'People say my baby's name is ugly and hard to pronounce - they're tasteless'

Daily Mirror

19-05-2025

A mum-to-be has revealed how her friends and relatives have branded her unborn baby's name 'ugly' and urged her to change it it - but she won't budge
Choosing a baby name can be tricky at the best of times, and it's impossible to please everyone. Whether you fancy something unique or favour timeless classics, there's always someone who will disagree and make it known they're not keen on the choice.
That's why it's wise for expectant parents to settle on a name together and then stand firm, no matter the opinions of other relatives or friends. One pregnant mum has found herself in this exact predicament, as her family has bluntly declared the name she's fond of as "ugly", and has claimed it's impossible to pronounce correctly.
‌
Taking to Reddit, the mum-to-be revealed that she and her husband had agreed upon a distinctive but not overly eccentric name for their soon-to-arrive baby girl. But when they shared it with their relatives, the reviews were decidedly mixed.
‌
The couple wanted to choose a Greek name for their daughter, even though neither of them has Greek heritage.
They ruled out Athena because it's the name of her closest friend's child and ultimately decided on Alethea, an English name sourced from the Ancient Greek term alétheia, signifying "truth".
She explained: "My husband's family either are able to pronounce it well or absolutely cannot pronounce it whatsoever. My brother told me to think about it because I'm naming a child, and that they'll have this name forever. I don't think it's bad.
"I'm Latina, and my mum told my grandma and her stepmum about it, and they both said it's ugly af and asked why I'd choose that. It's a legit name, it's not like we are naming her Jocelyhn or Eughthena or something."
The mother continued to explain the division among her family and friends, with some considering the name "beautiful" and others advising against it due to its pronunciation difficulties and the fact that it lies outside the cultural background of both parents.
‌
Opinions were divided online, too. Some commenters found the name lovely, whereas others echoed the sentiment that choosing a name people might struggle to pronounce isn't ideal.
One person suggested: "As a girl with a not-exactly-ugly but definitely cumbersome and unusual Greek first name, I suggest that you keep looking for other options. I mean this with the best intentions."
They also shared their personal experience: "I have been on this planet for decades and can count on one hand how many non-Greeks have pronounced my name properly. There are several other beautiful Greek names to choose from."
Another countered: "I'm surprised at lots of the comments on here against the name. I knew an Alethea at school, and her name was literally never an issue. No one was confused by it. It was just her name."
Another person advised: "I always recommend pregnant women don't tell people the names they are planning. They tend to get backlash, and people will ruin the name for them.
"People are much less likely to state their opinion to the mother after the birth."