A pregnant woman is facing a naming dilemma after her husband proposed what she calls “cringe” historical names for their twin boys. Taking to Reddit, she expressed her dismay: “My husband wants to name our twins Romulus and Remus…. Please no. He’s taken the ‘thinking about the Roman Empire’ thing way too seriously.”
The couple, like many prospective parents, is struggling to agree on names that will suit their children throughout their lives. However, the husband’s passion for ancient history has led him to suggest the legendary founders of Rome, a choice his wife finds deeply unappealing.
Roman Mythology and Its Dark Tale
In Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus were twin brothers abandoned at birth and raised by a she-wolf. Their story ends tragically when Romulus kills Remus during a dispute over where to build their city. The myth has been cited as the founding story of Rome, but its violent conclusion makes it an unusual inspiration for baby names.
Reddit users were quick to comment on the proposal. One wrote: “Omg cringe - even if Ancient Rome is his greatest passion in life, this is so cringey I am embarrassed on his behalf. There are so many Roman names to choose from without being lame and goofy about it.”
Another joked: “Perfect, their middle names can be Cain and Abel,” referencing the biblical story of fratricide. A third added: “Romulus Abel and Remus Cain so you never know which twin will kill the other.”
Alternative Suggestions
Some users offered more palatable alternatives. “May I offer August and Julian? Variants of Augustus and Julius…” one suggested. Another proposed: “I’d go with Julius and Marcus. Only other Rome buffs will raise an eyebrow.”
However, one commenter warned: “You can’t seriously drop those names as suggestions without the context that it’s referring to Julius Caesar and one of his famous assassins, Marcus Brutus. Twins aren’t dogs or fictional characters, they’re normal people that don’t need heavy historical names tied to them.”
Another user pointed out the absurdity: “Does he know that Romulus killed Remus? Or that they were abandoned by their parents and raised by a f***ing wolf? Why would you want to name your kids after that story lol.”
The woman’s plea for help has resonated with many, highlighting the challenges of finding a name that both parents can agree on. As one commenter noted, “Non-historians/history buffs also just don’t refer to Brutus as Marcus Brutus? Or Marcus Junius Brutus? Or anything other than just ‘Brutus’… because a layman wouldn’t even know his first name. Marcus makes me think of either Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) or Marcus Aurelius.”
For now, the expectant mother remains hopeful that her husband will reconsider before the twins arrive.
