Entitled mom tries to “reserve” a baby name despite knowing cousin planned on using it since they were kids, leading to a dispute at a family gathering: ‘You can’t use it’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jul 15, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

It's quite silly to realize just how sensitive people have gotten when it comes to their issues around baby names. Firstly, because they have developed this weird need to find the most "original" name they can come up with, something no one has even used before, just so that their baby would be "one of a kind". All while completely disregarding the fact that their child will have to live with that name for (presumably) the rest of their life.

Secondly, sensitive people cannot stand the idea that someone they know might be after the same name that they plan on using. Heaven forbid two people would have the same name, what an unthinkable thought…

This always makes me think about my dad's family, whose very traditional and very big. They usually name most of the men in the family after the grandfather's name, which is why my dad shares his exact name with 7 other cousins. Do any of them care? Absolutely not. If anything, it actually creates quite a lot of funny stories to share a family gatherings.

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  • The family gathering in the story below is not filled with funny stories, unfortunately, because the people there are really sensitive about baby names. Which is why one cousin is now trying to call “dibs” on a baby name, even though she knows she has no right to declare a name as something she owns…

    Keep scrolling to read the full tale.

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    Cheezburger Image 10529524736
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    Entitled mom tried to “reserve” the baby name I’ve had picked since I was 12

    I (28F) am 8 months pregnant with my first child. Ever since | was a kid, I've loved the name Eliana. It's unique, feminine, and just always felt special to
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    me. My friends and family have known this forever, even jokingly calling dibs on middle names when I was still in high school.
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    Fast forward: my cousin (29F) is also pregnant by surprise and recently announced she's having a girl too. At the baby shower last week, I mentioned
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    that we've officially chosen "Eliana" as the name. She froze. In front of everyone, she goes, "Umm no, that's the name I'm
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    using. I already told my mom and everyone at work. You can't use it." I said, "I've had this name picked out since before you
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    even graduated high school. You literally made fun of it in the past." She says, "Doesn't matter. I'm the first to say it now while we're both pregnant. It's mine."
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    My aunt (her mom) then backed her up saying, "Just let her have this. You can always pick another name." NO. I'm not picking another name for the baby I've waited
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    years for just because my cousin impulsively "called dibs." Entitlement level: naming rights thief.
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    I told her she can use it too if she wants, but I'm not changing. If we both end up with daughters named Eliana, that's her hill to d'y on.
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    B S - Baby Enimia -Amelia -Sophia -Encily -meid -Isabella - Charlotte - Olivia -Scarlett - Madison names
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    ADHDGardener My husband's family has four cousins named Michael. It happens and it's ok! She doesn't get dibs on it.
    via ADHDGardener
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    angradeth The best part is that the due date is on your side, there's squat they can do about it, what are they going to do? be mad because of a name? Go right ahead.
    via angradeth
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    Mecanooshee In Italian families its common to name your first son after the paternal grandfather. In large families it can get kind of crazy.
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    A friend of mine told me her dad had 8 siblings and she ended up with 5 cousins named Vito. Many worked at a family run business and there's a funny story when one of the boys called in and said "Hey Vito, its Vito, is Vito there?"
    via Mecanooshee
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    hap_hap_happy_feelz Yeah. You're due first. Name her what you want.
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    FrostyLandscape Everything about rules about baby names and who's name it "belongs" to is so incredibly childish.
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    Veloci_Mom I have a brother named Tim. His son is Tim. My brother in law is Tim. His son is Tim. 4 cousins named Natalie. Name your child what you want.
    via Veloci_Mom
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    lapsteelguitar First, nobody, "owns" a name. There is no "I'm first” when it comes to using names. Second, the cousins can share a name.
    via lapsteelguitar
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    Significant-Quote 986 Absolutely the right move. Names aren't Pokémon cards, you don't "call dibs" and expect the world to bow. Let her stew. If she really cares more about winning than her own kid's name, that's her problem, not yours.
    via Significant-Quote986

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family drama baby baby names pregnancy kids mother reddit story parenting aunt family pregnant Reddit cousins women parents children entitled people Father
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