A Tennessee mother is standing by her 16-year-old daughter after relentless bullying pushed the teenager to change her name. The decision has sparked a wide online debate, but the mom says her priority is her child’s well-being.
Danielle Remp, 35, shared the story on TikTok, explaining that her daughter’s birth name had become a daily target. Students mocked her, twisted the name into crude jokes, and even accused her of supporting racist ideas tied to the American South.
Danielle did not hesitate when her daughter asked for a name change. “If it helps her feel better about herself, why would I say no?” she said. She added that her daughter is a responsible teen who does well in school and stays out of trouble.
The mother, who works at Burger King, is now saving the $200 needed to file the legal paperwork.
The video drew hundreds of comments. Some viewers felt the mom was giving in too easily and argued that teenagers need to learn resilience. Others shared their own experiences, saying they wished someone had supported them the same way.
“Everyone should get one free name change,” one commenter wrote. Another person said changing their own bullied-about name as an adult was “life-changing.”
Danielle’s daughter, born “Dixie,” now uses the name Skye, which she says feels more natural. She explained that her father chose her original name, while her mother had always preferred Skye.
The term Dixie has become controversial due to its long association with the Confederacy and the South’s pro-slavery past. Even well-known groups, such as The Dixie Chicks, removed the word from their name in recent years.
For Danielle, the choice was simple: support her daughter. Whether others agree or disagree, she believes confidence and emotional safety matter most.
