20-year-old tries to stop sister from naming her newborn after a fungal infection, sister says she's 'stepping way out of line': 'Just tell the husband what it means'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 12, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

I'm all for an unconventional name. I know people love to give celebrities flack for the offbeat names that they often choose for their offspring, especially the Kardashian variety. But personally, I don't mind a name with a little bit of flair. It may get a groan from your relatives but I have a feeling that those kids will grow up to appreciate their names. In some ways, it is better to stand out from the crowd than blend completely in. 

Plus, a lot of these kids have parents in the Screen Actor's Guild, which requires that you can't perform under the same name as someone else in the guild. So if they end up entering the biz too, their parents have given them a leg up. But the grace I'm willing to give has a limit. Some names exit the realm of "unique" and enter the realm of terrible. The name in this story is one of them. 

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  • 01

    AITA for blowing up at my sister for naming her daughter after a fungal infection?

    So my (20M) sister (27F) and her husband had been struggling a LOT with baby names. She was determined to find the single perfect name-- even by the time of her baby shower (nearly five weeks before the due date), she didn't seem any closer to picking something out than she was at the start of her pregnancy.
    via u/Odd_Age1378
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10504745216
    via Hoi An Photographer

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

  • When a sister tried to have a little fun with her baby gift, she couldn't quite anticipate how she would respond. And when she tried to step in to correct the mess she could have possibly caused, she was met with more resistance than she could have expected. Read on for the story.

  • 03
    Anyway, I knew she was struggling, so in addition to the $900 wooden crib on her list that I got for her, I gave her a list of (obviously) joke baby names. We have a really close relationship, and it was in line with both our senses of humor.
    via u/Odd_Age1378
  • 04
    She's a nurse, and I'm a biology student, so all the names were medications, infections, unpleasant animals, etcetera, that all sound like lovely girls' names out of context. Some of them were a little bit obscure, sure, but I included some obvious ones like " " and "Hernia" for good measure. Two weeks later, she told me she and her husband had finally settled on a name.
    via u/Odd_Age1378
  • 05
    Malassezia. The baby's name is Malassezia. One of the names on my joke list. Outside of the immediate issues (nearly impossible to pronounce on the first try, the "ass" smack dab it the middle of it, the first syllable being mal-, literally meaning bad or evil), it's also the name of a very common fungal infection. One that my sister and I are both genetically predisposed to. One that we've both had multiple times throughout our lives. Her daughter will almost certainly catch it at some time!
    via u/Odd_Age1378
  • 06
    I pointed it out to her, and she said that yes, she knew what it meant, and she knew my list was intended to be a joke, but she just really liked the way it sounded. (I don't think the husband knows what it means- I think he'd reject it if he did.) She says that it's so obscure that no one will ever think twice about it. (Except, you know, when little baby Malassezia turns 14, finds a weird spot on her neck, and goes on her phone to google what it is...)
    via u/Odd_Age1378
  • 07
    I told her that the name was completely unacceptable, and I was shocked that she chose it. I even suggested some similar names, like Mallory, Azalea, or Anastasia, that would be more acceptable, but she wouldn't hear it! She said that since I'm not one of the parents, I have no business telling her what she can and cannot name her child, and that I'm stepping way out of line. I think it's pregnancy hormones, and she'll regret the decision very soon after her daughter is born.
    via u/Odd_Age1378
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10504745472
    via Unsplash+ (Natalia Blauth)

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

  • 09

    Commenters weighed in with their opinions.

    gopher-tuna · 11h ago NTA - I share your frustration and you're looking out for your niece. While your sis is right that it's her parental right, you're not stepping out of line you're family and you're cautioning her.
    via u/gopher-tuna
  • 10
    Reminds me of a girl in my class back in elementary school who (whom?) had a unique name; Spontaneous... that was her name. We were all fine with it until 6th grade, when that was one of the words we were taught. You can imagine what chaos ensued for the poor girl.
    via u/gopher-tuna
  • 11
    Also... Malassezia sounds like a Disney villain. Question: would the hospital allow that name? I know people choose "unique" names for children, but could you really name your child Chlamydia? That's not considered emotional abe?
    via u/gopher-tuna
  • 12
    • Parking_Pomelo _... 11h ago NTA. Just tell the husband what it means. He'll shut it down
    via u/Parking_Pomelo_3856
  • 13
    TeddyStella 11h ago . Is it possible your sister is trolling you back about the baby name? Most of my friends and family have had no idea what baby name they liked until the baby arrived and some still struggled.
    via u/TeddyStella
  • 14
    There is no rule you HAVE to know what name you'll choose to name the baby prior to arrival. H_I my parents named my sister, forgot what they named her when filling out paperwork and named her something different.
    via u/TeddyStella
  • 15
    Neakhanie 10h ago Dude, she's pranking you.
    via u/Neakhanie
  • 16
    Ulquiorra1312 • 11h ago Nta its bad Worse no obvious short form I knew someone whose initials were GAS I personnally didnt notice my signature reads as arsey jones (R C JONES)
    via u/Ulquiorra1312
  • 17
    AiryContrary ⚫ 11h ago Wow, I thought it was gonna be Candida.
    via u/AiryContrary
  • 18
    Traditional-Pen1029 7h ago YTA. Only because you gave a joke name list and seem unable to tell she's joking back. Our in utero baby name was Maurice Morris (similar) and then Mackerel Sam for the next one. The only part of that which ended up true is Sam as a middle name because we got so used to calling them that.
    via u/Traditional-Pen1029
  • 19
    LadyDerri 10h ago She's giving it back to you. She wants to get your dander up and seems to be doing a good job of it.
    via u/LadyDerri
  • 20
    N... 10h ago Edited 10h ago . . Mal = bad + a = bad a So we have the nickname. Now Ezia - Hebrew for elegance? e-Zia as in electronic aunt (Italian?) or electric cottage/home/campervan (Pueblo?).
    via u/NoZookeepergame9552
  • 21
    Honestly, I have to assume she is trolling you back, but if not a) tell her husband the meaning as he deserves to give informed agreement to the name and b) start having fun reframing it as your niece is named "Bad Ass [fill in the blank].... NTA if everyone is trolling, ESH if you guys are serious.
    via u/NoZookeepergame9552
  • 22
    La... 11h ago Edited 3m ago • NTA. Now, I'm usually of the belief that we should keep our opinions of other people's choices of baby names to ourselves. But sometimes the names are so atrocious that I can't help but wonder why no one had the balls to speak up & at least try to save this child
    via u/Lateralus46N2
  • 23
    from a lifetime of frustration & ridicule? There's a big difference between someone's name choice not aligning with our personal tastes and a name that could be considered borderline cruelty. For example, I was once watching a true crime show
    via u/Lateralus46N2
  • 24
    & a friend of the victim was actually named TiaJuanna Hammock. That poor child was failed before she was ever even born. So I completely understand your intention in wanting to save your niece.from that. At least you can tell your niece you tried and that she can take comfort in the fact that there's someone out there walking around with the name TiaJuanna Hammock.
    via u/Lateralus46N2
  • 25
    alien_overlord_10... 10h ago NTA So the baby is not born yet? Go explain this to your brother in law. Maybe he can stop this abomination from happening.
    via u/alien_overlord_1001
  • 26
    juswantlivemusic ⚫ 4h ago I was a labor and delivery nurse. I could not convince a young couple that spelling their daughter's name, Lyle, was NOT pronounced Lily. They were convinced that that's how you said the name with the spelling LYLE. That poor little baby girl.
    via u/juswantlivemusic

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