Inspired by a four-legged, doe-eyed Disney character, a social media influencer gave her newborn baby an unusual name that sparked a wave of harsh criticism from the online community, with some calling it a “brilliant stripper name.”
But the baby, who shares her name with the child of a popular reality TV star, is perfectly named, and her mom says she doesn’t care if people dislike it.
So if you want to know more about this story, keep reading.
In January 2023, Molly-Mae Hague shared a photo on social media announcing the birth of her baby girl, whom she shares with Tommy Fury, the man she met on the reality show Love Island.
Soon after, Hague revealed her daughter’s name in a heartfelt Instagram post, featuring an adorable photo of baby Bambi in her beautifully decorated bedroom.
Almost immediately, the couple, both 23 at the time, found themselves at the center of social media scrutiny as negative comments flooded online discussions, with many sharing opinions about the baby’s unique, Disney-inspired name.
“I think I was just brought back down to planet earth very, very quickly, of like how nasty this world can be,” Hague said on her YouTube channel about the trolling. “I know it’s unusual and unique and not going to be to everyone’s taste, so when we announced it, in my mind, it’s a beautiful name. And then two seconds later, I was like, ‘Oh my God!’”
Despite the hate, the parents insist there is no better name for their daughter, who they had planned for when they met in 2019 in the Love Island villa.
“There was only one name for our little girl, and it was Bambi,” Fury revealed. “When Molly was young, she only ever wanted to call her daughter one thing, and that was Bambi… And I’m not going to be the guy to say no, so… and I love the name anyway.”
The pair, who have since split, disabled comments on the announcement to prevent trolls from sharing unsolicited opinions about their child.
“Great minds”
Hague and Fury aren’t the only ones who love the name Bambi.
Only months earlier, Indy Clinton, a 25-year-old from Sydney, Australia, told the Daily Mail that she named her daughter Bambi Valentine because she “was convinced” it was a “unique, unusual name that nobody would use.”
But she was wrong: “Good on Molly-Mae though, looks like great minds think alike,” she said.
And like Molly-Mae, Clinton — a popular TikTok influencer — has loved Disney’s Bambi since childhood. She often read the storybook to her two-year-old son, Navy, further strengthening her connection to the name.
“I was reading the book to Navy one night and it came to me. I sat up and yelled, ‘what about Bambi?’ and from then on it stuck,” Clinton shared about the moment she chose the name.
“My Bambilicious”
The mother of three initially planned to name her daughter Paloma, but when she arrived in October 2022, Clinton said her daughter’s “big brown eyes” and “sweet, curious nature” reminded her of the beloved fawn from the cartoon.
“She couldn’t be a Paloma now — she’s my Bambilicious,” Clinton shared.
But much like the criticism placed on Hague when she revealed her daughter’s name, Clinton’s Bambi also faced public scrutiny.
“Brilliant stripper name,” one netizen wrote, while others simply commented “Bambi?” followed by teary-eyed emojis.
Meanwhile, many people praised photos of the newborn and the creativity behind the unique name.
“How beautiful she is! And what a gorgeous forever name you have gifted her. Welcome to the world Bambi Valentine,” one user wrote in the comments section of Clinton’s Instagram post.
“So cute, love her name!” shared a second, while a third added, “She’s gorgeous, love her name, congratulations.”
Dismissing the criticism, Clinton said she would “be more concerned calling my kid a name from the 1900s.”
“People will criticize anything these days, so at least give them something to talk about.”
Insisting that “unique names are the new trend,” Clinton added, “Bambi is going to fit right in with the Rivers, Bears, Forests, Stormis and Wolfs.”
“That [is] her name, and nothing [is] going to change that,” she said.
What do you think of naming a baby Bambi? Please share your thoughts and share this story with others so we can hear from them!
