13-05-2025
I'm no longer speaking to my pregnant sister - after she named her baby after a disease
What started as an 'obviously' jokey list of baby names developed into a family feud when this sister named her daughter after a nasty infection.
Taking to the popular Reddit forum Am I The A**hole, a 20-year-old biology student thought to be from the US told how he gave his pregnant nurse sister a list of nasty medical terms that could double as girls' names.
Medications, infections and unpleasant animals featured on the list and he included obvious entries like 'Viagra' and 'Hernia' to evade any ambiguity.
But now the relationship has ruptured, with the brother telling his 27-year-old sibling that her final choice is 'unacceptable'.
And the mother-to-be argues her brother is wildly overstepping his boundaries by believing he has a say in her child's name.
Inspired by the gimmick list, she chose the name Malassezia - none other than a common fungal infection.
'Malassezia. The baby's name is Malassezia. One of the names on my joke list,' the post reads.
'Outside of the immediate issues (nearly impossible to pronounce on the first try, the "a**" smack dab it the middle of it, the first syllable being mal-, literally meaning bad or evil), it's also the name of a very common fungal infection.
'One that my sister and I are both genetically predisposed to. One that we've both had multiple times throughout our lives. Her daughter will almost certainly catch it at some time!'
His sister and her husband were struggling with names and hadn't found one when the baby shower rolled around - just five weeks before the due date.
As well as gifting her the '$900 wooden crib on her list', her brother added in the light-hearted baby name suggestions - a nod to their mutual involvement in biology.
'We have a really close relationship, and it was in line with both our senses of humor,' he wrote.
Two weeks later, the expectant mother had decided on the name.
'I pointed it out to her, and she said that yes, she knew what it meant, and she knew my list was intended to be a joke, but she just really liked the way it sounded.
'I don't think the husband knows what it means - I think he'd reject it if he did.
'She says that it's so obscure that no one will ever think twice about it. Except, you know, when little baby Malassezia turns 14, finds a weird spot on her neck, and goes on her phone to google what it is...
'I told her that the name was completely unacceptable, and I was shocked that she chose it,' the post continued.
'I even suggested some similar names, like Mallory, Azalea or Anastasia, that would be more acceptable, but she wouldn't hear it!
'She said that since I'm not one of the parents, I have no business telling her what she can and cannot name her child and that I'm stepping way out of line.
'I think it's pregnancy hormones, and she'll regret the decision very soon after her daughter is born.'
The majority of commenters side with the brother, and argue he should continue to fight to change the baby's name.
One user wrote: 'I share your frustration and you're looking out for your niece.
'While your sis is right that it's her parental right, you're not stepping out of line. You're family and you're cautioning her.'
Some even encouraged the poster to disrupt the process by revealing the true meaning to his sister's husband.
'I'd make a point of telling her husband what the name means,' wrote one.
'If it's not on the legal list of banned names then it devolves to common sense which is sometimes in short supply.'
Another echoed the sentiment, saying: 'Just tell the husband what it means. He'll shut it down.'
And many were concerned about the little girl's future, arguing that she'd be bullied if anyone discovered her name's meaning, and could face a lifetime of giggles from members of the medical profession.
One worried comment read: 'How is your sister not thinking about the embarrassment that is going to come with this name?
'The doctors at every baby appointment will know. I wouldn't be surprised if doctors and nurses giggle when they see her chart.
'And when she's in school kids will likely find out what her name means and bully her.
'Tell your sister to think about her daughter's future. She's thinking too much about her feelings and not thinking about her daughter who would have to live with that name.'
However, the more discerning in the audience believe the sister may be having fun with her panicked brother.
It seems more likely, particularly in light of her profession as a nurse, that she is keeping up the gag until the baby's birth, where she might reveal a more orthodox name selection.
One said: 'Is it possible your sister is trolling you back about the baby name?'
Another chimed in: 'Thought the same. She's messing back.'
'This is where my mind went too,' wrote one person.
'Discussing baby names is a perfect opportunity for trolling, and watching people trying to be polite when you throw out some outlandishly hideous suggestion is just too much fun.'
With only three weeks to go until the baby's arrival, avid Reddit users will wait with baited breath for another, hopefully explanatory, installment of the baby name sibling saga.
