Search icon

Baby names

14th Aug 2023

My husband wants to name our daughter after his late ex-wife – is it a step too far?

Kat O'Connor

The mum-to-be thinks it is a step too far.

Many people are named after someone special like a grandmother, a midwife, or even a celebrity.

One mum-to-be said her partner wants to name their child after his late wife.

It’s a touching idea, but the expectant mum admitted she feels quite unsure about it.

Opening up about the dilemma on Kidspot’s Facebook, she said: “My husband and his family say that I’m over-reacting by refusing to name our (not yet born) daughter after his deceased ex-wife.”

The woman believes this is “a step too far”.

“I know that it’s sad that she passed away but I think I am being reasonable enough by having their wedding pics still about as well as him wearing their wedding rings around his neck.”

“I think naming our child after her is a step too far. Am I wrong?” she asked.

A lot of people agreed that her husband was being selfish.

“Not wrong. Your child deserves their own unique name. Absolutely stick to your choice here. Don’t do that to your daughter,” one woman told her.

Another user said, “That child deserves her own unique name… not one that makes her mother uncomfortable.”

One widow shared, “Your husband will always love his late wife – she died and this is very different to divorce. However, there does have to be an element of respect in both directions.

She continued, “He cannot expect you to live in her shadow, and you can’t expect him to forget her completely. He needs to step into the present and love the one he is with fully too.”

READ MORE: