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Leah Berenson
Leah Berenson
September 6, 2024 ·  5 min read

Mom Influencer Names Daughter After a Disney Character and The Internet Hates it

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?

A woman in the hospital with her newborn baby. Hospital equipment in the background.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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

A woman wearing a lavender jacket, and sunglasses stares off into the distance. Snow and a mountain in the background.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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

A new baby swaddled in a blanket and body pillow.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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.

Read More: Influencer who divorced her husband and married her step-son is having another baby with him

Supporting the Influencer

A mom in a white dress stands with her 2 children. Sand and greenery in the background.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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

Two kids pose in their Halloween costumes. Furniture and walls in the background.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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.

A woman in a lavender tank stands in the snow. Snow in the background.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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.

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Disney Characters such as Princesses

A woman poses with her children at the beach. People, dans, ocean, sky, and a seagull in the background.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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.

A family of 5 rides in an elevator.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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

A family of 5 rides in an elevator.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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.

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Arlo the Dino

A woman poses with her children on a picnic blanket. Greenery in the background.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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

A woman poses with her 2 children. White background.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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

A woman lies on a picnic blanket with her 3 children. Toys and grass in the background.
Image Credit: @indyclinton | Instagram

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.

Read More: Online Influencer Sparks Controversy For Sayings She’s ‘Too Pretty’ To Work The Rest of Her Life

Sources

  1. “Bambi.” Disney News
  2. “Baby Names and Meanings.” BabyNames.Com
  3. I named my daughter after Disney’s Bambi just like Molly-Mae Hague – and I don’t care if people hate it.Daily Mail. Elena Salvoni. Feburary 2, 2023.
  4. Woman Names Her Daughter After A Disney Character: “I Don’t Care If People Hate It.” IGV.Annie Walton Doyle. June 7, 2024.