I was feeling completely out of sorts—not due to a wild night of partying, but rather from a taxing delivery and the emotional upheaval that followed. The nurse kept popping in and out of my room, asking if we had settled on a name yet. The answer was no. Our baby was in the NICU, and I was preoccupied with trying to manage my own recovery while attempting to produce milk for her. The fact that my daughter was identified as “Baby” on her bracelet was the least of my worries.
Honestly, I would have preferred a warm cup of coffee or a delicious burrito rather than dealing with the paperwork lady. Although I’m sure she meant well, her frequent visits only added to my stress.
My partner and I decided that we would wait until after the birth to meet our baby and choose a name that felt right. We had a few ideas, but we wanted to be sure it suited her personality. After a couple of days, while we were both together in the NICU, we finally came to a decision. We chose the name Aribella, which means “beautiful lion.” It resonated with us because it blended elegance with strength. We paired it with a middle name that started with “S,” followed by our last name, which also began with an “S.”
We were excited to announce her name on social media, marking it as official with the paperwork. We filled it out with both laughter and tears, and submitted it, feeling proud of our lovely girl, Aribella.
However, it wasn’t long before my mother pointed out a rather glaring issue while doodling her name. “We have a problem,” she said. “Her initials spell ASS.”
Soon enough, congratulatory messages flooded in, along with a text from a close friend who bluntly reminded me of the unfortunate initials. To be honest, ASS could accurately describe both of my children at times, and I wasn’t keen on giving anyone a reason to tease her or face awkwardness later in life.
So, my husband wheeled me back to the nurses’ station, where I encountered the paperwork lady again—this time to rectify our mistake. Thankfully, she hadn’t submitted the documents yet, allowing us to quickly change our minds about the initials. We switched around the names and resubmitted everything as if nothing had happened.
My social media post was updated to clarify, “Yes, I know about the initials ASS, but it’s being changed.” Now, as my daughter turns 2, I realize that both ASS and SAS could fit her at various times.
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Summary:
Choosing a baby name is a significant decision, and it’s essential to consider what the initials might spell before finalizing it. After the birth of my daughter Aribella, we realized her initials spelled an unfortunate acronym, leading us to change her name before finalizing the paperwork. This experience highlights the importance of thoughtful consideration in the naming process.