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Father has 'unique' idea to give his name to daughter, but mom says it's the 'worst ever'

Honestly, maybe she's right on this one.

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Let's not curse any more children with bad names, shall we?

Some parents have no trouble giving their children perfectly unique, very meaningful names that won’t go on to ruin their adulthood. But others…well…they get an A for effort, but might want to consider hiring a baby name professional.

Things of course get even more complicated when one parent becomes attached to a name that they’re partner finds completely off-putting. It almost always leads to a squabble, because the more one parent is against the name, the more the other parent will go to bat for it.

This seemed to be the case for one soon-to-be mom on the Reddit AITA forum recently. Apparently, she was second-guessing her vehement reaction to her husband’s, ahem, avant garde baby name for their daughter, which she called “the worst name ever.”

But honestly, when you hear this name, I think you’ll agree she was totally in the right.

For context, the couple initially thought they were having a boy and were going to go the traditional route by carrying over the husband’s name. Easy Peasy. Except they were having a girl instead. And here is where our saga begins.

“See, when we first started talking about names, the ‘boy name’ was immediately decided: Stuart Jr., after my husband,” she wrote. “No problem there, it’s a classic name and carries family meaning. But, for a girl, things got murky.”

Apparently the woman’s husband thought he had come up with the perfect solve for their situation.

“My husband suggested Stuarta,. No, you’re not having a stroke,” she continued. “Apparently, his logic is that since Stuart ends in ‘t,’ we can just add an ‘a’ to make it feminine.”

Sure, okay. Some names can lean feminine or masculine depending on some letter tweaks, like Robert/Roberta, Eric/Erica, Carl/Carla, etc. But I think we can all agree that this trick doesn’t work in all cases, and that was how the wife felt.

“I tried explaining why that doesn’t quite work, how it sounds more like a furniture brand than a human name, how she’d be endlessly correcting people and explaining its origin,” she lamented.

AITA for rejecting the worst name ever for our offspring?
byu/Beginning_Date1924 inAmItheAsshole

But, alas, “He’s adamant though, says it ‘honors’ him while giving our daughter a unique name.”

In trying to respect his wishes, she even suggested some feminine name alternatives that sounded like Stuart, thus still honoring his name, but he would not budge.

At a loss, the woman concluded, “I love my husband dearly, and I understand wanting to honor family. But I can’t imagine subjecting our daughter to a lifetime of awkward stares and endless questions about her ‘unusual’ name. I also worry about potential bullying and the impact it could have on her self-esteem.”

She also asked the forum if they had any additional name suggestions, but for goodness sake no other “-ta” names. “The man clearly has a theme, and I need to gently steer him away from it, not fuel the fire!” she joked.

To no one’s surprise, everyone in the comments section thought “Stuarta” was dreadful.

“It sounds like a word your cousin tried to use in Scrabble during the holidays of 1997 just to try and win the game — they didn’t,” one person wrote.

Another added, “Stuarta sounds like a pharmaceutical product. I can hear the commercials now. ‘In some cases, Stuarta can cause headaches, rashes and even death.’ It doesn’t have a decent nickname. And no, adding an ‘a’ doesn't make it feminine in all cases; this is one of them. I’d go for Stuart as a middle name.”

Others felt it unfair that the woman’s husband was so hellbent on being the one honored in the first place—especially if the child is already taking his surname. Others argued that naming a child after a parent, any parent, robs them of their individuality.

“WTF should any child HAVE to be named after him in some way? I get the tradition thing but this is just weird behavior. The name should be about the child, not him alone. It's not only selfish, but arrogant to insist children must be named after him.”

“I always believed that if you want your child to have their own personality, their own name is the best place to start.”

Lastly, folks pointed out that regardless of how adamant the husband is about Stuarta, both parents have to be on board with the baby name: “Remind him that baby names need a yes from both parents or it’s a no. You both need to be able to live with whatever you go with. Even if that means both of you are missing out on the one you want most.” Case closed.

Hopefully the husband comes to his senses and all gets resolved before we have a little Stuarta in the world. But if not, let’s be kind to her regardless.


This article originally appeared last year.

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4 surprising pop culture moments inspiring the hottest baby names of 2025

From the Drake vs. Kendrick beef to to the Paris Olympics, here's what shaping the newest wave of baby names.

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More and more parents are using pop culture to find baby name inspiration.

Once upon a time, we essentially only named babies after royalty, religious icons and other members of the family. Maybe a nature-inspired moniker if we were feeling rebellious.

