I was feeling pretty rough—not from a night of partying, but from a whirlwind of a delivery and the aftermath. The staff kept coming into my room, and I couldn’t tell you their job titles, but to me, they were just “the name-checkers.” Repeatedly, they asked, “Have you picked a name yet?” No, we hadn’t. Our little one was in the NICU down the hall, and I was preoccupied with healing and trying to produce milk to feed her by syringe. Honestly, the fact that my baby had “Baby” on her ID bracelet wasn’t my top priority. I could have used a coffee or a burrito instead of yet another question about names.
My partner and I decided we wanted to wait until we met our baby before finalizing her name. We had some ideas, but we wanted to ensure it fit her personality. After a couple of days, we finally gathered in the same room, looked at pictures of our daughter, and visited her in the NICU. That’s when we settled on the name—Aribella. It felt just right, meaning “beautiful lion,” perfectly blending gentleness and strength. We chose a middle name starting with “S” and added our last name, which also began with “S.” It seemed like a perfect match.
Excited to announce her name on social media and make it official, we filled out the paperwork and handed it over, feeling proud of our little Aribella. Not long after, my mom was doodling her name and turned to me, saying, “We have a problem.” Her initials spelled ASS.
Soon after, social media lit up with congratulations and admiration for our new arrival. But one friend, who isn’t shy about sharing her thoughts, sent a message: “Do you realize her initials spell ASS?” To be honest, there are days when that might fit both of my kids—but I didn’t want to give anyone a reason to tease my daughter or burden her with an awkward nickname in adulthood.
So, my husband wheeled me back to the nurse’s station, where the paperwork lady was still there. I had to admit my oversight, and fortunately, she hadn’t submitted the forms yet. We were able to tear up the evidence that our daughter was nearly named ASS. We quickly swapped her middle and first names and resubmitted the paperwork, relieved that we could avoid that potential embarrassment.
My social media post was updated with a note acknowledging my blunder and my commitment to being a more mindful mom in the future. Now that Aribella is 2, I can see how both ASS and SAS could describe her at times.
If you’re also navigating the naming process, it’s worth checking out the initials that come with the names you choose. For more insights into fertility options, visit this blog post or explore at-home insemination kits for more information. Additionally, for a comprehensive overview of insemination success rates, check out this excellent resource.
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