Single mum tired of justifying her son’s ‘unusual’ name


Many parents would agree that, apart from the physical labour of childbirth, one of the most challenging parts of being a new parent is naming your child.

Our name is our identifier, something we carry forever. Makes sense that choosing a name is a lot of pressure.

While most of the time, parents opt for a more common name, the practice of choosing more unique names is becoming much more mainstream. However, not everyone is a fan of this.

Sophia Waterfield, who works as a freelance journalist based in the UK, is here to share the story of how she was met with judging looks and hurtful comments after naming her son a rather unique name.

cFIYiB5WNkHQ2_9TWuTSrAEI2emacK4B7EXCbn8hwBPcBVWW4LJxIzIWfr8IJ6Cme_ntDKklqaJbKxXtCZXIRYesXJIPrODyCTfap55nX-pC0k_A3mLzGBK9U3YCpQ-m2p23AolQ

Sophia is tired of having to justify her son’s name. Credit: news.com.au.

Sophia Waterfield is a 32-year-old single mum from the Yorkshire Wolds and her son’s name is Amyas.

According to Sophia, the name holds a sentimental value to her and it means “loved” in Latin. It’s also the name of a character in an Agatha Christie novel. So obviously this name meant alot to Sophia and holds a ton of sentimental meaning. Very cute right?

When the ultrasound technician told the mum she was having a boy, the name flashed into her mind. “It wasn’t even in my top 10 favourite boy’s name list,” she said.

“From that moment on, he could only ever be Amyas to me.”

The name is pronounced as “Am-ee-us” or “Am-yas”, clarified Sophia.

The constant stream of questions, and even attempts to change her mind about her son’s name, started when Sophia was pregnant.

“I was constantly asked about what I was calling my baby and when I told them, I was met with odd looks.” She recalled other people straight up telling her: “Why would you call him that?”

Sophia said that the unnecessary questions added to her post-childbirth stress. When all she wanted was to cuddle her baby to rest, she was instead justifying to people why she named her son Amyas.

HYVFQysElf1H319LU3G4s21BVW8q77HJqnpbzTu6zAnqraFGtI6WRwoQ2aNDxQ7XhbmBuzryrPavA089Ong02H2xTnZxueO_pZu4Nel5O9jXW3KRnRXlMcR_pFTSgjcQfaeQDTnA

The name Amyas holds sentimental value to Sophia. Credit: news.com.au.

Last year, Sophia received hurtful remarks from people online when she wrote an article about her son’s unusual name. Anonymous commenters have called her “pretentious”, “stupid”, and “one of THOSE parents”.

“To say I felt sick with anger is an understatement,” said the journalist. “I’m never going to be used to the trolling which comes with the job, I have become able to deal with it.”

“But when your child, an innocent infant, becomes the target it changes the game.”

She said that the trolls went as far as to call her son a future “murderer” and “will pursue a career in prison because of the bullying”.

In response, Sophia said: “While this is one of the most extreme responses to my son’s name, it’s not the first and I know it won’t be the last.”

“Disagreeing with my name choice is one thing, but insulting me and my son is out of line.”

“All I want is for people to respect my son’s name without question. I don’t know why people think they have the right to such strong opinions on the matter.”

Sophia expressed that it’s mentally exhausting for her and her kid to be attacked for personal decisions.

“At the end of the day, the reasons why my son is called Amyas are only the business of his parents. Nobody else.”

While we are all entitled to our own opinion, attacking and abusing someone based on a personal choice that is largely harmless is wrong. We wish the best for Sophia and Amyas!

What are your thoughts? What are the most out-there names you’ve come across? Let us know in the comments below.
 
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55 years ago I got comments when I called my daughter Cherry. Not only is she a qualified chef, she has her QUT, on the church board and works for Westpac. Couldn’t think of anything worse than Henry. My opinion. As long as the name doesn’t have a horrid meaning should have nothing to do with anyone else.
 
It seems to me that it doesn't matter what you call your kids. Neither of mine are known by their given names, they acquired nicknames in their youth and have be known by them ever since. I don't think anyone even know my kids actual name. I think it's a shame as I love their names but I'm the only one that uses them.
 
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Single mum tired of justifying her son’s ‘unusual’ name

Many parents would agree that, apart from the physical labour of childbirth, one of the most challenging parts of being a new parent is naming your child.