Nowadays, ideas for baby names come from all kinds of places (cemeteries, anyone?) but it’s becoming increasingly common for parents to use these sort of zeitgeist-y pop culture happenings that come and go in an instant, but become immortal snapshots of a particular moment in history. So babies named after these moments also, in their own way, carry a bit of that story taking place when they were born.

Each fall, BabyCenter reveals insights into the baby name trends for the upcoming year based on data gleaned from the literal hundreds of thousands of parents who register their baby's name on the BabyCenter app.

For 2025, here are some of the biggest (and kind of surprising) influences.

Sports moments, including the Paris Olympics, continue to inform baby name trends.

paris olympics, french names, baby names 2025Who doesn't love a french name, though?Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

The Olympics have left France, but parents-to-be are still tapping into their inner Parisian. Both the boy name Raphael and girl name Louise rose up considerably in rank, as well as Beaux, Remi, Gustavo, Elodie, Arlette and Jolie.

Also, as Women’s basketball continues to set record viewership numbers, names inspired by female basketball players, like Catilin Clark Kamilla Cardoso and A'ja Wilson are gaining popularity.

Similarly, the Super Bowl LVIII becoming the most-watched program in American TV history ignited a wave of Chiefs-themed named like Creed (think Creed Humphrey, a Chiefs center) and Isiah (as in Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs running back)

Travis, as in Kelci, also gained traction. But that could easily be Taylor Swift’s hold on the world, not football’s.

Speaking of pop stars…

Female singers are dominating the charts—and baby names.

sabrina carpent,er chappell roan, billie eillish, girl namesThe pop girlies are taking over. Condé Nast (through Vogue Taiwan), Wikipedia

Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eillish are seeing their first names on the rise. And while thankfully we didn’t see Brat becoming a popular first name, Apple, from a song on the Charlie XCX’s Brat album, did gain favor.

And of course, Taylor’s The Tortured Poet’s Department album helped both Peter and Robin skyrocket as boys’ names.

Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake’s DUI seemingly made the name fall 59 spots in ranking to number 277. Guess the Prince of Pop has lost his crown.

More and more baby names are based on hit television shows

the bear, the bear carmenA picture of Jeremy Allan White as Carmen from The Bear. Wikifandom

Parents are helping their kids get that “main character energy” with names like Riley (inspired by Inside Out), Carmen (from The Bear), Deborah (as in Deborah Vance from HBO’s Hacks) and Ripley…not after Alien. After Netflix's The Talent Mr. Ripley. Which, considering the man is a grifter and murderer, is a bit odd. But Andrew Scott really is that amazing of an actor.

Lastly, Mother Nature herself is helping parents find their newborn’s name

solar eclipseWhen are we gonna see a bunch of kids named Comet? Luc Viatour/Wikipedia

According to BabyCenter, the solar eclipse this past April brought on a rise in the girl name Sol, which is "sun" in Spanish. Even the name Eclipse itself rose 4,421 spots. For boy names, Orion (after the constellation) climbed to No. 301. How fun to say your baby’s name was literally found in the stars.

And that’s that! There were a few other fun tidbits (which you can find here), but this overview gives a pretty solid look into the new human we’ll be welcoming into the world.

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Pregnant woman seeks out her baby's name by walking through a cemetery and it's wonderful

Is this the beginning of a "gravestone baby" trend?

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Honestly, there are far worst places to get baby name inspo.

There are a million and one ways to find a baby name. Some parents might glean their own family line, scour through beloved books or pop culture references, or even hire a professional to conjure up some creative ideas.

But as we dive into the spooky season, you could opt for the more macabre route. That is what Haley Hodge did for her fourth child.

In a video that quickly went viral on TikTok back in May, Hodge filmed herself in a flowy pink dress traipsing around the Smithville Burying Ground in Southport, North Carolina, on a quest to find her soon-to-be-daughter’s name.

As she does, her onscreen text offers this fun fact “did you know families usd to come to cemeteries to have a picnic with their loved ones?” (sounds like a very Victorian pastime).

Hodge’s other kids lend a helping hand in the name hunt, her son getting particularly excited to find a gravestone with the name Salem. Bunny, Winnie, Vienna, and Olympus were some other good ones.


@hodgehouse Fun fact: My sister came from someones gravestone 🤍 #babynames #southport #love #fyp #viral #weird #graveyard ♬ Beautiful Memories - Lux-Inspira

In an interview with TODAY, Hodge shared that she came by this idea rather honestly, as her mom was a history buff who loved to go epitaphing—i.e., visit cemeteries—and would often bring her and her sister along. In fact, her sister’s name came from someone’s grave.

