There are many things to think about when choosing a baby name.
Whether you’re a fan of timeless classics or want to choose something more unique, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to naming your child. You have to think about what nicknames your preferred monikers will conjure up, whether the name makes any unfortunate initial spellings when paired with your surname, and how easy it is for others to spell.
Many parents will also think about other people or things they associate with a certain name. For example, you might dismiss a name if it reminds you of a work colleague you don’t like, or might be swayed toward a name if your favourite actor or musician has the same moniker.
One mum, however, has been told to think carefully about the name she wants to give to her son because of one glaring problem – even though the name holds sentimental value for her entire family.
In a post on Reddit, the mum said she’s naming her child Louis, as this was her husband’s grandfather’s name and the couple want to honour his memory with their son’s moniker. Despite this, members of both sides of the family have told the couple to reconsider – because there are two dogs in the family with the same name.
She said her husband’s step-brother has a dog named Louis, as does her aunt. The couple didn’t know this until they decided on the name and were told about the connection, but they didn’t want to change it because of its sentimental meaning.
The woman wrote: “We didn’t realise [the dog connection] until after deciding on the name and telling a few people. Our parents have been downright rude about it, reminding us any chance they get that it’s a dog name. I’m really irritated because it’s my husband’s grandfather’s name, and it was very meaningful to us. I’m not having a couple of dogs ruin it.”
What’s more, the mum – who is from the US – is also getting flack from family members and friends for the way she’s chosen to spell the name, as they believe people will call him “Lewis” instead of the intended pronunciation, “Loo-ee”.
However, she has put her foot down and refused to budge on the spelling, as Louis is a classic moniker, and doesn’t want to give him a “dumbed down American spelling of the name”.
Commenters on the post told the mum not to worry about the dog association, but many of them did agree the name would be mispronounced, especially in the US. This is largely because of the city in Missouri, St Louis, which is pronounced as “Lewis” and will be the first thing most Americans associate with the spelling.
One person said: “I am a Louis, pronounced Louie, and I get called Lewis often.” Another added: “Don’t worry about the dogs – your kid will outlast them. I know a dog named Dave – wouldn’t stop me from using it. The name Louis will be pronounced Lewis 90% of the time in the US. Up to you if you can handle that gracefully and teach your child to do the same.”