Woman gets pregnant, demands 23-year-old cousin give up her name so her daughter can have it and fulfil 'family prophecy': 'I need you to release the name to her'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Mar 15, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

Pretty much every family has their traditions, and some take them more seriously than others. Some are pretty standard, fun things, like having a specific game that is played during the holidays. Others are a lot more idiosyncratic, and not everybody is going to subscribe to them to the same degree. It's a matter of taste, which will always differ from person to person.

This is especially true when it comes to the controversial area of beliefs and superstitions. If you are a skeptic but a relative is a diehard fan of this kind of thing, it can become difficult territory to navigate. Being implicated in things that you may think are irrational can be tiring at best and actively disrupt your life at worst. It becomes a big responsibility deciding how much you are willing to entertain some wild things and how much you will let them impact your family relationships. 

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    via Jayson Hinrichsen (Unsplash+)

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

  • This is something one young woman unexpectedly found herself dealing with when her superstitious cousin made a strange demand of her. Her relative had always been observant of various spiritual traditions that she claimed were a part of the family, and when she got pregnant, this intensified. 

    She asked that the woman change her name so she could use it for her unborn daughter, insisting that this was how she would fulfil a “family prophecy”. She understandably refused the request, but she faced pushback. She wanted reassurance that she wasn't doing anything wrong.

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    AITAH for refusing to let my cousin name her baby after me because of a "family prophecy"?

    I (23F) have a cousin, Lila (25F), who is very into family lore, spiritual omens, and old prophecies that have been passed down through our great-grandmother's side. Most of the time, I just go along with it because it's harmless-stuff like "never plant rosemary on a full moon" or "our bloodline has a connection to the ocean." Weird, but whatever. Well, now she's pregnant, and things have gotten intense.
    via TwinkleMoonstoneGlj
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    Last week, she announced that she wants to name her daughter after me. I was flattered at first and asked why she chose my name. That's when she got all serious and said, "Because you're the chosen one." Uhh... excuse me? She explained that according to a family prophecy, a girl born into our bloodline with my name would have a great spiritual awakening, unlock ancient family powers, and become the protector of our lineage.
    via TwinkleMoonstoneGlj
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    I laughed, thinking she was joking. She wasn't. She said she felt her baby was "meant" to be the true heir to the prophecy, and by giving her my name, she could "absorb my connection" to whatever mystical forces our great-grandmother supposedly tapped into. Then she got weirdly intense and said, "I need you to release the name to her." I asked what that meant, and she said that for the magic to work, I needed to stop using my name and "let it fully belong" to her daughter. I was like, "Lila... y
    via TwinkleMoonstoneGlj
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    I thought this was absolutely insane and told her, h || no. My name is my name. She got really upset and said I was being "selfish with my spiritual destiny" and that I should be honored that her child was meant to fulfill the prophecy. Now, some family members (who are also into the whole mysticism thing) are saying I should at least consider it because "this is bigger than me" and "the prophecy has never been wrong before." I honestly don't care if the kid gets magical powers or not—I'm not re
    via TwinkleMoonstoneGlj
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    Commenters assured her she wasn't doing anything wrong.

    LuckyOldBat NTA, tell her you are indeed the Chosen One, and if she tries to steal your power you will curse her and all her descendants.
    via LuckyOldBat
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    Jaccat25 I know this probably a joke but this actually might be the only answer Lila accepts. I would go hard on being the Chosen One every time I saw her
    via Jaccat25
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    Other Fish_6713 NTAAAA this is insane lol i feel like i just read a dream i had. keep your name, she can name her baby something else that's crazy dude
    via Other_Fish_6713
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    Whyis_skyblue_007 You will not be so flippant when the baby grins evilly and her head turns 180 degrees will you?
    via Whyis_skyblue_007
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    Beck2010 "Lila, as you've stated, I am the chosen one. By trying to change this, you are now at risk. I warn you: by attempting to usurp from me the status of chosen one, there will be cosmic consequences (while raising your hands from the hip, tipping your head back, eyes closed, and said in a softly ominous tone)." NTA. Your cousin is... interesting.
    via Beck2010
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    SpacerCat If it were me I'd tell her I'd happily give up my name for $100k because that's what legal fees and therapy will cost me. And I can't do it for a penny less, and also the name may stay as my nickname even after it's legally changed, because I can't control what other people call me. Obviously NTA!
    via SpacerCat
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    Feycat Man, why doesn't my family have a prophesy!
    via Feycat
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    cutezoex Your cousin is out here acting like you're a retired superhero who needs to pass down the mantle. If the prophecy is so legit, it shouldn't need you to legally un-name yourself for the magic to work. Tell her she can name the baby whatever she wants, but you're keeping your name and your identity-unless, of course, she's offering a fat inheritance in exchange. Otherwise, she can take this "chosen one" nonsense to Hogwarts and leave you out of it.
    via cutezoex
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    SaffronWavee NTA It's not your job to cater to her fantastical beliefs. She's the one being selfish, not you. Stand your ground and ignore the pressure. This is your life, not a fantasy novel.
    via SaffronWavee
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    HerbalHoityToity NTA. Look, I'm spiritual and witchy and believe in prophecies and stuff, but this is straight up bananas cream cheese crazy nonsense. Names have power, sure, but each soul is individual and a name doesn't NEED to be transferred over. Each soul has its own power and it's not affected by the name a person does or doesn't have. She's fine to use the name, it's not going to affect you or her daughter in the way she has deluded herself into thinking it will.
    via HerbalHoityToity
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    RavenclawEC Obviously NTA... she is entitled to her believes and to name her daughter whatever she wants, however, she has no right to ask you to "give up" your own name.. that is just crazy...
    via RaveclawEC
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    Dilapidated_girrafe Your cousin is insane. But your cousin also has the right to pick whatever name she wants, including yours. But also, under zero way are you remotely obligated to stop using your name. Good luck with this drama.
    via Dilapidated_girrafe
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    IJustWantADragon21 If the baby is truly meant to be the "chosen one" then it won't matter if two people have the name because the spirits will know, right? lol! This is such insanity! NTA big time. But I'd definitely try that argument on her. If it doesn't work go LC. She's nuts and you are under no obligation to give up your name. The kid can have the same name if she wants, but this is bonkers! (Any chance your name is Anathema Device? lol! —anyone who gets this reference is my new friend)
    via IJustWantADragon21
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    aquavenatus ΝΤΑ This isn't going to end well. Make sure you continue to go by your name and not by another one because your relatives you are on your cousin's side will start calling you by a different name. Good luck.
    via aquavenatus
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    XemptOne so if youre the chosen one of the family, then why does she think her daughter can just have it? lol, NTA and do not give up your name...
    via XemptOne
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    hobsrulz Exactly! Unlock your ancient powers instead!
    via hobsrulz

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baby names naming name family drama aita baby spiritual prophecy spirituality family pregnant reddit thread Reddit cousin
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