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Miley Cyrus Ruined My Daughter's Name
Filed under: Baby Names
In 1994, my husband and I had a daughter and named her Miley Elizabeth. Even though she was named way before people even heard of Miley Cyrus, people keep insisting that she was named after her and call her mean names because they do not like the Cyrus kid. My daughter hates her name now and wants to change it. I suggested we call her by her middle name but in our area there are a lot of girls named Elizabeth and pretty much any nickname for Elizabeth has been taken. She wants to change her name to Zarya because no one has that name and it means princess. Should we let her? I personally do not like the name Zarya and the name Miley Elizabeth means so much to my husband and me.
- Miley's Mom
Ah, your poor daughter! There she was, all set with a creative, unusual name that put a smile on people's faces, when a celebrity came along and stole it right out from under her.Whether you love Miley Cyrus or loathe her, you have to admit that she has taken control of the name Miley. For a baby born today, that shouldn't be a big problem. The girl will grow up in a world full of Mileys, Kileys and Brileys. But for a young lady the same age as Ms. Cyrus, it's a blow to her personal identity at an age when forging your own identity is job number one.
I appreciate that you're taking your daughter's name trouble seriously. This isn't one to laugh off. But I don't recommend legal name changes for minors on grounds of style. Just as you'd hold off on purchasing high-end shoes or sporting equipment for kids whose bodies are still growing, you should hold off on choosing new names for kids whose selves are still growing.
For the time being, let your daughter choose any nickname or alter ego she likes. The legal change, though, can wait until she's a legal adult. By that time she'll have had the chance to try on more identities, and will have a better sense of whether Zarya, or princess, really fits -- or whether Miley might become "hers" again after all.
Did you ever regret your name? Share your experiences here. And if you have your own question to Ask the Name Lady, drop her a line!
Related: Can I Honor a Male Relative With a Female Namesake?
- Miley's Mom
Ah, your poor daughter! There she was, all set with a creative, unusual name that put a smile on people's faces, when a celebrity came along and stole it right out from under her.Whether you love Miley Cyrus or loathe her, you have to admit that she has taken control of the name Miley. For a baby born today, that shouldn't be a big problem. The girl will grow up in a world full of Mileys, Kileys and Brileys. But for a young lady the same age as Ms. Cyrus, it's a blow to her personal identity at an age when forging your own identity is job number one.
I appreciate that you're taking your daughter's name trouble seriously. This isn't one to laugh off. But I don't recommend legal name changes for minors on grounds of style. Just as you'd hold off on purchasing high-end shoes or sporting equipment for kids whose bodies are still growing, you should hold off on choosing new names for kids whose selves are still growing.
For the time being, let your daughter choose any nickname or alter ego she likes. The legal change, though, can wait until she's a legal adult. By that time she'll have had the chance to try on more identities, and will have a better sense of whether Zarya, or princess, really fits -- or whether Miley might become "hers" again after all.
Did you ever regret your name? Share your experiences here. And if you have your own question to Ask the Name Lady, drop her a line!
Related: Can I Honor a Male Relative With a Female Namesake?
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 14)
9-08-2010 @ 8:45AM
Intentious1 said...Tell your daughter that it'll come in handy when she gets older. She can claim she is younger than Cyrus.
Reply
9-08-2010 @ 8:51AM
Mark said...You could point to the fact that Miley Cyrus was not born Miley. It was a stagename until she legally adopted it in 2008. prior to 2008 her real legal name was Destiny Hope Cyrus.
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9-08-2010 @ 8:48AM
Flagrante Delicto said...Can you say - future cheerleader murder mom?
Jesus lady, get a life!!
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9-08-2010 @ 7:52PM
Saoirse said...miley ???????? stupid name to begin with... miley ?
Reply
9-08-2010 @ 8:53AM
pat said...I named my daughter Amy long before Amy Carter came along. Actually it could have been before she was born and probably was.
Everyone asked in later years if I named her for Amy Carter.
I was proud to say she was named for my mother, who was born in 1899. I guess they would ask the same about her name.
The only thing my daughter complains about it that we gave her my name as a middle name instead of the one her grandmother had.
Oh well.....you can't please everyone.
Reply
9-08-2010 @ 8:56AM
oreo1603 said...Seriously, Its a name no matter what you name your child they will get made fun of, her wanting to change her name is stage in her life. My name is Oralee-I wanted to change my name when I was in high school, do you know what I got called then- use your imagination I guarentee its worse then Miley. Now I am in my 20s wouldnt change my name for the world, its the name my mom and dad gave me. I have 3 kids oh they will prebably get made fun of cause of their names IT HAPPENS get over it
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9-08-2010 @ 9:01AM
Dawn said..."enough" (sorry!)
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9-08-2010 @ 9:02AM
Britney said...Oh please. Is this woman serious, the name ruined her child's life? My name is Britney and I am just about the same age as Britney Spears. The name did not ruin my life when I was growing up even with all the B.Spears drama. This 16 year old needs to grow up and reevaluate what is "ruining her life". If your going to cry and complain and want to legally change your name over something like this then you have bigger issues then you even know.
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9-08-2010 @ 8:36PM
Megan said...I didn't like my name growing up. I didn't know anyone with the name Megan. I think in my junior year in high school, a soap opera character with this name got electrocuted in a hot tub. So, the next few years everybody starts name their baby girls Megan! Anyway, eventually as I got older it was kind of nice to think that I wasn't "weird" because I had an unusual name. But, as an adolescent, it was something that occupied my thoughts. Don't discount the adolescents developmental stage when commenting about "how there is so much more important things to think about". To them, that is one of the important things. It is good to help them have patients and wait and see. Like a tattoo, wait until you are at least 18 to change your name.