Our name is our identifier, something we carry forever. Makes sense that choosing a name is a lot of pressure.

While most of the time, parents opt for a more common name, the practice of choosing more unique names is becoming much more mainstream. However, not everyone is a fan of this.

Sophia Waterfield, who works as a freelance journalist based in the UK, is here to share the story of how she was met with judging looks and hurtful comments after naming her son a rather unique name.


cFIYiB5WNkHQ2_9TWuTSrAEI2emacK4B7EXCbn8hwBPcBVWW4LJxIzIWfr8IJ6Cme_ntDKklqaJbKxXtCZXIRYesXJIPrODyCTfap55nX-pC0k_A3mLzGBK9U3YCpQ-m2p23AolQ

Sophia is tired of having to justify her son’s name. Credit: news.com.au.

Sophia Waterfield is a 32-year-old single mum from the Yorkshire Wolds and her son’s name is Amyas.

According to Sophia, the name holds a sentimental value to her and it means “loved” in Latin. It’s also the name of a character in an Agatha Christie novel. So obviously this name meant alot to Sophia and holds a ton of sentimental meaning. Very cute right?

When the ultrasound technician told the mum she was having a boy, the name flashed into her mind. “It wasn’t even in my top 10 favourite boy’s name list,” she said.

“From that moment on, he could only ever be Amyas to me.”

The name is pronounced as “Am-ee-us” or “Am-yas”, clarified Sophia.

The constant stream of questions, and even attempts to change her mind about her son’s name, started when Sophia was pregnant.

“I was constantly asked about what I was calling my baby and when I told them, I was met with odd looks.” She recalled other people straight up telling her: “Why would you call him that?”

Sophia said that the unnecessary questions added to her post-childbirth stress. When all she wanted was to cuddle her baby to rest, she was instead justifying to people why she named her son Amyas.


HYVFQysElf1H319LU3G4s21BVW8q77HJqnpbzTu6zAnqraFGtI6WRwoQ2aNDxQ7XhbmBuzryrPavA089Ong02H2xTnZxueO_pZu4Nel5O9jXW3KRnRXlMcR_pFTSgjcQfaeQDTnA

The name Amyas holds sentimental value to Sophia. Credit: news.com.au.

Last year, Sophia received hurtful remarks from people online when she wrote an article about her son’s unusual name. Anonymous commenters have called her “pretentious”, “stupid”, and “one of THOSE parents”.

“To say I felt sick with anger is an understatement,” said the journalist. “I’m never going to be used to the trolling which comes with the job, I have become able to deal with it.”

“But when your child, an innocent infant, becomes the target it changes the game.”

She said that the trolls went as far as to call her son a future “murderer” and “will pursue a career in prison because of the bullying”.

In response, Sophia said: “While this is one of the most extreme responses to my son’s name, it’s not the first and I know it won’t be the last.”

“Disagreeing with my name choice is one thing, but insulting me and my son is out of line.”

“All I want is for people to respect my son’s name without question. I don’t know why people think they have the right to such strong opinions on the matter.”

Sophia expressed that it’s mentally exhausting for her and her kid to be attacked for personal decisions.

“At the end of the day, the reasons why my son is called Amyas are only the business of his parents. Nobody else.”

While we are all entitled to our own opinion, attacking and abusing someone based on a personal choice that is largely harmless is wrong. We wish the best for Sophia and Amyas!

What are your thoughts? What are the most out-there names you’ve come across? Let us know in the comments below.
I suggest you get off "social media".
Stop telling the world yr private details. You've had the cruelty of others, now enjoy yr boy. Which AC book was it?
Do you have a copy?
 
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Single mum tired of justifying her son’s ‘unusual’ name

Many parents would agree that, apart from the physical labour of childbirth, one of the most challenging parts of being a new parent is naming your child.

Our name is our identifier, something we carry forever. Makes sense that choosing a name is a lot of pressure.

While most of the time, parents opt for a more common name, the practice of choosing more unique names is becoming much more mainstream. However, not everyone is a fan of this.

