Overview

• A baby shower invitation shared on Reddit this month announced the name “Chernobyl Hope” as the honoree, surprising friends.
• The expectant parents reportedly chose the name because it “sounded nice,” suggesting they may not recognize its link to the 1986 disaster.
• The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident remains the most severe in history, killing dozens immediately and leading to a WHO estimate of 9,000 cancer-related deaths.
• Social media users have ridiculed the choice with puns and urged the friend to either counsel the parents on renaming or distance themselves for the child’s sake.
• Despite widespread criticism, naming experts note that most US and UK jurisdictions would accept “Chernobyl Hope” under existing rules, which focus on obscenity, length and symbols.