A professional in baby name consultancy, Kemmer Tonne, tirelessly searched for the ideal name for her second child for many months in the San Francisco region. Despite a thorough selection of alternatives, no option seemed to fit perfectly. However, in the third trimester of her pregnancy, a peculiar surname, “Wrigley”, unexpectedly popped into her mind.
Without high hopes, she quickly shared the idea with her fiancé, Stephen Crooks, a baseball enthusiast. His reaction was surprising, quickly descending from his office. Stephen loved the connection to the sport, approved of the diminutive “Riggs” and, most of all, fell in love with the full name. Tonne revealed that, at that point during the pregnancy, she felt that finally “a name felt right.”
However, the couple’s approval did not find a lasting echo on the digital scene.
After Wrigley’s birth in May, the 31-year-old consultant posted a four-minute video on TikTok. In it, she explained her and Crooks’ journey to choosing the baby’s name. She expected the audience to be largely her own followers, who habitually sought her advice on baby names.
@kemmerrose 4 min chat on how we picked WRIGLEY for our baby boy & how we left the hospital without a name! #postpartum #babyname #babyboyname #boyname #boymom ♬ original sound – Kemmer Rose
“I did not in any way anticipate that the video would go viral,” declared Tonne, surprised. She added that, in general, “people don’t take the time to watch such extensive content.”
The reality, however, was the opposite: the video achieved a vast repercussion, significantly going beyond the circle of his usual followers.
Internet users on the digital platform soon raised doubts about the suitability of the name throughout life. Direct comparisons to a famous baseball stadium or a brand of gum were recurrent. Many comments were quite harsh, with one user stating: “It’s hard to visualize an executive in a meeting introducing himself as ‘Wrigley’.” Other questions were “Is this a joke?” and even “Do you recommend names for children or dogs?”.
The breadth and vehemence of the online responses shocked her deeply.
“From my perspective, the name didn’t seem that extravagant,” Tonne said, defending his choice.
Tonne argued that “Wrigley” fell in line with a naming trend that has grown in recent years: surnames transformed into given names. The name of his firstborn, two-year-old Cooper, exemplifies this practice, as do Parker, Carter, Brooks and Bennett, who gained prominence in name rankings. This choice, although it causes debate, highlights an interesting cultural evolution in the search for unique names, reflecting the dynamics between tradition and originality in contemporary society.
“I thought it fit that line perfectly,” she explained. “It’s a well-known surname, it allows for charming nicknames, and it’s common for parents to choose ‘Riggs’ for their children.”
At first, Tonne dedicated himself to following online reactions, but soon decided to stop reading the comments.
“Obviously, the awareness that thousands of individuals disapprove of your decision is not a satisfying experience,” she said.
The couple considered more conventional options, with Weston emerging as their second preference. Maxwell, Baker and Huntley were also among the finalists. They discussed the name for several days after the birth and even took the baby home from the hospital without making a definitive decision.
Even in the face of uncertainty and alternatives, “Wrigley” remained at the top of the list of preferences.
Despite the intransigence of the internet, the only opinions that truly mattered to the couple were the favorable ones.
“Stephen and I are absolutely delighted with our son,” concluded Tonne. “And it’s that satisfaction that, in the end, really counts.”