Many cultures around the world honour their elders by choosing names for babies after them. Sometimes they add 'junior' or 'the second' to distinguish between the two, and others opt to honour their loved ones with a middle name.
It can be a beautiful tribute, but it doesn't always work out that way.
Would You Choose Names For Babies That Have Inappropriate Meaning In Other Cultures? This Couple Just Did!
"My older brother and sister-in-law are due with their first baby in the next few months. We're an Indian family and they plan to name their child for my deceased wife, Aanal," the man wrote in his post to Reddit.
The man explained that the couple are raising their family in their "majority white, blonde, and wealthy" neighbourhood. And although the name means "Fire" in India, he fears the child would be set up to be "mercifully bullied in America."
An Indian Baby Name That Has A 'Sexual' Connotation In English
The soon-to-be uncle also has personal experience with a very Indian name and he chose to go by an Americanised version of it through high school. Similarly, his deceased wife Aanal, went by the name Annabeth for the same reason.
The news, and the fact that his wife was never that close with the couple, infuriated him so much that he yelled at his brother and sister-in-law which resulted in an argument.
"I suggested that my older brother and my sister-in-law have the baby, give her an Americanized name like Annabelle, Anna, or Anjali, and give her the name Aanal when they go back to India or see family, call her that at home, but give her a western name on her American documents because Aanal isn't a name that's immediately thought of as good in America and it won't give her as many opportunities," he continued.
"They got super angry at me and said that they WOULD name her that and that I didn't know what I was talking about."
The sister-in-law will not speak to the man until he apologises. And, he's asked if he was wrong to speak up.
The Baby Will Be Bullied Over Her Name!
Pretty much everyone agreed with the man, and praised him for speaking out to help his future niece or nephew.
"They're not going to call her A-A-Nal. They're going to call her anal. As in anal sex," pointed out one commenter.
Another agreed, adding, "Aanal is a beautiful name that will 100% be a source of constant bullying to your niece if she is raised in Dallas, in a largely white community. Even well-meaning people with no ill intentions are going to mess this up. I did my last two years of high school in Texas in an awesome school for the arts. I’m telling you right now that there WILL be at least one sub who awkwardly stumbles over that name during roll call and will in Texas twang call out 'Anal? Is there an Anal here?'"
One had a very wise suggestion, one which we hope the couple takes on board. "Maybe focus less on the AA part of the name and gently remind them that Anal is a term for an intense sexual act. And that in America she will be made the target of SEXUAL bullying, not just teasing."
What do you think? Would you speak out if you felt that someone close to you was making a huge mistake? Especially, when naming their child?
This article was first published in KidSpot and republished on theAsianparent with permission.
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