A couple has come under fire after sharing the baby name they chose inspired by Greek mythology.
Choosing the right baby name is no simple task, as parents have to think of a name that will be suitable for the child when they grow up to be an adult. Names are often the first thing you learn about a person, so getting it right is crucial.
Some parents attempt to pick a name for their child that is “unique” or uncommon to make them stand out, but this can lead to complications. Children with unusual names are often teased by their peers or even family members.
Unconventional names revealed on social media can also cause controversy. This was the case when a Reddit user shared that she and her husband, being fans of mythology and literature, decided to name their baby girl Nyxiryn.
Posting in the AITAH subreddit, she narrated: “So, I (29F) recently gave birth to my first child, a beautiful baby girl. My husband (31M) and I spent months deliberating over the perfect name for her.
“We’re both into mythology and literature, and we wanted a name that felt unique but also meaningful. After a lot of back-and-forth, we settled on Nyxiryn (pronounced ‘NIX-er-in’). It’s a combination of ‘Nyx,’ the Greek goddess of the night, and ‘Irina,’ which means ‘peace’ in Greek. We thought it sounded poetic, strong, and unique.
“I shared the name with my family a few weeks before she was born, and the reactions were mixed. Some of them thought it was cool and different, but others were clearly taken aback. My mom said it was ‘a mouthful,’ and my sister-in-law (34F) was silent for a while before saying, ‘Well, it’s… interesting.’
However, the “real drama” started at a family dinner after the baby was born when a vocal aunt “burst into laughter, like a full-on cackle” after hearing the baby’s name. According to the Reddit poster, she said: “You seriously named your kid that? Poor child. You’ve practically cursed her with that name.”
The new mum tried to stay calm and asked her aunt what she meant and her aunt “went on a rant about how Nyxiryn is a made-up, weird name” and would make her daughter’s life harder as she would be “bullied in school” and “no one would ever spell it right”.
The user continued: “I snapped back, saying that it’s our baby and our choice of name, and that she should respect it. She then accused me of being sensitive and said I wouldn’t last in the real world if I couldn’t handle a little feedback. The whole dinner turned awkward, and my husband and I ended up leaving early.
“Now, I’m starting to second-guess myself. My mom said my aunt was out of line, but also added that ‘people do have a point’ and suggested that we might want to consider a more ‘normal’ name. My husband says we shouldn’t change anything just because a few people don’t like it, but the whole thing has left me feeling conflicted.”
The Reddit post has had 11,000 upvotes and 20,000 comments. Several users thought the name Nyxiryn sounded like some kind of medication.
One person bluntly said: “It sounds like an off brand cough syrup.” Another user replied to this comment: “Omg, I got the cough syrup vibe – although I think it sounds more like the generic name of a prescription rash ointment or possibly a penicillin-class antibiotic -–but you seriously hit the nail on the head! I laughed so hard I snorted steak (what I was eating when reading) into my nose!!!”
A third user joked: “Do not take Nyxirin if you are allergic to Nyxirin” and a fourth commented: “True. The name does sound like a prescription. Some prescription names are hard to remember and not possible to spell it correctly. Amoxicillin, Aspirin, Penicillin, Nyxerin. . . I don’t mean to offend OP (original post) but someone will notice the similarity between common meds and op’s daughter’s name.”
The top comment was from a user who also has an unconventional name. It reads: “I have an unconventional name and life has been hard. Less opportunities in pretty much everything and everyone judges you by your name. It’s a curse.
“I hate my name. Nope, not saying it so don’t ask. I won’t ever fully understand the selfish motivation that parents have. No forward thinking, no awareness of what your child would go through.
“Op, TBH, if you like the name so much, change your name to what you chose. If you don’t, please learn from my experience above. My name haunts me everywhere I go…”
