My sister in law is very religious (Mormon) and is pregnant for the 6th time. She found out she is pregnant with a girl after having 5 boys so she is really excited. She told me they picked the name “Jezebel”. I told her it was pretty but isn’t Jezebel a biblical name that basically means a promiscuous sinful woman? She asked what I meant so I told her, “yeah… I can’t remember the book or whatever but she basically worshipped the wrong god (idgaf about whatever right or wrong interpretation of god anyone cares to worship. Go nuts. Just leave me tf out of it) and pissed some people off. They threw her out the window and she got trampled and eaten by dogs…” Cue her beet red rage face.
She told me I ruined the name for her and if I had any girls that she wouldn’t judge whatever name I picked. I was honestly trying to consider her and her kid being all hyper religious and obviously someone had to have actually read the Bible in her congregation (obviously she either hasn’t or skimmed it) so they might be made fun of or judged. But now she has my mother in law calling me and telling me I shouldn’t have told her that and I should have just let her enjoy the rest of her pregnancy. The stress is just too much for her. I’m annoyed honestly. I do feel bad but dude. Come on! AITAH?
Comments
Very religious Mormon who does not know the bible?
nah. it is not your place to pick a name, but you have every right to let her know if it is a name that would haunt her child when she got older
Absolutely not. Don’t apologize, don’t grovel, don’t even look sorry. If they take offense to you pointing out something in the Bible about that name when she herself is religious then she has no reason to be mad.
By the sound of it you were trying to look out for her and she got mad because of that. Never feel sorry for trying to look out for someone when you do it the way that you did it.
You were in the right in my opinion. You qere trying to save her from “religious disgrace “! Unfortunately her embarrassment of nit “knowing the word” will be precedent over all.
Is she actually Mormon? It’s quite peculiar that she doesn’t know this already. I mean, literally just google ‘jezebel meaning’
You’re not TAH. People who give their kids names that are setting their kids up for bullying (within their communities) are TAH.
Should have recommended lilith, my kid almost chose that name when she changed her name.
NTA
You did your future niece a solid favor, & your SIL is ridiculous.
Remind your MIL that someone at church was bound to comment on that sooner or later, & she should be glad she was saved the embarrassment.
I’m not even religious, and I know that you don’t name a kid Jezebel. ESPECIALLY not a kid that will be most likely brought up in the Mormon faith.
Even removing biblical connections, the name is literally commonly used as an insult. How does anyone grow up in the US knowing that name and NOT know the connotations?
NTA
You sure she’s Mormon and not a moron? How religious can one be if “she had no idea” about the name and common day connotations of that name. Like, I haven’t been to church in decades and barely paid any attention when I did and even I know this. You saved that poor baby from one of the worst names one would possibly imagine. Cuz absolutely everyone would take one look at that name and be like—ooooooomg.
I guess she expects her daughter won’t ever be out in public or something. 😆
NTA Where I live, American South, it is one of the politer words for prostitute, but still a definitely a pejorative. I’ve heard of some immigrant catholics who named their kid that, but no one who grew up where and when I did would name their dog Jezebel.
Sorry you have hypocritical in-laws that don’t read their scripture and an overbearing mother-in-law that never learned how to handle uncomfortable information without attacking the messenger, and clearly passed that onto SIL.
No wonder some people stay stupid for life. They prefer it. NTA
It isn’t JUST the bible. All you have to do is search on Google. I am not religious one bit and know naming your daughter Jezebel is a BAD idea.
OP, your SIL does not sound that bright at all. Same with her mother. Dear gods, your brother did not select her for her brain…
How can your sister be so ignorant? I am not religious, only went to church until I was 7, and while I didn’t know the details of that story I DO know what a jezebel is.
You did what was best for your niece. Her embarrassment over her theological ignorance is not your problem.
Is she actually Mormon? As a member of that community I can say that the name is absolutely common knowledge, and would receive shock and horror if a baby was named that.
NTA, but reading your comments rubs me the wrong way the way you talk about your sister. Constantly saying she’s dumb or stupid.
Wow. Talk about sheltered. Everyone outside her bubble knows that calling a woman a Jezebel is saying she’s a wh*re. That kid would have had an interesting life.
You were literally helping her with the info!
NTA. If you met the kid when the kid was 3 and told her this? Maybe you’re TA. But the kid hasn’t been born yet, it’s not too late!
And wouldn’t she rather hear this from family than from a stranger later? The onus for this is on her, not you, one quick google search would have revealed context for the name.
You could suggest Lucifer!
NTA but if she didn’t know who Jezebel was she sure as tooting doesn’t know the Bible.
NTA
NTA. All you did was tell her a fact about the name. Seeing as she’s “very religious” (but also clearly not) she would have found out eventually and by then it might have been too late.
But seriously, how could someone claiming to be religious NOT know about Jezebel? What is she going to name the next kid…. Lucifer?
You are correct in remembering the Jezebel story from the Book of Kings. There is also another Jezebel in Revelation who was accused of leading people into idolatry & fornication. When I was growing up, a Jezebel was a sexually promiscuous woman. So basically, it was another word for Ho.
