AITAH for Telling My Sister Her Baby Name Sounds Like a Pokémon?

Okay, I need some honest opinions here. My sister is pregnant with her first child, and when she revealed her top baby name choice, I may have reacted… poorly. Now she’s not speaking to me, and our mom says I should apologize. But am I really the asshole here for pointing out the obvious? Let me explain.

The Big Name Reveal

Last weekend, my sister Emily invited me over for what she called a “special sister bonding moment.” I thought we were going to do face masks and watch rom-coms like old times. Instead, she sat me down with this dramatic pause and said: “I’ve chosen the perfect name for my baby girl… it’s Eeveelyn.”

My brain short-circuited. Before I could stop myself, I blurted out: “Like the Pokémon Eevee?” Her face immediately fell. Apparently, she’d combined “Eve” and “Lyn” to create what she thought was a unique, beautiful name. But all I could think about was the fluffy brown fox-like creature that evolves into eight different forms.

The Immediate Fallout

Emily got so defensive. She insisted it was completely different and that I was ruining this special moment. I tried to backtrack, saying it was cute in its own way, but the damage was done. She asked me to leave, and I haven’t heard from her in three days.

Our mom called yesterday to say Emily’s been crying about it. Apparently she’d already ordered custom nursery decor with the name and now feels stupid. Mom thinks I should apologize for being insensitive, but part of me feels like I did her a favor. Who wants their kid to spend life saying “No, not like the Pokémon”?

The Pokémon Connection

Let’s be real here – the similarity is undeniable. Eevee (the Pokémon) is:

• A Generation I Pokémon introduced in 1996
• Known for its unstable genetic makeup
• Pronounced exactly the same as the first syllable of “Eeveelyn”

I showed five of my coworkers (ages 22-35) the name written down, and four immediately said “Like the Pokémon?” The fifth thought it was pretty until the others pointed it out. This isn’t just me being a jerk – the association is real.

Name Trends Analysis

I did some research to see if I overreacted. According to baby name sites:

• Pokémon-inspired names ARE rising in popularity (Luca, Leon, and Ivy all happen to be Pokémon names too)
• But direct names like Pikachu or Charizard remain extremely rare
• “Eevee” itself was given to 23 girls in 2022 (up from 5 in 2015)

So while the trend exists, “Eeveelyn” sits in this awkward middle ground – close enough to be noticeable, but not clearly intentional. It’s like naming your kid “Jon Snow” versus “Jon Sno” – one is clearly a reference, the other just seems like a mistake.

My Sister’s Perspective

After cooling down, I tried to see it from Emily’s side:

• She’s not a Pokémon fan (more of a Disney person)
• She genuinely thought she invented this name
• Pregnancy hormones are making her extra emotional
• She’s stressed about getting everything “perfect” for the baby

Maybe I should have been gentler. Instead of laughing and saying “That’s a Pokémon name!” I could have asked “How did you come up with that beautiful name?” first. But in the moment, my gut reaction took over.

Where We Stand Now

As of today, Emily still isn’t returning my texts. Our mom says she’s considering alternative names but is heartbroken because she’d “fallen in love” with Eeveelyn. Part of me wonders if I should double down and show her the Google search results, but that might make things worse.

I did find some compromise names that keep the vibe without the Pokémon link:

• Evelina
• Evangeline
• Evelyn (the classic version)
• Everly

So, AITAH? Should I apologize for my blunt reaction, or was it better she heard this from me now rather than from kindergarten bullies later? Be honest in the comments – I can take it.

Your Verdict Matters

This situation has me torn. On one hand, sisters should support each other unconditionally. On the other, sometimes the truest form of love is honest feedback. What would you have done in my place?

Drop your judgment in the comments below:

• YTA – You crushed her pregnancy joy unnecessarily
• NTA – Better from you now than from kids later
• ESH – You both handled it poorly

And if you’ve ever been in a similar name intervention situation, share your story! Maybe we can crowdsource some better approaches for next time.