"My Mum Named Me After Budget Car Company – and Butchered the Spelling"
A woman, who has despised her name since she was six, recounted how her mother named her after a car but further complicated it with an unusual spelling. Choosing a name for your child is a significant decision, one that should be thought through carefully to avoid future regrets. While naming your child is a very personal decision, and ultimately there's no universally right or wrong list of names, it’s wise to ensure the chosen name won't cause any issues.
In her Reddit post, this woman revealed the struggles she has faced with her name, Cija. Expected to be pronounced as "see-ja" or "see-ya," it is instead pronounced like the car brand Kia, which frequently requires her to correct others. She expressed her disdain saying, "I’ve hated my legal name since I was six. The moment when the teacher paused a bit too long while taking role, I knew it was my turn. I now go by a name I genuinely enjoy, acceptable only to family."
Further complicating matters, a commenter jokingly said, "Cija, wouldn't wanna Bija," thinking it was pronounced as "see ya." She clarified it's pronounced like Kia, emphasizing the ordeal of explaining both pronunciation and spelling to people, something she found amusing initially but exhausting eventually.
Adding context, Cija, a name of Slavic origin meaning "moonlight," is traditionally pronounced "sigh-ja," which contrasts her mother's intended pronunciation.
Many users sympathized with her plight, suggesting she legally change her name. They lamented how parents, in an attempt to be "unique" or "cool," often burden their children with inconvenient names that lead to teasing or even bullying. As one commenter stated, "So many kids grow up and the first thing they do is change the name their parents thought would be unique, forcing them to endure years of unnecessary hardship."
Earlier, SSP wrote about a woman who shown her extremely tiny apartment in New York.