Naming a child is a huge responsibility. You set them up to be ridiculed, respected, admired, or wrongly judged for the rest of their lives. Either way, some parents have opted for more modern or unique names rather than traditional names like Elizabeth or William. Moreover, some have found inspiration in unexpected places. For instance, a social media influencer recently named her daughter after a Disney Character, and fans were on the fence.
Disney Character, Baby Name, or Both?
Indy Clinton is an Australian fitness and lifestyle blogger with over 600k followers on her Instagram and TikTok accounts. She lived in Syndey with her husband, son, and daughter. Her daughter was born last year, and fans were thrilled for the influencer. However, some questioned her name choice when she shared that her daughter had been named after a Disney character. Ultimately, she settled on Bambi, although her first thought was Paloma, Spanish for Dove.
Aiming for a Unique Name
Indy is no stranger to unique names, after all, her son’s name is Navy. However, the name she chose, Bambi, is less common than most fans expected. “We were set on calling her Paloma at first. That was her name, and nothing was going to change that. But I was reading the book to Navy [her son] one night and it came to me. I sat up and yelled, ‘What about Bambi?’ And from then on it stuck.” Indy explained. The story of Bambi is a heartbreaking yet uplifting tale about a baby deer named Bambi. Bambi’s mom dies, and after the audience survives a heartwrenching few minutes, the story becomes one of friendship and adventure.
Followers are Divided
Unsurprisingly, fans were divided. Some questioned the influencer’s name choice. “Imagine being an adult named this. These baby names are mad these days,” commented one person. Meanwhile, another wrote: “Are you naming humans that will be adults one day? Or kittens?”
“Definitely bring up the fact that kids are cruel. A unique name isn’t something to shy away from but a unique name that is indelibly tied to a character may not be desirable to your kid,” a third person thoughtfully noted, adding that being named after a Disney character in middle school will likely be a challenge.
Supporting the Influencer
Alternatively, some fans defended the influencer. “People need to shut it. She can name her baby anything she wants. I think it’s adorable.” Wrote one supportive follower.
“Congratulations! It’s a wonderful name for your baby,” another follower concurred.
“So happy, love the name,” a third person wrote.
Motivated by a Disney Character
Indy explained that she’s always loved the story, even as a little girl. Therefore, Bambi seemed fitting when she saw her daughter’s “sweet, curious nature, and big brown eyes.” Additionally, the influencer points out that, while fans are divided, “unique names are the new trend.”
However, Bambi has been a popular name for babies and is derivative of the Italian word Bambino, meaning child or baby. Interestingly, the Disney Character is a boy, in the film and the books, according to Disney News. Therefore, this creative take may become a popular gender-neutral baby name. For instance, another celebrity, reality star Molly-Mae Hague named her daughter Bambi. However, it’s unknown if she did so after the Disney character, or merely because she liked the name.
Other Popular Disney Character Names
Interestingly, Bambi isn’t the only Disney character whose name is popular for people’s names. Rather, several characters have everyday names. For example, the dog from The Little Mermaid’s name is Max. Meanwhile, almost the whole cast of Frozen has names that can be found across Scandinavia. Elsa is short for Elizabeth, while Olaf means heir.
Disney Characters such as Princesses
The Princess and the Frog is a heartwarming and exciting story of a black woman named Tiana who works hard to make her dreams come true, opening a restaurant, despite the adversity she overcame growing up. However, according to Babynames.com, the origin of the name Tiana is Slavic. Either way, Tiana is a common name, appearing in the top 1,000 baby names in the U.S. since the 1970s.
Princesses with Popular Names
Meanwhile, Aurora is Latin and was the name of the “Roman Goddess of the Dawn.” However, it’s a beautiful name, that pays homage to a powerful feminine energy and a beautiful night-sky display.
Lastly, Merida is another Disney character and princess with a name that can double in the real world. Interestingly, the Disney character is Scottish, while the name’s roots are believed to be Celtic or Spanish.
Male Disney Characters
While Disney’s creative streak is clear in female character names, male characters often have more common names like Elliott, Eric, Dale, or Arthur. Meanwhile, some are less common. Here are a few examples.
Arlo the Dino
In this sweet story, Arlo is an adorable Apatosaurus whose story starts rocky but becomes a heartwarming tale of friendship and overcoming fears. The name Arlo has German roots and means Hill.
Flynn
Flynn is a bad boy turned Prince when he captures the heart of the rightful heir to a throne, although she doesn’t know it and has a complex backstory. As a result, the pair faces a series of challenges to get to their happily ever after. Flynn’s origins are Irish and mean “Descendent of the Red-Haired Man.”
Chip
Chip is the name of a goofy and lovable chipmunk, as well as a little boy, turned into a sweet-hearted teacup in The Beauty and the Beast. Either way, the name is English and derived from the traditional name Charles. However, the name isn’t as popular today as it was once. Regardless, Bambi is seemingly gender-neutral and is becoming a popular choice for a baby girl’s name.
Indy is a super mom, having announced her 3rd pregnancy months after Bambi was born. The social media influencer juggles her schedule between fulfilling obligations as a mother, wife, and role model for women everywhere.