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9-08-2010 @ 9:17AM
brntbree said...The kids that are teasing her over that name are gonna tease her over any name she picks. They are bullies, changing the name will only give them more fuel. They will then realize how much they bothered her and label her as an easy target. Your daughter is just going to have to show the bullies that she is above them. I can remember being a teen, it was hard. But she only has a couple of years left and she will be just fine.
Reply
9-08-2010 @ 9:24AM
christine said...I think the first thing we give our kids should be something our kids respect us enough to keep. All the hours of agonizing over that perfect baby name can't wind up being for nothing!
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9-08-2010 @ 9:20AM
Laura said...People make associations. It happens.
I was born in 1961, and my name is Laura Beth.
I was a teenager when "Happy Days" came on TV in the late 70s, yet, over the years a number of people have commented that I must have been named after Richie Cunningham's girlfriend (Lori Beth).
I just smile - it's no big deal.
Reply
9-08-2010 @ 9:26AM
Beck said...I agree with Miley Elizabeth's mom.. Miley Cyrus is trash and I wouldn't want my daughter to have to be teased and tormented because of her. My husband and I had the name "Miley" on our baby names list for a little girl too, but couldn't actually stomach naming our daughter that after this little trash-ball has taken over the pre-teen entertainment world. I loathe Miley, and hate her for ruining the name. She should have stuck with Destiny, I know I wouldn't be naming my child that regardless. And it's understandable to think people believe she runied the name, would you be naming your child Hitler this day in age? No. Because he ruined that name as well. And Miley Cyrus is right up there with him on my list!
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9-08-2010 @ 9:26AM
Debbie said...Tell that kid to put on her big girl panties and GROW UP! So she's got the same name as a celebrity! Big deal! Would she rather have the same cancer as a celebrity? There are alot of things worse in this world than sharing a name! Get over it!
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9-08-2010 @ 9:29AM
Bear55 said...I understand that Miley's Mom loves her daughter and wants to make the thing that is causing her pain go away. However by allowing her to change her name because some kids are teasing her only teaches her to give in to bullies and does not teach her how to stand up for herself and how to cope with conflict. This is a great opportunity to teach her daughter conflict management skills that she will need throughout her life, and to ensure that she has strong self esteem. As a parent, I would be focused on these and not on a name change.
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9-08-2010 @ 9:34AM
miko said...Tell your stupid daughter to GROW UP!! Who cares if she has the same silly name as some celebrity!? Just change her name to Hannah Montanna or something if she wants to. I have a realtive named Jennifer Lopez who wasnt named after the celebrity, and no one seems to care or bother her about it. I happen to think maybe you DID name her after Miley Cyrus! You did write in and let everyone know about this after all, just to get a few minutes of fame, didnt you?
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9-08-2010 @ 10:07AM
Nicole Johnson said...I would have to agree with brntbree. If Miley Elizabeth changes her name, the girls who are bullying her will only pick on her more b/c (a) they'll find something wrong with her new name and (b) they know they can totally get to her. I was picked on so much through middle school (not for my name, but for other reasons). I'm 25 now and consider myself successful and have the life I always dreamed of having (wonderful husband, beautiful daughter--who has a name rarely heard these days--nice house, get along well with my parents, ect). Imagine the chuckle I got last year after my husband I moved into our new house across town and I found that one of my old bullies (this girl made my life a living HELL for 2 years) worked at the local grocery as a cashier. What Miley Elizabeth needs to is focus on what's important (school, volunteer work, ect) and maybe someday she'll be lucky enough to be waited on by one of these girls who enjoys terrorizing her. And let's not forget the old addage, "What's in a name?"
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9-08-2010 @ 9:35AM
Mary Ann Moseley said...My mother gave me the first name of Mary Ann (two words) with no middle name, therefore no middle initial. It has always been difficult when filling out forms, especially in today's world of the computer, since they don't recognize double first names. They always assume that my first name is Mary and my middle name is Ann. It drives me NUTS and I refuse to be called Mary. Therefore, I spend too much of my valuable time trying (sometimes in vain) to correct this error.
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9-08-2010 @ 9:39AM
Audrey said...I think this lady is a really good and caring mom. Ya she is only a teenager and we know its not the end of the world but at this age that is her world. My mom would always say things like you will get over it or act your age or some other dum comment when I had trouble with friends. She would tell me I would never see these people after high school anyways(which is a lie). She would never listen to me or take my problems seriuosly and it made me feel treally bad. So all you saying she is overreacting I wish more parents will take there children seriously and listen to there problems and not dismiss them because there kids.
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9-08-2010 @ 9:55AM
Geri said...Ok when I was born (4th child) My father insisted that I be named after him. His name is Gerald. Well here I am Geri. Not bad right...except I'm a GIRL! Yes I was teased harrassed.. Hey Geri wheres your kids. Oh god for bid I dated someone name Tom. ( Tom and Jerry cartoon) The fact is kids are cruel. They have been and always will be.We need to teach or kids a little humility. Its a great big world. And not everybody will care if they hurt your feelings. Teach your daughter to be a strong women and to be proud of her name. Its the name 2 loving peolpe gave her. My father passed away 8 years ago and I have never been prouder to call myself Geri. Gerald's daughter!
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