A Tennessee mother has made the decision to allow her 16-year-old daughter to legally change her birth name after years of harassment at school left the teenager desperate for a fresh start.
Danielle Remp, 35, took to TikTok to explain why she agreed to let her daughter abandon the name Dixie in favor of Skye.
The decision came after persistent bullying that included accusations of racism and claims the teen supported the Confederate South.
“She gets made fun of it,” Remp wrote in her social media post, adding that when her daughter requested the change, “I said yes, no questions asked!”
The high school student, who now goes by Skye, described the daily torment she endured between classes. Students would create crude variations of her name and confront her in school hallways.
“They call me things like ‘Dixie Dust,’ or ‘Dixie Normous,’” the teen told TODAY.
“They just give it all sorts of crude meanings, and they’ll call me that in the hallway.”
The name Dixie was chosen by her father when she was born in 2008. However, her mother had originally wanted to name her Skye, which the teenager now says feels more “like me.”
The term Dixie gained widespread use after a song titled “Dixie’s Land” became the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy during the 19th century. In recent years, the word has sparked debate due to its historical connection to the South’s pro-slavery era.
Several organizations and businesses have distanced themselves from the term in recent years.
The New York Post previously reported that the country music group The Dixie Chicks made headlines in 2020 when they shortened their name to The Chicks, stating they wanted to “meet this moment” after facing criticism.
Remp, who is employed at Burger King, is currently working to save $200 to cover the legal fees required for her daughter’s official name change. She defended her decision by pointing to her daughter’s character and academic performance.
“She’s a good kid,” Remp told TODAY. “She’s doing great in school, she doesn’t give me trouble. So if changing her name makes her feel better about herself, why would I say no?”
The TikTok post generated significant attention online, drawing hundreds of comments from users with varying opinions on the matter.
Some commenters criticized Remp’s decision, suggesting she should have taught her daughter to withstand the bullying instead. One person questioned the long-term implications of the choice.
“What no. Teach your child resilience. If you let her change her name, what else will she want to change about herself?” one person wrote. Another commenter who shares the same name defended keeping it, writing, “I’m Dixie! I got bullied but now I love my name.”
Many others expressed support for the mother’s decision, however. Several users argued that individuals should have the freedom to choose their own names, particularly when facing harassment. “Everyone should get one free name change,” one supporter commented.
Another person shared their own experience with childhood bullying over their birth name, expressing gratitude for Remp’s decision. “As someone who was horrendously bullied for their birth name growing up and changed it as an adult, thank you,” the person added.
