u/Blobfish_Blues
  • 15
    tau_enjoyer_ .7h Seraphina is not a hippy name, it's a classic name. It comes from the same Hebrew root word where we derive seraphim, which is the highest choir of angels. That's just one example. If you look you'll be able to find classical names that would also tickle your wife's hippy bone.
    via u/tau_enjoyer_
  • 16
    1020 Whereswolf. 7h Partassipant [1] ESH... But honestly why can't you see that the more uncommon name is not going to be that uncommon in 20 years when your kid is an adult? I wouldn't call my kid Elisabeth or Amelia... Just too... Not my taste. I did call my kid one of the top 10 names the year he was born and I don't regret (that much. At least everyone knows how to spell it. My mom didn't give me that good a name). It seems like your wife like the more nature inspired names. There's a ton of
    via u/Whereswolf

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