So, I (29F) recently had a baby with my husband (30M), and we named him Liam. We’ve always liked the name, and it felt appropriate for us. We wanted something timeless but a touch distinctive, and this was ideal. But when I told my parents the name, things took a strange and uncomfortable turn. When my son arrived, I proudly announced to my parents that his name would be Liam. I expected them to be happy or at least supportive, as they normally are.

Instead, my father’s look became pale, and my mother’s grin was visibly forced. My father excused himself moments later, stating that he was feeling ill. “Liam?” my father muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I need some air,” he stated abruptly, standing up and exiting the room. My mother’s eyes widened with worry. “You can’t name him Liam,” she begged, her voice shaking. “There’s a reason we never speak of that name.”

I was completely confused. I pressed her for an explanation, but she refused. She initially claimed I didn’t comprehend the significance of the name. After much prodding, she finally admitted to having an affair with someone named Liam about 20 years ago, when she and my father were going through a difficult time in their marriage.

I was floored. She told me it was a sad era in their lives that they had fought hard to leave behind, and that calling my kid Liam would resurrect old wounds. My mother begged me to modify it, and she appeared to be on the edge of tears. When I refused to change the name and informed her that Liam was only a name to me, she became angry and accused me of being insensitive.

She stated I didn’t grasp the complete history and how much this name had affected her and my father. My father never returned to speak with me, and their relationship has been strained ever since. I believe this is a massive overreaction. I had no notion about this incident or the meaning of the name. To me, it was simply a nice-sounding name that my husband and I adored.

I’ve always gotten along well with my parents, and I would never purposely injure them. But my mother’s reaction was so strong, and my father hasn’t spoken to me about it at all, which is rare. I tried to explain that this has nothing to do with their past, but they wouldn’t listen. It’s been weeks and they still won’t come visit their grandson. It’s putting a great pressure on our relationship, and I’m beginning to feel like I’m in the wrong. So, am I a terrible daughter for naming my kid Liam, knowing what I now know about my mother’s affair?