baby names: parents-to-be branded childish for prank

Choosing a baby name can be tough.

Parents-to-be often get unsolicited advice from well-meaning family and friends.

Others have their favourite names stolen before they get to use it.

It is no wonder people come up with elaborate ways to keep their preferred baby names under wraps. But have you ever faked a baby name?

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Faking a baby name

A Reddit user took to the Am I The A—hole community recently to share how they tricked their family.

“My husband and I are expecting our first child and we did something to have some fun with annoying family members who wanted to name our child for us,” she began, explaining the “issues” began a week after they announced the pregnancy.

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After a few family members decided for them what they should name their boy or girl, the decided to explain “we weren’t taking name suggestions and to stop acting like they can tell us what to name our kid”.

When their family members told them their choices “would prevent any weird, tragic names” people choose these days, they decided to “have some fun with names” and started leaking some truly outrageous names they didn’t plan to use.

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They used random posts on Facebook and the like to continue their ruse, and used some “out-there names” which “annoyed the relatives it was intended to”.

When their family members eventually realised what they were up to, they were called “childish”.

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“My husband pointed out they were the ones who childishly believed they could name our child for us,” the Reddit user said.

“Other family members found it hilarious.”

Keeping your chosen name a secret

There are many reasons parents-to-be opt to keep a baby name a secret before the baby’s arrival, from safeguarding against unwanted criticism to protecting themselves against outright theft.

Some people choose to keep a baby name a secret from friends and family, especially if they have already been stung by revealing their preferred baby name, only to have someone they have told use it themselves.

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Others do it to avoid criticism.

We have all heard a friend or family member announce they hate a certain name.

While we can agree to disagree, there is nothing worse than someone denigrating your favourite baby name after you have already chosen it.

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