Sophia Waterfield, who works as a freelance journalist based in the UK, is here to share the story of how she was met with judging looks and hurtful comments after naming her son a rather unique name.


cFIYiB5WNkHQ2_9TWuTSrAEI2emacK4B7EXCbn8hwBPcBVWW4LJxIzIWfr8IJ6Cme_ntDKklqaJbKxXtCZXIRYesXJIPrODyCTfap55nX-pC0k_A3mLzGBK9U3YCpQ-m2p23AolQ

Sophia is tired of having to justify her son’s name. Credit: news.com.au.

Sophia Waterfield is a 32-year-old single mum from the Yorkshire Wolds and her son’s name is Amyas.

According to Sophia, the name holds a sentimental value to her and it means “loved” in Latin. It’s also the name of a character in an Agatha Christie novel. So obviously this name meant alot to Sophia and holds a ton of sentimental meaning. Very cute right?

When the ultrasound technician told the mum she was having a boy, the name flashed into her mind. “It wasn’t even in my top 10 favourite boy’s name list,” she said.

“From that moment on, he could only ever be Amyas to me.”

The name is pronounced as “Am-ee-us” or “Am-yas”, clarified Sophia.

The constant stream of questions, and even attempts to change her mind about her son’s name, started when Sophia was pregnant.

“I was constantly asked about what I was calling my baby and when I told them, I was met with odd looks.” She recalled other people straight up telling her: “Why would you call him that?”

Sophia said that the unnecessary questions added to her post-childbirth stress. When all she wanted was to cuddle her baby to rest, she was instead justifying to people why she named her son Amyas.


HYVFQysElf1H319LU3G4s21BVW8q77HJqnpbzTu6zAnqraFGtI6WRwoQ2aNDxQ7XhbmBuzryrPavA089Ong02H2xTnZxueO_pZu4Nel5O9jXW3KRnRXlMcR_pFTSgjcQfaeQDTnA

The name Amyas holds sentimental value to Sophia. Credit: news.com.au.

Last year, Sophia received hurtful remarks from people online when she wrote an article about her son’s unusual name. Anonymous commenters have called her “pretentious”, “stupid”, and “one of THOSE parents”.

“To say I felt sick with anger is an understatement,” said the journalist. “I’m never going to be used to the trolling which comes with the job, I have become able to deal with it.”

“But when your child, an innocent infant, becomes the target it changes the game.”

She said that the trolls went as far as to call her son a future “murderer” and “will pursue a career in prison because of the bullying”.

In response, Sophia said: “While this is one of the most extreme responses to my son’s name, it’s not the first and I know it won’t be the last.”

“Disagreeing with my name choice is one thing, but insulting me and my son is out of line.”

“All I want is for people to respect my son’s name without question. I don’t know why people think they have the right to such strong opinions on the matter.”

Sophia expressed that it’s mentally exhausting for her and her kid to be attacked for personal decisions.

“At the end of the day, the reasons why my son is called Amyas are only the business of his parents. Nobody else.”

While we are all entitled to our own opinion, attacking and abusing someone based on a personal choice that is largely harmless is wrong. We wish the best for Sophia and Amyas!

What are your thoughts? What are the most out-there names you’ve come across? Let us know in the comments below.
 
I suggest you get off "social media".
Stop telling the world yr private details. You've had the cruelty of others, now enjoy yr boy. Which AC book was it?
Do you have a copy?
The book is "Five Little Pigs" and the character is Amyas Crale. There's a Poirot episode of the story.
 
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I never go by my name on my birth certificate! From an Irish background most Irish people get called a different name to what they were given at birth. I use it now but only on legal papers.
 
We have some very unusual names with our Great grandchildren, when we first heard them we said “different “ we are now used to them. My mother hated me calling my son Gregory 55 years ago! At the end of the day, it’s the parents chlice.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with calling a son 'Gregory' as that's what my parents called me. I had no hesitation in shortening it to Greg after a favourite teacher started calling me Greg. Now I'm a stuck up Francophile and call myself 'Gregoire'.
 
I actually like the name and there are much more "odd" names out there. These days with so much diversity in the world a lot of perfectly normal names in one culture seem strange in others. Ignore the ignoramuses and don't read cruel, interfering comments. Change your Facebook page and don't post your personal information. It only causes unnecessary grief.
 
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What about Michael Jacksons "Blanket" I almost threw up when I first heard that and other weird celebrity names. My pet hate is a normal sounding name with altered spelling so the poor child spends a vast amount of it's life correcting it... :rolleyes:
 

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