A father on Reddit is expressing regret over giving his daughter the name ‘Eleven,’ a choice he made before the Netflix show ‘Stranger Things’ made the name synonymous with the show’s protagonist. He shared his story on the ‘Tragedeigh’ subreddit, which focuses on deliberately misspelled or made-up names.
The dad, a self-proclaimed ‘hippie,’ explained he and his partner thought ‘Eleven’ was mystical, beautiful, and unique. He expected his daughter might want to change it later, but she’s now in middle school and still embraces the name. While she appreciates the uniqueness, she admits it’s also a constant source of attention.
The dad, however, feels the burden of explaining the name’s origin, particularly after the show’s popularity. Many assume his daughter named herself after the character or that it’s a post-show adoption. Despite the constant questions, his daughter, a ‘Stranger Things’ fan, loves her name.
Before the show’s rise, the father was shocked to meet another person named ‘Eleven,’ an older individual also born to ‘hippie’ parents in Kentucky. While the name’s obscurity was initially appealing, he now wishes he’d chosen a different name, acknowledging the potential for awkwardness and confusion.
Redditors responded with mixed reactions. Some praised the father for raising a confident daughter who embraces her unique name. Others felt the choice was unfair to the child, potentially hindering her future academic and professional life.
The story highlights the complex relationship between pop culture and naming trends, showcasing how once-obscure names can suddenly become mainstream and the potential consequences for those who chose them before the trend took hold.
