A mum has been left terrified after naming her daughter after a medical term and believes it will 'ruin her life' . The woman is scared her child could be bullied for the name, reports Hull Live.
She took to social media to share her worries about her eight-year-old's name, Alexia. Posting on a popular parenting forum, the mother revealed that her child loves the name.
The troubled parent said: "So my daughter's name is Alexia. At the time of her birth, I was aware of dyslexia, but it was not everywhere like it is now and it never appeared to either of us that alexia is also a medical term.
"We just struggled to find a name and both really liked it." Alexia is a girl's name common in Italy and Spain.
It's origins are Greek, with the name deriving from Alexander and means "defender" or "helper" of men. However, the medical definition of alexia concerns losing the ability to understand written language, usually due to significant brain damage.
The mum said has researched the name and liked the "defender" aspect, but had not come across the rare medical condition. Now, she is worried after seeing people trash the name online.
The mother said: "This made my anxiety worse with all the negative comments over both of the names, Is the name really that bad? What would you think if you hear it on a playground?"
The mother's naming problems stirred up conversation on social media, with people quick to give their thoughts. Many people, were supportive of the woman's woes and reassured her that there is nothing wrong with the name.
One person said: "I think it's a lovely name! I had never heard of the medical term despite working in a health field - I don't think most people will have heard of it.
"Also, I think it would be pronounced differently i.e. ay-lexia." Another added: "I didn't know it was a medical condition either.
"If you want to call her something else, I'd go for Alex as I don't think Lexi is very nice. Alexandria is a nice longer name."
Another agreed, stating: "It's honestly a beautiful name. Also most importantly your daughter loves it!"
However, others felt the parent's reaction was unreasonable. One person said: "I think you're massively overreacting here.
"Fair enough if you'd called her Dyslexia or Chlamydia, but Alexia is a perfectly well-known and acceptable name and hardly anyone will know it's also the name of a lesser-known learning difficulty. I have a child with dyslexia and I'd never heard of it!"
Meanwhile, a nurse joked: "I've never heard of the medical term and I've worked as nurse for 15 years. If it makes you feel any better at least you haven't called your child Milena which is pronounced the same as Melaena which means black tarry stools from a gastrointestinal bleed!"
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