AITAH for refusing to let my cousin name her baby after me because of a "family prophecy"?
The original poster (OP), a 23-year-old female, describes how her 25-year-old cousin, Lila, has become intensely focused on family lore, spiritual omens, and old prophecies pa*sed down from their great-grandmother, especially since Lila became pr****nt.
Lila recently announced her intention to name her unborn daughter after the OP, explaining that a prophecy dictates a girl with the OP's name will become a spiritual protector.
When the OP refused to agree to this plan, Lila insisted the OP must stop using her own name and choose a new, 'mundane' one so the baby could 'absorb the connection' without compet*tion, leading the OP to question if she is wrong for refusing.
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The OP is facing a severe boundary v***ation driven by her cousin's deeply held, non-negotiable belief in family mysticism.
The core conflict lies between the OP's fundamental right to her own ident*ty and name versus the cousin’s expectation that the OP sacrifice this right for what she perceives as a significant spiritual duty for her child.
The situation forces a choice between respecting familial tradition and mystical belief systems, supported by some relatives, and maintaining personal autonomy over one's ident*ty.
Is the OP justified in protecting her name against demands rooted in spiritual prophecy, or should she yield to what others call a larger family destiny?
Strong Takes and Sharper Words from the Crowd:
The crowd poured into the comments, bringing a blend of heated opinions, solid advice, and a few reality checks along the way.