When Danielle Remp, a mother living in Tennessee, gave birth to her daughter in 2008, she wanted to name her Skye. The child’s father, however, insisted on another name: Dixie. That decision stayed with her daughter for years, until it became something she could no longer carry.
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As she grew older, especially after entering high school, the name began attracting sexualized jokes, crude nicknames, and uncomfortable historical associations tied to the American South and the Civil War. What once felt neutral slowly turned into a daily source of humiliation.
So the teenager made a choice: she wanted to reclaim her identity and change her name to Skye—the name her mother had wanted from the start.
Her mother didn’t hesitate.
Key Takeaways
- Danielle Remp’s daughter was born in Tennessee in 2008
- Her given name, Dixie, became a source of bullying and distress
- Classmates used sexualized nicknames tied to her name
- The teen chose the name Skye for herself
- Remp publicly supported the decision on TikTok
- The video received over 800,000 views
- The story sparked debate about identity, history, and personal choice
As a high school junior, Dixie explained how her name had been weaponized by classmates.
“They call me things like ‘Dixie Dust’ or ‘Dixie Normous,’” she said. “They’ll say it in the hallway.”
The bullying wasn’t abstract, it was constant, public, and personal. Combined with the historical weight of the name, it eventually pushed her to choose a new one for herself.
Danielle Remp shared the decision in a TikTok video that quickly went viral.
“She gets made fun of for it,” Remp wrote. “I said yes, no questions asked.”
That simple sentence ignited a massive conversation online.
Karen V. Kinsman wrote:
“That’s sad. I’m from Eastern Massachusetts, and I have always liked the name Dixie… I was bullied from first grade to eighth grade for having red hair and freckles, and it’s soul crushing. Glad her Mom stands behind the name change.”
Ashley Sandhill argued the explanation wasn’t even necessary:
“The ‘she gets bullied’ is superfluous! It’s ‘my daughter is old enough to make the decision to change her name, so she did!’”
Caroline Zelonka questioned whether changing the name would stop bullying:
“Bullies can come up with tons of nicknames that go with Skye… Just a few off the top of my head.”
Paige Hill Oliverio shared her own experience with a name change:
“A person at some point needs to be allowed to walk around with a name that fits them. I hope this allows her to heal over time.”
Ruby Irene Pratka offered one of the most powerful reflections:
“A name is not supposed to teach a child resilience… It’s supposed to be something that makes them feel proud and comfortable in their own skin.”
Zac Chowdhury took a broader stance:
“Every child should be permitted to change their name pre-high school!”
Mandy Casey Orsini added simple support:
“Proud of the mother for sticking up for her child.”
Others focused on historical interpretation.
Nay Diane said:
“Dixie is a territory… I get annoyed when people say that it’s offensive.”
Angela Ginnis cautioned:
“They will find something to say about her new name… Especially when they know she gets upset over it.”
And Jennifer Dyster, writing as a non-American, reflected:
“Dixie is not a very grown-up or dignified name… whatever she wants to be called.”
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This story isn’t just about a name. It’s about listening, believing children when they say something hurts, and understanding that identity should never be a punishment someone is forced to carry.
If stories about empathy, self-determination, and parents choosing compassion resonate with you, Simply Wholesome shares more moments like this, stories that remind us what support actually looks like.
Read more stories that restore faith in humanity at Simply Wholesome.
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