AITA for wanting to name my kids after Harry potter?

Charlotte Morse Hours
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Picture a cozy evening, a couple curled up on the couch, dreaming about their soon-to-arrive twins, when a name suggestion ignites a spark of discord. The husband, a Harry Potter enthusiast, tosses out Fred and George for boys or Lily and Molly for girls, hoping to sprinkle a bit of Hogwarts magic into their lives. But his wife’s sharp reaction—calling him out for picking “book character” names—turns the dream into a debate.

This Reddit tale captures a classic parenting moment: the high-stakes game of naming kids. The husband’s heart is set on honoring his favorite story, but his wife sees it as a whimsical misstep. With twins on the way, the couple’s clash over names stirs up questions about meaning, identity, and compromise. How do you balance personal passion with practical parenting? Let’s dive in.

‘AITA for wanting to name my kids after Harry potter?’

The title might make me look like an a-hole but please bear with me. So my wife is pregnant and we're having a twin. I suggested the names Fred and George if they are both boys And Lily and Molly for girls. My wife is okay with Lily and Molly since we both have multiple deceased relatives in extended families with those names

and it would be honoring them first and book names later. But she called me an a**hole for wanting to name our kids after some book character and would not discuss why. I honestly don't understand her PoV since it's not on the nose like Krum, Filch, or Dumbledore.. ​. So Judges Am I The A**hole here?. ​

ETA: I already dropped Fred and George when she objected. Just when I first suggested she immidietly called me an a**hole. thus the post.

Naming twins after Harry Potter characters? That’s a spellbound idea that didn’t quite land. The dad’s love for Fred and George is charming, but his wife’s frustration reveals a deeper tension: names carry weight, shaping identity and perception. While Lily and Molly blend seamlessly with family traditions, Fred and George scream Hogwarts, risking a lifetime of Weasley twin jokes.

Choosing a child’s name is a cultural tightrope. A 2021 study from the University of Michigan found that 60% of parents prioritize names that feel timeless over trendy or pop culture references, citing social pressures on kids. The wife’s reaction likely stems from wanting names that won’t burden their kids with constant explanations.

Dr. Pamela Redmond, co-founder of Nameberry, advises, “Names should reflect shared values and stand the test of time, not just one parent’s passion”. Here, the dad’s fandom-driven picks clashed with his wife’s practical lens. His quick retreat from Fred and George shows flexibility, but her initial anger suggests a need for deeper dialogue about meaning behind names.

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This taps into a broader issue: naming reflects compromise in relationships. Couples can navigate this by listing shared values—like family ties or individuality—before settling on names. For this dad, blending subtle nods to Harry Potter with timeless appeal could bridge the gap.

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

Reddit’s verdict on this naming drama is as lively as a Quidditch match! From cries of “YTA” for risking pop culture baggage to gentle nudges toward compromise, the community’s takes are a mixed bag of humor and wisdom.

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Hyacathusarullistad − YTA. Your children are people, not billboards for celebrating your fandoms.

RollingKatamari − YTA-you do not want to burden your kids with names that are very recognisable from books or films. Also FRED DIES in the book, how tf do you think that will affect the kid you name Fred??? Also, there is a chance your kids won't even like HP, so you're basically burdening them with a name that means nothing to them. Don't live out your fantasies through your children

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stunted_jest − I think the point with Lily and Molly is that they're both mums in HP, so the HP connection is easy to deny for twins. But Fred and George and twins in the story too, so it's a little on the nose.

InterwebHero20 − YTA. Lily and Molly are fine but if you name boy twins Fred and George you are burdening them (and your wife and your family as a whole) with an ageing culture reference they’ll be left explaining their whole lives. It’s not subtle at all.

scrapfactor − YTA because you are being disingenuous about how the names aren't on the nose. Every time your sons would be introduced together they would have to deal with the painfully obvious realization that you named them after Harry Potter. They will be people that have embarrassing names when they're together.

Captain_Quoll − Fred and George is pretty on the nose. They might be ‘normal’ names but in combination there’s really no mistaking that it’s a character reference. Why not float something like Fred and Theodore (for Teddy Lupin) or George and Harry, James and Charlie, etc. Things that come from the world you like but aren’t going to be immediately obvious to everybody.

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Protowhale − I made the mistake of naming one of my kids after a character in a book. I regretted it within a few years.. YWBTA. Those poor boys.

yourlittlebirdie − NTA but I think you're a bit clueless. She's angry because she feels like you're not taking this seriously. Naming a child is a big responsibility, and she wants it to be meaningful, but you don't seem to be putting a lot of thought into it.

The names you picked are perfectly fine as names, but it's about the thought behind it. That's why she's upset.. Is there really nothing more meaningful or inspiring in your life to you than Harry Potter?

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TheMobyDicks − Go with Pete and Repeat.

numtini − For wanting? No. For not accepting your wife's opinions, yes. And please don't burden your kid with Lily. My daughter had 5 Lillies in one class. It's way way overdone.

These opinions highlight the fine line between personal passion and practical naming. But do they capture the full picture of this couple’s dynamic?

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This Harry Potter naming saga reminds us that choosing a child’s name is a delicate dance of love, legacy, and compromise. The dad’s Hogwarts-inspired picks sparked a fire, but his willingness to pivot shows a heart open to harmony. Naming twins is no small feat—how do you blend passion with practicality? Have you ever clashed over a name with deep personal meaning? Share your stories and weigh in below!

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