'I don’t even have a baby': Pregnant woman accuses coworker of ‘stealing' her baby name, despite coworker not even having a boyfriend or baby plans

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 26, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Ladies, take note–no rule forbids you from using a name for your baby if you already know someone with that name, or someone who also wants to use that name for their child. The great things about names are that they are not disposable, and they are endless.

So no, Karen, no one would look at you weird if you decide to name your daughter Susie, even if you already know 3 other Susies. No Susie has a monopoly over that name; you can quite literally name your child whatever you want. You don't need to ask for permission, and nobody cares if that name is 'original' or not.

The fact that these things had to be said proves that some people take this baby naming business way too far. They can't stand the idea of having to 'compete' with other people on names, but they will do it if they must.

Even if the competition doesn't really exist.

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  • The pregnant employee in the story below did just that when she learned that her coworker was planning to name her future child the same name she was going to use. Even though this coworker doesn't even have a child on the horizon, this employee took the matter to an extreme, which even led their boss to get involved…

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    Olivia Chloe Lily Amelia Sophie Grace Emily Mia Jessica Ava Ruby Emma
    via Africa images

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

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    My coworker said I “stole” her baby name… but I don’t even have a baby. Or a boyfriend. Or plans.

    So this happened a few weeks ago at work, and I'm still confused if I hallucinated the whole thing.
    via ruizim
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    For context, I (27F) work in a small office, and one of my coworkers, let's call her Amanda (30sF), is currently pregnant with her second
    via ruizim
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    kid. We're not close we've never hung out, I don't have her number, and the most we've ever talked about is whose turn it is to clean the microwave. That's it.
    via ruizim
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    Anyway, we were in the break room, and I made an offhand comment about baby names. I said something like, "If I ever have a daughter, I'd
    via ruizim
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    probably name her Isla. I've just always loved that name." That's it. One sentence. Not even a big dramatic conversation.
    via ruizim
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    Just passing time while waiting for my sad little microwave lunch. She goes de id silent and just stares at me. Then she
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    says, "You KNEW I was going to name my baby Isla. You saw it on my Pinterest board!" Ma'am. What?
    via ruizim
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    I blinked and told her, "I don't follow you on Pinterest..." because again, we are not friends. I wouldn't even know how
    via ruizim
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    to find her Pinterest board if someone offered me a reward. She gets super defensive and starts telling everyone
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    in the office that I'm "copying" her and "trying to steal her moment." Like?? Girl, I don't even have a boyfriend. My last
    via ruizim
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    date ghosted me before we even met for coffee. The only thing I'm expecting is a migraine from dealing with this drama.
    via ruizim
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    But it didn't stop there. The next day, she brought in cupcakes for someone's birthday, pointedly skipped giving me one,
    via ruizim
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    and then said (loud enough for me to hear), "Some people just have no originality. First they take names, what's next my husband?"
    via ruizim
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    2-01
    via Pekic

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

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    At that point, even the boss had to step in and ask her to cool it. Now everyone at work jokes that I better not say I
    via ruizim
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    like the name "Olivia" or I'll get hit with a cease and desist. It's just so ridiculous. Like I get being hormonal, I get
    via ruizim
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    being sensitive about baby stuff, but how is someone "stealing" a name if they're not pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or even in a
    via ruizim
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    relationship? I'm literally out here trying to keep my plants alive and hoping my landlord doesn't raise rent again. Babies are not even
    via ruizim
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    in the top 100 of my concerns. Anyway, I've been avoiding name conversations at all costs now. Next time someone
    via ruizim
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    asks me what I'd name a baby, I'm saying Refrigerator and walking away.
    via ruizim
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    Cute Outcome7145 I'm a petty b who would get a goldfish for my desk named Isla. Cute little name plate and everything
    via ruizim
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    Worldly_Instance_730 Liz, short for Lizard.
    via ruizim
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    Chancedizzle Sorry OP, there are some people out there who cannot live a mediocre existence so they always conjur or start some stuff
    via ruizim
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    to add excitement to their lives.. but on a lighter note how is your day?
    via ruizim

Tags

boss workplace-stories baby employee job tales-from-the-workplace coworkers reddit story workplace pregnant Reddit company funny entitled people
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