‘It’s extremely weird because well.. that's my name. She never responds when I say “Mom”: ’Mother adopts the same name as her daughter, who insists on calling her by her original name

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Etai Eshet • Editor
Mar 2, 2025 2:00 PM EST

Names are weirdly important. Sure, they're just a bunch of letters slapped together, but they hold some power over our identities, our relationships, and apparently, our ability to avoid turning our heads when someone yells, "Sarah." 

A name change can be a grand gesture—it can symbolize reinvention, freedom, or a desire to sound cooler at Starbucks. But when it happens within families, nonetheless, a parent it's less "bold new chapter" and more "let's see how much chaos we can create in one household."  

Changing your name is one thing; changing it to a name that already exists in your family is a whole other level of confusion. This isn't just stepping on someone's toes—it's stomping all over their identity while loudly announcing, "There's room for only one of us!" And let's not forget the awkward flood of misunderstandings, where every time someone calls for one person, two heads whip around. 

This type of name-change fiasco landed squarely on a daughter who had the misfortune of sharing a name with her newly rebranded parent. 

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  • "Aitah for calling my mom by her original name after she changed it to mine?"

    "Im in a really strange situation. My mom decided to rename herself"
    via Yogendra Singh

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Refusing to give in, she stuck to calling her mom by her original name—because, frankly, or Johnly, or Robertly, someone had to keep a grip on reality. Of course, this was met with accusations of disrespect, but really, standing her ground in such a weird situation deserves applause. After all, someone had to point out that just because you can reinvent your name doesn’t mean you should hijack someone else’s.

  • Im in a really strange situation. My mom a few months ago decided to name herself Sara, but with an 'x' (Xara) which me and my siblings thought it was extremely weird because
    via Username191181
  • well..thats my name minus the x thing. She stated that she never liked her name because it never suited her. Shes hispanic and complained it was too white of a
    via Username191181
  • name for her. Plus she never had fond memories of her name Shes always loved the name Sara hence why she named me it. My great grandmother was named
    via Username191181
  • Sara and lots if people she loved were named Sara. Heres the thing im so creeped and weirded out by it. Her boyfriend and his kids all call her it and im always
    via Username191181
  • turning my head when they say my name to her. She knows me and my siblings distaste for her new name, but hasn't said anything about it till now. She
    via Username191181

  • What is Xara?

    Cheezburger Image 10473891328
    via Syda Productions

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • would get upset when i would call her by her own name saying I only do it to bug her. Thing is i usually call her by her actual name because she never
    via Username191181
  • responds when i say "Mom" its the only way to get her attention. but she believes i do it out of spite Today she told me why was it so easy to call my trans friends by their preferred names but not
    via Username191181
  • someone who is family, and who shares the strongest bond with me. I tried to explain that my friends don't associate with their gender thats why they wouldn't want a feminine/masculine name.
    via Username191181

  • Just reinvent yourself differently lady!

    T
    via Oneinchpunch

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • My Mom is not queer. I can't stop thinking about this and maybe im in the wrong? I just dont get why she would change her name to mine. Aitah?
    via Username191181
  • potty_recepticle NTA, that is extremely weird, your mother has problems. I mean it's almost like she's trying to replace you but then she sounds like she's gaslighting you into thinking it's an inclusion thing as payback for your friends name changes?
    via p0tty_recepticle
  • horriblegoose_ NTA. So my great grandmother did this to my grandmother when she was young. Grandmother was named Barbara Christine and then Great Grandma decided she wanted to be called Barbara. Luckily my
    via horriblegoose_
  • grandmother was young enough she could decide to be called Christine by all who knew her. It was apparently weird to people in the family at the time she decided it and it was weird
    via horriblegoose_
  • to all of the younger generation when we learned that Great Grandma "Barbra" wasn't named Barbra at all. So this sh was weird 110 years ago and it is weird now that your mom is doing it.
    via horriblegoose_
  • NemesisShadow I've actually had someone take my name. It was a friend of mine from high school's aunt. I have a very unique name and when I say unique I mean less than 500 people in the country have been registered as having it and it's spelled differently.
    via NemesisShadow
  • There was no way to deny where she got it from, she was much older and it didn't suit her. My friend was incredibly embarrassed and
    via NemesisShadow
  • it felt like an invasion of self. It was part of your identity first so I can empathize with you on this one.
    via NemesisShadow
  • Neonpinx I would start calling her Brenda and every white sounding name instead. Your mom seems immature and unhinged. She changed her name because it sounded too white so she changed it to Xara? How is
    via Neonpinx
  • Xara ethnic? And what kind of loon changes their name to sound the same as their child? NTA.
    via Neonpinx
  • Dak Tyree3141 I'm curious why she ignores you when you call her "Mom".
    via DakTyree3141
  • the_dark_viper NTA. I have genuinely read some head-scratching things on Reddit, and this is one of them.
    via the_dark_viper
  • Jolly JeanGiant83 If "mom" doesn't work, have you tried "Mamma mia!"? Possibly set to music? ABBA makes everything better.
    via JollyJeanGiant83
  • LuigiMPLS NTA. Sounds like she could use some therapy.
    via LuigiMPLS

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family drama inheritance aita AITAH brother mother tradition siblings family feud favoritism wedding aunt sister fiancé grandmother Father
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