"My mom found that we were more interested in spooky stories and ghost stories rather than the historical tours," she shared with USA Today. "I've always been fond of walking through the cemeteries and looking at how they're decorated or their stories behind some of the people."

Though she said some might find it “creepy,” Hodge argues that “You can learn so much about cultural aspects of the past." And many in the comments seemed to agree.

“I love this! and it’s absolutely no different than looking at a book of names or getting a name from a movie/show. and it’s a great way to bring back the older generation's names!” one person wrote.

“How beautiful must it be for some of these souls to hear their name spoken again after so many years. I hope you have an incredible pregnancy and a healthy baby,” added another.

One fellow “gravestone baby” even shared that “whenever people compliment my name I love to tell them and see their shocked faces when I say, ‘thanks my mom got it from a gravestone.’"

Still, other more superstitious viewers did share concern about visiting cemeteries while pregnant, as they feared it could attract uninvited spirits or energies.

Either way, Hodge has found a really cool way of both honoring some family traditions while bringing something fresh and unique. "I know there's baby books, but I feel like I see a lot of repeated names over and over again. And it's fun to have a story behind finding a name,” she told USA Today.

And in case you were wondering, it looks like Salem was the winner.

Look, graveyards might be a place for somber remembrance, but they can also be a source of joy. Previously, Upworthy covered a librarian who got delicious recipes from tombstones. Even earlier this mount a cemetery went viral for filming a nesting bluebird couple.

Bottom line: Cemeteries remind us of the inevitably of death, but they are also opportunities to celebrate life as well.

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A shocking amount of parents admit to feeling baby name regret, study finds

Choosing a baby name is exciting. But also stressful.

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What's in a name? A whole lotta regret, potentially.

When parents choose their baby’s name, they are (hopefully) putting a lot of thought into their decision—weighing out all the pros and cons of how that name would theoretically serve them throughout their entire life. Rather than, say, basing their pick off of a viral TikTok trend. But hey, to each their own.

Still, even the most meticulous parent has a chance of feeling baby name regret. In fact, a recent survey from Baby Center found that nearly 1 in 10 wish they’d chosen a different name for their child.

While every situation is different, there are some reasons why parents might begin to second guess.

Negative Feedback

15% of the 450 moms surveyed said their baby’s name was critiqued or mocked.

"I named my son Kyan (rhymes with Ryan), but every time I introduce him, most people say, 'Like cayenne pepper?'" one mom shared.

An “easier” name was just, well, easier.

Another 11% reported choosing culturally-specific names they genuinely love, but ultimately used an English name in everyday life. No doubt some have had to deal with some folks refusing to pronounce those culturally specific names.

It simply doesn't fit their child’s personality

Ten percent of moms noted that the original name they picked just didn’t seem to gel with the little human they brought into the world.

One mom shared that she tried using her original name of “MJ” for her son for “several months,” but eventually started calling him Maverick Dean, Dean being his dad’s middle name, which fit him much better.

20% of parents felt their baby name choice was “too common.”Photo credit: Canva

Another survey from the UK, created by Mumsnet in 2020, showed that 20% of parents regretted their baby name choice because it was “too common.” While another 20% reported never liking the name, but merely caving in to pressure.

The good news: if there is to be baby name regret, it tends to show up within a month of giving birth to the first birthday. So if you’ve made it that far without any doubts, you’re pretty much in the clear.

Clever Workarounds

Of course, while legally changing a kid’s name is always an option, it is a lengthy one. Which is probably why only 1 in 20 moms reported actually doing it. Instead, many moms (20%) opt for a nickname. Middle names are also a frequent alternative, with 15% of moms saying they prefer their child's middle name.

Expert Tips For Choosing a Baby Name

While baby name regret can’t always be avoided, experts do have some tips for avoiding it.

Professional baby name consultant Taylor Humphrey suggests on the “Tamron Hall Show” that parents make a categorized list of “Names I Love,” and “Names I Hate.”Hall says that parents rarely take the time to do this simple task, which can really help make those preferences easy to see.

On that note, Laura Wattenberg, founder of Namerology and author of “The Baby Name Wizard,” told Today.com that parents could take their list one step further by focusing on (and presumably, writing down) what they love about each name. That alone can reveal a lot about why a name should be a winner.

Sherri Suzanne, founder of My Name for Life, also told Today.com that parents should practice saying the potential name outloud, going so far as to practice introductions, “This is our son ___” or “This is our daughter_____,” and seeing how that feels.

It’s worth noting that while baby name regret is a possibility, it’s still not common. So odds are, you and your little one will be perfectly happy with whatever name choice you come up with. Especially if you do your homework!

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