Overview

• A Reddit user shared text messages showing the expectant mother switched her baby’s name from Serena to Vaselinea, inspired by the Vaseline brand.
• The July 15 thread has amassed over 22,000 upvotes and ignited harsh criticism across social media channels.
• Online commenters warned that a brand-derived name could expose the child to teasing and bullying, with some predicting a difficult school experience.
• Briana Engelbrecht, associate editor at Babylist, said that while unconventional names can express individuality, they often lead to mispronunciations, misspellings and frustration.
• News outlets have covered the viral debate but noted they have not been able to confirm the mother’s identity or the authenticity of the original Reddit exchange.