Choosing a name for your child is a big deal. The name you pick can shape how people see them and how they are treated for their whole life. While many parents go for classic names like Elizabeth or William, some are picking more modern or unusual names. Recently, a social media influencer named her daughter after a Disney character, and people online have mixed feelings about it.
Indy Clinton is an Australian fitness and lifestyle blogger with over 600,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok. She lives in Sydney with her husband, son, and daughter. When her daughter was born last year, her fans were excited. However, some people questioned her choice of name when she revealed that she named her daughter after a Disney character. In the end, she chose the name Bambi, even though she originally considered Paloma, which means Dove in Spanish.
Indy is no stranger to unique names—her son’s name is Navy. But the name she chose for her daughter, Bambi, surprised many fans. Indy shared, “We were set on calling her Paloma at first. That was her name, and nothing was going to change that. But one night, while reading a book to Navy, I suddenly thought, ‘What about Bambi?’ And from then on, it stuck.”
The story of Bambi is both heartbreaking and uplifting. It’s about a baby deer whose mother dies, and after a few tough moments, the story turns into one of friendship and adventure.
Unsurprisingly, fans were divided over the name choice. Some questioned Indy’s decision, with one person commenting, “Imagine being an adult named this. These baby names are mad these days.” Another person wrote, “Are you naming humans that will be adults one day? Or kittens?”
A third person thoughtfully pointed out, “Kids can be cruel. A unique name isn’t something to shy away from, but a name tied to a character might not be ideal for your child.” They added that being named after a Disney character in middle school could be challenging.
Alternatively, some fans defended Indy’s choice. “People need to shut it. She can name her baby anything she wants. I think it’s adorable,” wrote one supportive follower. Another added, “Congratulations! It’s a wonderful name for your baby.”
“So happy, love the name,” a third person commented.
Indy explained that she’s always loved the story of Bambi, even as a little girl. Seeing her daughter’s “sweet, curious nature, and big brown eyes” made the name feel like a perfect fit. She also noted that while opinions are split, “unique names are the new trend.”
Interestingly, Bambi is derived from the Italian word “bambino,” which means child or baby. In the Disney film and books, Bambi is a male character. This creative choice might make Bambi a popular gender-neutral name in the future. For example, reality star Molly-Mae Hague also named her daughter Bambi, though it’s unclear if she chose the name because of the Disney character or simply because she liked it.
Interestingly, Bambi isn’t the only Disney character whose name has become popular for real-life people. Several Disney characters have everyday names. For instance, the dog from *The Little Mermaid* is named Max. Additionally, many characters from *Frozen* have names that are common in Scandinavia. Elsa, for example, is often short for Elizabeth, and Olaf means “heir” in Scandinavian languages.
*The Princess and the Frog* is a heartwarming story about a Black woman named Tiana who works hard to achieve her dream of opening a restaurant, despite the challenges she faced growing up. Interestingly, according to Babynames.com, the name Tiana has Slavic origins. Regardless of its roots, Tiana has been a popular name in the U.S., consistently appearing in the top 1,000 baby names since the 1970s.
Aurora is a Latin name that originally referred to the “Roman Goddess of the Dawn.” It’s a beautiful name that symbolizes powerful feminine energy and the splendor of the night sky.
Merida is another Disney character with a name that works well in real life. The character herself is Scottish, but the name Merida is thought to have Celtic or Spanish origins.
Chip is the name of a charming and lovable chipmunk, as well as a little boy turned into a teacup in *Beauty and the Beast*. It’s an English name derived from Charles but isn’t as popular today. Despite this, Bambi, which is becoming a popular choice for baby girls, is seen as a gender-neutral name.
Indy, known for being a super mom, announced her third pregnancy just months after Bambi was born. As a social media influencer, she skillfully balances her roles as a mother, wife, and a role model for women everywhere.
Donald Trump elected 47th US president
The Republican candidate has won at least 277 Electoral College votes, per The Associated Press.
Donald Trump has been elected to return to the White House as the 47th United States president.
The vote was called for the Republican candidate by The Associated Press news agency early on Wednesday. His victory has been met by international congratulations but is likely to add further uncertainty to a turbulent geopolitical situation.
Results showed Trump beating Vice President Kamala Harris in a race far less tight than expected as he triumphed in key battleground states.
Victory in Wisconsin after earlier triumphs in Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania saw the former president clear the threshold of the 270 Electoral College votes required to clinch the White House in Tuesday’s election.
Trump’s victory in those swing states currently sees him with 277 electoral votes against 224 for Harris. Polls had predicted a much tighter race, but it appears that anger fuelled the Republican’s remarkable comeback from defeat in 2020 and widespread condemnation of his refusal to accept the result.
That refusal sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, and Trump was also convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
However, his campaign, which has seen him demonise his political opponents, immigrants and many minorities, tapped into the frustrations of many voters in a bitterly polarised nation.
Speaking to his supporters as he declared victory, Trump claimed he had won “an unprecedented and powerful mandate”.
Anger and resentment
Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at the University of Dublin, told Al Jazeera that Trump’s victory stemmed from frustrations that have been bubbling within the US public for years.
“There is anger and resentment in the US, which has been there for quite some time. It’s been a trauma since 9/11. It’s been there with the financial crash in 2008-2009. It was there in 2016 when Trump exploited it, and he exploited it again,” Lucas said, adding that Trump was able to do that because the “political system is damaged”.
Concern over the economy, and inflation in particular, under President Joe Biden was a major focus of the campaign.
That also encouraged opposition to the support Washington is giving to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Meanwhile, the failure to rein in Israel’s wars on Gaza and Lebanon has angered Muslim and liberal voters.
Those complex geopolitical issues will test Trump, who is known for his simplistic claims of being capable of quickly solving such issues.
He has promised to end the war in Ukraine in a day, an idea that has Kyiv wary that it could face pressure to strike a deal to hand over territory to Russia. NATO allies, meanwhile, fear Trump will weaken the alliance’s mutual defence guarantees.
Trump is also a strong supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has boasted he will end the war with Hamas in Gaza in hours.
“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!” Netanyahu said in a statement after Trump declared victory.
The enthusiasm in Israel also stems from the incoming president’s hawkish approach to Iran, which he is likely to reassert.
China is also braced for a more confrontational relationship with the US under Trump, who is expected to revive staunchly nationalistic trade policies, putting both allies and rivals on edge.
‘Much more dangerous era’
However, at home, supporters will look to Trump to put the focus on the welfare of US citizens while following through on promises to enact an agenda that would transform nearly every aspect of American government.
That will include plans to launch the largest deportation effort in the nation’s history and use the Department of Justice to punish his enemies.
The result is that “we are going into a much more dangerous era for Americans and for the world because this will not be a coherent US policy for America but one pursued for Trump,” Lucas said.
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