When it comes to naming a baby, parents can spend hours, days weeks or even months going over their options before finally reaching an agreement. But one man has been left feeling like he has lost out after he and his partner named their daughter after his late mother-in-law.
The unnamed parent explained how his mother-in-law passed away a few months before his firstborn's birth - and to honour her, he agreed to name his daughter after her. However, as time went on, the man started to develop a deep dislike for the name - and regrets agreeing to it.
Taking to Reddit, he shared his story, writing: "My wife and I decided to name her after my mother-in-law - Renee. I kind of liked the name. I felt like it was kind of cool and interesting, and there was something classy about it."
But now he "hates" it.
"It feels so weird to call her Renee, it’s like talking to the soul of an old woman trapped in the body of a month old baby," he continued.
"Every time I say it, I can just picture my crotchety old mother-in-law, and it’s not only upsetting but just pushed the old lady name aspect."
In an attempt to find a way around it, he has been referring to his daughter by her nickname - Nene and Renny - but he doesn't believe this is a long-term solution.
He said: "I know this comes off as super s***y, but I just hate the name," he added. "I want her to have her own name.
"My wife loves the name, and will only call her Renee."
While most users urged him to openly and honestly speak to his wife about his dislike for the name, others came up with alternative names he could use.
One user said: "I think it might partially be her age. I didn't use my kid's name in my head or even out loud I just called her 'she' or 'the baby' for like at least two months. It was too weird. She was here but she wasn't really interactive.
"Your kid is still in the potato stage. She hasn't really had a chance to become a person yet. I say grit your teeth, call her Rey or Rain maybe instead, and give yourself time to meet your Renee when she starts to become herself."
Another user added: "For me, it took literally a year and a half for my first kid's name to feel like a match.
"I still rarely use the name and more typically go with nicknames, but at least it feels right now, if that makes sense.
"For me, it was a mismatch if, 'This is just my adorable baby, why do they have an adult person name', and I grew into it - and now like the name again."
A third user said: "It's not an old lady name - there are no old person names, just names that were popular at different times.
"My older son's name peaked in popularity in my country in the 1930s.
"It seems like you won't be able to change it without a fight, so just deal for now and I bet as she becomes more of a person you won't be able to think of her as anything else."
Do you have a story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
