‘I’m giving my daughter a Mean Girls name – but I’m worried she’ll be bullied’

A mum has sparked a debate online after revealing she wants to name her baby daughter after a character in the film Mean Girls – but others were quick to warn her she’ll be bullied.

Selecting the perfect baby name can be a daunting task. We’re all aware that certain names should be avoided due to their negative associations. While unique baby names are on the rise, most parents steer clear of anything that might be twisted into an insult. However, the challenge intensifies when popular culture makes traditional names too common, leading to playground teasing for those sharing their moniker with well-known characters.

For instance, boys named Harry might tire of the endless Harry Potter jokes, or girls named Elsa could grow weary of hearing “let it go” from the movie Frozen. One mother is facing this predicament as she considers naming her daughter after a character from the film Mean Girls. She’s contemplating the name Regina but fears her child may be mocked at school due to its association with the character Regina George.

On Reddit, the concerned mum shared: “I’m due with my third daughter in a couple of months and we have chosen the name Regina. I’m curious if you all primarily associate the name with Mean Girls or if it has other affiliations for you. Is this on the same level as naming a girl Elsa? We don’t think so, but inquiring minds, I suppose.”

Regina George, played by Rachel McAdams, is the main antagonist of the 2004 movie Mean Girls. She plays the role of the school’s queen bee alongside her Plastics cronies, Gretchen Wieners and Karen Smith. She reigns as the top bully until she experiences a comeuppance and ultimately redeems herself by the film’s end.

Commenters on social media cautioned one mum against naming her daughter Regina, citing concerns not just about the association with the iconic Mean Girls villain but also potential playground taunts linking Regina to “vagina”. Critics pointed out that while the kids might be oblivious to the film reference, their parents are another story.

One posted: “It’s either going to be Mean Girl references or being called Vagina,”. Another speculated: “Mean Girls will be very out of date for babies born in 2025. It’ll probably be a reference that some kids will get, but not all. As others said, I think Vagina references are the real fear here and are a much worse association than Mean Girls.”

Yet, another parent shared they’ve named their child Regina without any negative repercussions and stated that in case any occur as she grows older, they would remain indifferent: “My daughter is named Regina. There have been no Mean Girls or vagina references. When it does inevitably happen, I won’t care. People can and will find something stupid and negative to say about any name.”

In a subsequent update to her original post, the mum revealed that she and her husband are now contemplating designating Regina as their daughter’s middle name in order to dodge unwelcome remarks. Sharing her thoughts, she said: “Originally, Regina was our chosen middle name but it seemed silly to plan a first name around a middle name, so we bumped it to the first name slot. We’re going to take what everyone said into consideration and talk about possibly bumping it back to the middle name slot.”

As parents increasingly opt for unique and meaningful names for their children, the issue of potential teasing and bullying based on pop culture references continues to be a point of concern. Balancing personal preferences with potential societal implications remains a delicate decision-making process for expectant parents.

Insights and Summary:
The choice of a baby name is a significant decision for parents, with factors like cultural references and potential teasing playing a crucial role. Naming children after pop culture icons can be a double-edged sword, as it can be a source of connection but also open them up to ridicule. It is essential for parents to weigh the pros and cons carefully when selecting a name that may have strong associations with certain characters or media. Communication and flexibility in decision-making, as demonstrated by the mum considering adjusting her daughter’s name, are key in navigating such delicate matters.