Pregnant Wife Raises Concern After Her Husband Chooses A Baby Name That Resembles A Famous Serial Killer
Hint: their last name is Bounde (pronounced bun-dee)
The pregnant woman is a 35-year-old first-time mom who faced a dilemma that most parents encounter: choosing a suitable baby name. For the sake of the story, OP (original poster) had to share some personal information about her family, foregoing the Reddit expectation of remaining anonymous.
OP's husband is 37 years old, and after over a decade together, they are both overjoyed by the pregnancy. However, recently, her husband lost his grandfather, Teddy, whom he absolutely adored.
He was devastated by the idea that his child would never meet the grandfather he admired so much. To honor him, he suggested naming their baby after him — Theodore if it's a boy or Theodora if it's a girl.
This would, of course, be shortened to either Theo, Thea, or Teddy. OP would have no problem with the name except when it’s paired with their last name.
The family's surname is Bounde (pronounced bun-dee). OP's husband didn't seem to see any issues with the name, as he is only concerned about honoring his late grandfather.
OP explained that he needs to consider how they will be perceived, how their child will be affected by this, and, of course, the undeniable connection to a notorious individual. After OP's explanation, her husband thought she simply hated his grandpa.
OP reassured him that she didn't hate him. His grandpa was named Teddy Bounde in the 1930s when the name wouldn't have raised any eyebrows.
Since the 70s and 80s, that name has taken on a more sinister connotation. OP told him that there is no acceptable reason to name their child Theodore Bounde without repercussions.
He, on the other hand, kept pushing until OP snapped. She told him his choice of name was "idiotic at best and sociopathic at worst." The husband was upset by this and asked their families for advice.
The husband's family is on his side because the name will honor the grandfather. OP's family is sympathetic but understands that the name will ultimately cause harm to OP's child.
OP believes that other people will not think they named their kid Teddy Bounde to honor a beloved relative; they will simply associate it with the serial killer. Did OP react too strongly to her husband's name choice?
[deleted]Read her original Reddit post below:
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Theodore, Theo, Ted, or Teddy.
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"He thinks I just hate his grandpa."
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"His family and my parents are divided."
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OP's reaction was a reasonable one. Naming your child so closely after a notorious person is plainly bad parenting.
rocksthosesocks
Or someone with a skewed sense of morality.
AnalysisParalysis907
Naming your child after a stuffed bear is arguably better than naming them after a serial killer.
johnny9k
Your child's name should be a joint decision, and while we understand where the husband is coming from, other people will not give them an opportunity to explain, especially other kids.
bookworm1421
Their baby may still be in the womb, but if they name him Teddy Bounde, his future is bleak.
Much_Sorbet3356
His name is quite well-known worldwide.
Farahild
Someone has a friend whose name was also similar to a serial killer, and he has to keep apologizing for it.
MrsMaiselsBrisket
In true Reddit fashion, other commenters mocked the serial killer names!
dorothy_zbornak_esq, ak47oz, BazookaBob23
It's just asking for trouble, and the other kids will definitely pick on him.
momofthree22
Even when you're an adult, an unfortunate name is a horrible burden to carry.
FeuerroteZora
Other Redditors suggested an alternative that could actually work: use grandpa's middle name instead!
HalcyonEve
If the husband really wants to use Teddy, then they can use OP's last name as well, which would pay homage to both families!
StreetofChimes
OP made an edit to her original post after reading all the comments, stating that they prove her initial point about the baby name being automatically associated with the serial killer.
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Even if they use Theodore or Theodora and not Teddy, it would still be just as bad. After a while, OP decided to publish a final update on their problem.
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Her husband stayed with his brother and sister-in-law.
The brother was also close to their departed grandfather, and hearing his perspective gave OP's husband some clarity. Plus, they live in a state where the serial killer committed crimes.
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They spoke on the phone and both extended apologies to each other. The husband said his grief was clouding his judgment, but he understands now why OP reacted so strongly to the name.
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In the end, they decided to honor her husband's grandfather by naming the baby after his middle name, which was Silas. They also agreed to go to counseling in order to address their marriage issues and grief.
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OP thanked the Reddit community for helping them out, and she said she's glad everything worked out in the end. She also deleted her account because she posted enough information to be identified.
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Expecting parents spend months, if not years, selecting the perfect name for their precious bundle of joy. This is because names are important; they are one of the first things people learn and judge us by — it's our identity.
It may have been a challenging problem for OP and her husband, as well as their family, but we are glad they resolved it maturely. They will surely be good parents if their handling of this situation is any indicator.
