Expecting dad tries to name his son 'Josh Allen' after NFL quarterback behind his wife's back, gets angry at his best friend when he points out the connection: 'I assumed she knew about the player and didn't care'

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Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Sep 16, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

I don't understand the urge to name your kid after a prominent figure. Some exceptions work, like Martin Luther King Jr., but I'm sure even he was annoyed by people jokingly asking him, "How was the Protestant Reformation?" before he made a name for himself. There was a girl at my high school named Amelia, and her last name rhymed with "Earhart." Although I found this amusing, I can't imagine it was fun for her to constantly have to discuss a long-dead pilot when merely telling people her name. Your name should be about you (or your parent if you're a Junior), not some random famous person who you don't know and possibly don't care about. At least if you have your dad's name, it's a name that means something to you. One husband tried to blindside his wife by naming their son after a highly famous NFL player without her knowing. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10404776704
    via Hailey Moeller

    Photo does not depict the real subjects in the story

  • 02
    AITA for telling my friend her child's name was the same as a very prominent athlete?
    via Concerned__Friend001
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    Two of my very close friends are expecting. The husband and I are both fans of the same NFL team, and they share the last name of a very prominent player. Yesterday was their baby shower and they announced both the gender and name - which was the first name of the player who they share a last name with. The two names are both very common, but put together I think a lot of people would at least recognize it as the players name.
    via Concerned__Friend001
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    Afterwards I was chatting with my friend, and I complimented the name, saying it's "like [nfl player]." She said "yeah, that'll be his name" and didn't seem to be aware of the athlete whose name her child would share. I told her "no, it's the same as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL." She seemed surprised but laughed and I thought it was odd but no big deal.
    via Concerned__Friend001
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    Last night, after the shower I got a text from my other friend. He asked why I told his wife about the names origin, saying that if she didn't know I shouldn't have told her, and now she doesn't want to name the child after him. I told him that I assumed she knew about the player and didn't care. If she didn't know, I think she deserves to know that her child is sharing the name of a prominent person like that, especially when there's a good chance he was actually named after him. My friend is a
    via Concerned__Friend001
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    EmceeSuzy You are NTA - if true, this husband intended to trick his wife into naming their child after a sports figure. You would have no reason to suspect that and it would not be ethical for you to join him in that purpose.
    via EmceeSuzy
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    Concerned_Friend001 OP Yes, especially because we live in the city of that players "rivals" who theyve lost to in the playoffs many times, and I don't want the kid to get made fun of for his name.
    via Concerned__Friend001
  • 08
    Velyndin Let me guess, you live in Kansas City area, your friends last name is Allen and your friends husband wanted to name him Josh? The Chiefs live in the minds of Bills fans rent free.
    via Velyndin
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    Concerned_Friend001 OP Yes. But we're not Bills fans, which is why the name choice surprised me.
    via Concerned__Friend001
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    Personal_Track_3780 Talk them into Barry. Barry Allen's more famous than any NFL player and the kid gets to be a Superhero.
    via Personal_Track_3780
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    Euphoric Travel2541 NTA. You spoke innocently, thinking she knew. As would hundreds of others, when told the name. You are her friend as well as his. You do need to share this info with her, so as not to participate in the apparent trick on her. You can't pretend you didn't know. He's the AH, if he's tricking his wife into this!
    via Euphoric_Travel2541
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    RafeHollistr Someone was going to mention it eventually; OP was just the first.
    via RafeHollistr
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    Neutral_Guy_9 NTA You spared your pregnant friend from feeling like an idiot. Obviously other people knew about the name coincidence and said nothing to her about it. That's like having a booger on your face the whole day and everyone can see it but nobody's telling you that it's there.
    via Neutral_Guy_9
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    Lexi_Applebum83 Speaking as the (naïve) person who was talked into naming their child after a type of train NTA. The husband was clearly hoping to snow her into using the name knowing she'd veto it if she knew the origin.
    via Lexi_Applebum83
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    tugaim33 NTA. If he wants to name the kid after his favorite player she should know.
    via tugaim33
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    ironchef8000 The only thing I wonder about is if he's this big of a fan, does she really not have any clue?
    via ironchef8000
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    Concerned_Friend001 OP I think I phrased that poorly, he and I are friends because we're fans of the same team, but the player is for a different team.
    via Concerned__Friend001
  • 18
    River_Song47 Nta. I knew a girl who's husband gave the kids X-men character names, which on their own are normal names but when you rattle them off together, it's obvious if you know anything about the X- men. She was pretty mad when someone asked if it was on purpose and she realized what he had done.
    via River_Song47
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    Urbanyeti0 NTA I don't understand why parents don't Google names as a rule anyway
    via Urbanyeti0

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funny names buffalo bills family drama baby baby names nfl quarterback friends wife expecting husband dad buffalo baby name football mom son
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