When Aubree Jones shared the arrival of her newborn daughter on TikTok, she expected congratulations.
What she didn’t expect? A tidal wave of online backlash.
Today, baby names have become more than just labels—they’re a way for parents to signal their style, values, and hopes for their children.
How parents choose names reflects shifting cultural attitudes: as societies move from collectivist to more individualistic mindsets, unique and unconventional names have grown in popularity.
Research suggests that giving a child a distinctive name is often a deliberate choice, offering clues about the kind of person parents hope their child will become. Globally, parents are increasingly giving their children names that make them stand out — and Josh and Aubree Jones perfectly illustrate this trend.
The couple, parents of seven and sharing their family life with millions of social media followers, knew their last name was already extremely common.
According to the 2010 Census, “Jones” ranks among the top five most frequent surnames in the U.S. Josh vividly remembers a moment from grade school when he was called to the office for allegedly punching another student—mistaken for a different Josh Jones.
When it came time to name their first child 13 years ago, they chose something more distinctive to avoid a repeat of that mix-up: Trendy.
They continued the trend with their next five children, giving them unique names like Zaylee, Sunny, Truly, Journey, and Rocky.
“They’re all very unique, but they’re spelled exactly how you would think they would be,” Aubree told People.
So, when Aubree Jones posted a TikTok introducing her latest addition to the family, she expected congratulations.
“New baby name reveal!!! We’re so excited to welcome this sweet little baby into our home,” Aubree wrote. “We’re all smitten and so in love. It’s been truly magical having her. Here’s to our family’s happily ever after!”
The big reveal? Disney Mae Jones, introduced with Mickey Mouse ears and the iconic Disney jingle playing in the background.
The internet immediately weighed in.
“Wait, can Disney sue for this?” one user asked.
Another warned, “Wait… y’all do remember you are naming adults, right?”
And a third chimed in: “I think every child given such a ridiculous name should sue their parents for all the emotional damage and embarrassment they will inevitably endure.”
Some commenters even suggested Aubree and her husband Josh were better off adopting pets than having children.
For Disney Mae, the parents wanted a name with meaning.
“Disney movies probably raised us almost as much as our parents did,” said Josh.
“But the main thing, though, when we were looking at it as a name was what it represents and the person — Walt Disney — what he created and how he impacted our lives and the world.”
Some praise the creativity: “Disney is a beautiful name! As a pediatrician nurse, this is not the first time I have seen a child named Disney. It’s such a unique name,” one commenter said. Another wrote: “Congrats!!! What a beautiful little baby! Love her name! God bless her.”
Aubree acknowledges the controversy: “I’m surprised by how upset people are by what I named my child. You’ve never met me in your life. I show up in your phone a couple times a week, but the name of my child really aggravates you.”
Still, the couple stands by their choice.
“It wasn’t until we posted the video and it got negative when I was like, ‘Oh no, this is absolutely her name,’” Josh says. “It was that day: I was like, ‘It fits perfectly.’ So, anyone who said anything negative about her name, thank you so much.”
Aubree adds, “Most of the time, the negative comments don’t affect me because I don’t believe them. I don’t believe our children’s names are weird. I don’t believe they’ll be bullied. And so it doesn’t bother me.”
Josh sums it up: “The name that she has right now is perfect for her. It matches her energy. It matches her sweetness. She looks like a Disney.”
Whether you love it or hate it, one thing is certain: the debate over Disney Mae isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. What do you think of this name?
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