A woman with Korean ancestry who was adopted by a white family says she was in for a shock when she discovered her pregnant cousin had no idea what her heritage actually was.
According to this baffled woman, her cousin, who is white, has been going "back and forth" between the Japanese names Sakura and Sayuri for her unborn child.
After quizzing her cousin about this, she learned that this was because she wanted her baby "to match her favourite aunt" - meaning her. Confused, she pressed her cousin further on this and was left utterly aghast when she told her it was because she was Japanese.
Taking to Reddit, the bewildered woman wrote: "Excuse me? I have been in this family for longer than you have and you legit don't even know where I come from?
"Name your kid whatever you want. I do think it is kinda weird to give a Japanese name to a non-Japanese child. But dear god never tell her why you gave her that name.
"Whelp, it's now Sakura Ivy. Because we're a nature-loving diverse family apparently. Can't wait for this kid to be born and be constantly told by her mother that both of us can bond over her name."
She went on to clarify that she had corrected her cousin, but she simply told her that Korean girls' names just weren't to her "taste". When the oblivious mum-to-be had the cheek to ask what her Korean middle name was, she point-blank refused to tell her.
One fellow Reddit user remarked: "This is so f***** up. She expects you to be her child's favorite [sic] aunt so you must, in some way, mean a lot to her. And yet she clearly doesn't give two s**** about who you are or the details of your life.
"Or is she really doing this because it's such a unique name (where she lives) and she's thrilled at the idea of being questioned about where it came from and having a fascinating backstory to share.
"Either way, it's messed up and completely erases you. I'm sorry you have family members like this."
Another commented: "As another Korean adoptee I'm horrified by this story. Your cousin is an idiot. Because she just wants a cool name but cares nothing about the origin of that name."
Do you have a baby name story to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