NTA how could she not know this would be a bad name especially as a Mormon?? Didn’t she even do a quick Google search for “baby name meaning”?
Have her watch the movie.
Definitely NTA, as someone with a religious background (I am not Mormon) and have also named my kids with biblical ties she definitely should’ve known what she was getting into with deciding that name. Although I liked the name Jael who was someone who defeated a king in the Bible, the name also translated back to a mountain goat, so I ditched it.
Personally if you don’t know the full meaning/history, have that a strong of a connection or context of a name, especially one that comes from religious background (Christianity, Buddhism, Jewish etc) I think you should stray away from using it.
She’s definitely not the brightest bulb on the tree, is she? NTA.
Think of it as you saved your niece from being named Jezebel, don’t matter if mum is upset. The kid will be more upset to be bullied
Biblical Jezebel was a Baal worshipper, if I recall correctly. Her name is pretty much synonymous with “bad woman.” Why doesn’t she name the kid something pretty, like Barak or Delilah.
This name is actually what Slts get called by religious people.
NTA – you didn’t ruin the name for her. It was always a bad name from the time of the old-testament bible. You just educated your SIL on its origins. It’s not your fault she hasn’t read the bible.
Future 13 year old friend’s daughter thanks you for ruining the name
NTA suggest Lilith to her 🤣
Idk how you claim to be religious and not know one of the most famous names in the Bible. It’s not an obscure reference. It’s like if she didn’t know who Moses was or Paul.
You did your future niece a favor, especially if your SIL is “religious” and goes to a church where there’s a high likelihood someone will have read the Bible (although it never surprises me how few “Christians” have read it).
I like the name, but I wouldn’t be raising a kid in a community likely to judge her negatively for it. This kid will grow up in such a community. Your SIL should be thanking you.
That kid would have been a pariah in the church and in school.
All the boys would have something to say because no one else is as ignorant as you SIL…
Can not imagine anything worse for a girl than to be in a religious community and to be named Jezebel.
Your SIL could have ruined the child’s life.
You weren’t judging – you were educating.
Stupid effing woman,
Blame everyone but accept responsibility for her own decisions.
NTA
Good Lord are you kidding me you did that child a huge favor!
In handmaids tale they take all the non fruitful woman to Jezebels to basically be prostitutes. The show is rooted in religion this makes so much more sense to me now that you made this post 😅
I hope your niece thanks you
So, my middle name is a variation of Jezebel. It’s definitely a controversial name. While I do like actually like my middle name (I’m named after my grandma — great grandma had some very eccentric name choices for her kids, Jezebel isn’t even the strangest of the group), it’s a name that gets reactions.
I’ve had multiple people tell me I’m going to hell due to my middle name. I’ve had some people actually turn and run when they learn my middle name. Once I had a group form a prayer circle around me and start praying for my “cursed soul.” Lots of people are just incredulous and convinced I’m lying.
Because it’s my middle name, I can hide it pretty easily. Work, driver’s license, etc., I just use the initial J and no one is the wiser.
But as a first name?
Absolutely not.
You did the right thing. No kid, especially in a religious community, should be burdened with Jezebel as a first name.
Lol. What a dummy. NTA. Tell her to name the baby Lilith👍🏽
Jezebel is literally a wh*re in the bible and painted as a villain. Why would a super religious Mormon want to name their child that?
NTA. If anything she should be thankful that you know the Bible better than she does.
What she is actually angry about is you exposing her complete ignorance of all things biblical 😂
Jezebel is a terrible name.
In my opinion that’s a horrible name to name her child. She would be kidded her whole life. Not only the religious aspect of it, but it’s a slang for An immoral, impudent, or sexually promiscuous woman
Jezebel was the name of my late car
Why are people so fragile? You would think having 5 kids would toughen one up.
You did that poor little girl a huge favor! NTA.
It really isn’t your place to tell her how she should or shouldn’t name her child. You could kindly mention the biblical story but end of the day 99% of kids won’t have any idea the backstory. The book is fictional and most kids are getting away from religion.
I’m this case, mind your own business. Not every single jezebel is a sinner or promiscuous. Lmao old book two thousand years ago and fictional. I’ll bet there’s a book with your name and they are despicable.
Good save
This is the funniest one I’ve seen in a while. How are you gonna curse your child like that? That would be embarrassing as hell. Good job, auntie!!!
Don’t think of it as ruining your SIL’s baby name. Think of it as the first time you saved your niece from her parents.
I am an atheist who’s never read the Bible, even I know what Jezebel means.
Like naming your boy Judas???
Tell her to read 1 kings, lots of verses about Jezebel.
Noooo, you are not. Don’t let the old battle axe get you down. What you did was expose your SIL’s ignorance. That’s not your fault. Better she learns now than later when her daughter learns the significance of that name and turns on her as a result.
“And that was the sin that did Jezebel in” not a Lauryn Hill fan either I see 😂
You saved the kid from a lifetime of agony.
I feel like you did her a favor. It’s not that obscure of knowledge and other people would have figured it out and her poor child would have been left with that name.
NTA
You did the right thing. 🤷🏻♀️
Why am I not surprised the very religious Mormon doesn’t know the bible? I’m not even a Christian and I know the story of jezebel.