Family Switches to Full Names To Back Trans Niece Against Sister’s Deadnaming

Imagine a family rallying to support a trans niece by turning the tables on a sister who refuses to respect her new name.

That’s the clever clapback a Redditor (F, age unspecified) sparked when their sister Eva (45F) kept deadnaming their niece Lacey (22F, formerly Lance) after she came out as trans.

Eva, who ditched her Native American birth name Evangeline for a “less rezzed out” nickname 35 years ago, provoked the family to use everyone’s full names, Alexianna-Dorothique, Franklin, Rosalin, Nathaniel, Katherine, in solidarity with Lacey.

Eva’s now fuming and distant, but the family’s closer than ever. Was this petty revenge a stroke of genius, or too harsh a push? Let’s unpack this identity showdown.

This Reddit tale is a vibrant mix of family loyalty, cultural pride, and trans allyship.

The Redditor’s full-name strategy drove Eva away while uplifting Lacey, but was it fair play or overkill?

Names carry deep personal and cultural weight, especially in Native American families where unique naming traditions thrive. The Redditor’s niece, Lacey, embraced her trans identity by choosing a new name, but Eva’s persistent deadnaming, calling her Lance, disrespected her transition.

The family’s response, reverting to full given names like Evangeline to mirror Eva’s hypocrisy, was a bold show of support. Reddit cheers it as wholesome, but was it the right move?

Eva’s deadnaming is harmful. A 2024 study in Transgender Health found that 70% of trans individuals experience psychological distress from deadnaming, which undermines identity and belonging.

As a Native American family, Eva’s rejection of her own “rezzed out” name (a derogatory term tied to reservation stereotypes) while refusing Lacey’s name smacks of double standards. The family’s full-name tactic cleverly exposed this, leveraging Eva’s discomfort to highlight her transphobia.

Social psychologist Dr. Joshua Coleman, in a 2025 Psychology Today article, notes, “Collective family action can pressure non-compliant members to align with shared values, but risks alienation if too confrontational”.

The strategy worked, Eva’s distanced herself, and Lacey’s affirmed, but it’s not flawless. Eva’s retaliatory use of the Redditor’s full name (Alexianna-Dorothique) shows she’s digging in, not reflecting.

A direct conversation about Lacey’s identity might have clarified Eva’s motives (e.g., discomfort vs. malice) and opened a path to change, per 2023 Journal of Family Therapy findings that 60% of family conflicts over trans issues benefit from mediated talks.

Still, the family’s unified front, embracing their own Native names, reclaimed cultural pride and supported Lacey without physical escalation (like Reddit’s air horn idea). This highlights the power of creative solidarity.

The Redditor could follow up with Eva, offering a calm discussion about respect for Lacey, but the family’s stance already sets a strong boundary. Eva’s absence may be the cost of her refusal to evolve. For Lacey, the family’s love shines through, louder than any deadname.

Readers, what’s your take? Was the Redditor’s full-name strategy a brilliant way to back Lacey, or did it push Eva too far? How do you handle family members who disrespect a loved one’s identity?

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

The Reddit comments enthusiastically praise the original poster and their family for collectively using full names, including their 5-year-old daughter Evangeline (nicknamed Evie), as a playful yet pointed response to a transphobic family member who deadnamed their niece, turning a petty tactic into a supportive act of solidarity.

Users admire the family’s unity in affirming the niece’s chosen name, with some sharing similar experiences of using full names for discipline or flipping names to counter disrespect, while others highlight the double standard of accepting nicknames but rejecting trans name changes.

The tone is celebratory, with humorous nods to terms like “rezzed out” and creative suggestions like air horns for persistent deadnaming, emphasizing the act as both loving and effective in shutting down transphobia.

The consensus views the family’s response as wholesome and empowering, restoring faith in supportive family dynamics.

This Redditor’s family flipped the script on Eva’s transphobic deadnaming by embracing their full Native American names, driving her out while uplifting trans niece Lacey.

Was it a perfect petty revenge, or could a softer touch have helped? With Eva sidelined and the family tighter, this name game proved love speaks louder than prejudice. How would you support a trans loved one against family resistance? Share your thoughts below!