It is urgent to comprehend that names are something beyond words; they are essential for what our identity is. Names for children are fundamental in characterising who these children are and how people around them see them. When the child has an unusual or frequently mispronounced name, they are likely to suffer from psychological problems that have implications for their mental health.
More specifically, this article explores how problems with name identification – either owing to weird names or difficulty in pronunciation. It can affect a child’s psychological well-being and, in particular, self-esteem, peer relationships, and bullying in the classroom.
The Significance of Names in Child Identity Formation
A name is one of the first identifiers a child receives and is valuable to a significant extent in developing the child’s identity. As early as possible, a child knows their name is their identity.
Acceptance and correct pronunciation of a name you bear build up a child’s confidence apart from making them feel wanted. However, it is true that when a child’s name is unusual or the name that is usually mispronounced, it has a demoralizing effect on the child since they feel alone and confused.
Kids with unusual or hard-to-say names might struggle with their child identity, feeling different from their friends in a way they might not fully get. This feeling of being different can lead to anxiety and a negative self-image, especially when it comes to being accepted by others.
The Impact of Name Mispronunciation on Self-Esteem
Self-identity results in how individuals perceive themselves and their position in society.
It causes a lot of embarrassment and frustration to children, and they develop low self-esteem after some time when their names are pronounced wrong. So, the child may feel that their name, the child herself, is not respected by the rest of society or anyone in particular.
There is a high likelihood of acquiring negative self-esteem from people who are often corrected when pronouncing their names. They may stop correcting other people when calling their name incorrectly since this leads to the feeling they dislike; hence, their self-respect is lowered.
Such avoidance can make the child relinquish themself to fate, where the child accepts that their name and thus identity is inconsequential.
Peer Relationships and the Risk of Bullying
Peer relationships play a crucial role in a child’s life as they interact with fellow children. Nevertheless, being named uniquely or mispronounced name creates difficulties when building and maintaining these relationships. Those kids who take such names are very susceptible to being bullied by other kids in their school due to taunting and exclusion.
There are always severe consequences of bullying arising from names given to children as it affects their health. His being lonely all the time may lead to anxiety and depression, which has a strong effect on their psychological health.
Pupils who experience bullying may feel left out or do not want to interact with other learners and classmates, hence feeling lonely and making their self-esteem worse.
When you share these kinds of experiences online, it can mess with your head as you get older. It can make it tougher to find the right partner and feel good about yourself.
Name-Related Stigma and Its Psychological Consequences
Kids with weird or mispronounced names often deal with the name-related stigma. It happens in light of the fact that a few names are viewed as odd or unfamiliar, prompting segregation and rejection in view of those names.
Children with strange names might feel uncomfortable involving their names in broad daylight, particularly on the off chance that their names are unique in relation to everyone around them. This uneasiness can prompt a pessimistic mental self-portrait and close-to-home pain.
After some time, it can fundamentally influence a youngster’s psychological prosperity, possibly driving them to reduce most, if not all, connections with their names. It can significantly affect their psychological well-being.
The Long-Term Impact on Mental Health in Children
When compiling the impacts of name mispronunciation, bullying, and name-related stigmatization, it leads to some mental health-related consequences for children.
Any child going through these adversities is likely to develop corresponding anxiety, depression, or other mental-related disorders. Some consequences of having an unusual name that is difficult to pronounce include loss of morale and stress, which will likely decrease overall emotional well-being.
Sometimes, children could develop a social anxiety disorder or become quite withdrawn to avoid any situation where people might tease them by pronouncing their names.
It can reduce their chances of social experiences, school achievement, and engagement in other co-curriculum activities. Thus making them more isolated and with worse mental illness.
Supporting Children with Unusual or Mispronounced Names
It’s really important to consider how an unusual or mispronounced name could impact a child’s well-being. We need to address this issue and give them the support they need. Also, when kids go through these tests, their parents and teachers are usually there for them, along with mental health workers to guide and support them.
Parental Support
It is because parents have a critical role in shaping their children’s self-identities and can help them be supportive. It sounds like children are being made to develop a zest for their name and its cultural or traditional aspect. The parents should allow the child to express their experiences using the name and comfort the child.
Lit: If needed, parents can help their child correct teachers and peers in school regarding pronouncing the child’s name.
Educational Support
To this effect, educators are in a special place to develop a climate where all children feel valued. Notably, an effort to learn how to pronounce each child’s name correctly can be considered an indicator of respect and acceptance of the child.
They also can explain to students the role of names in people’s lives and the possible consequences of teasing or bullying. This way, teachers can minimize the effects of mispronunciation and name-related stigma by raising respect and understanding for the right use of proper names.
Professional Support
In the event that a child is being teased about their name or pronunciation, it’s really smart to converse with a psychologist, whether an online specialist in Pakistan or somewhere else.
Guiding may be costly, yet it allows the child to get serious about their feelings, figure out how to deal with the circumstance, and construct certainty. Qualified psychological wellness experts can likewise help the child with their confidence, foster flexibility, and manage inner difficulties.
The Final Verdict
A child’s name is a major part of their identity. Yet, when that name is surprising, or individuals continue to miss the point entirely, it can worry them. It may influence their generally speaking emotional wellness, associations with companions, and self-insight.
Children may beat these difficulties and have positive mental self-views fully backed by their folks, educators, and emotional well-being experts. We can uphold all children, paying little heed to name, in managing everything well and feeling like they have qualities by ensuring that everybody esteems and incorporates them.
Get Help Today!
Try not to pause in the event that you think your kid is having mental troubles because of a remarkable or misspoken name. Sehatyab gives virtual discussions with qualified Pakistani psychologists. The comfort of your home can support you. Make a stride now towards working on psychological and mental health. Visit Sehatyab’s website or call their helpline to book an appointment to consult online psychologists and psychiatrists, Your child’s peace of mind is just a click away.