Metta IV: Baby name with Roman numerals divides the internet

A couple has caused a stir on social media by revealing their unusual baby name and birth announcement. 

While the baby was born in 2020, a grab of the Instagram post was shared on Reddit this week and mocked by thousands who said the name, Metta IV, ‘couldn’t possibly be real’.

Pronounced ‘Metaphor’, the moniker upset many with the use of Roman numerals and was dubbed ‘cruel’ and ‘too woke for words’ by parents.

Others loved the name, however, and agreed it was both ‘creative’ and ‘unique’. 

‘She’s here. Born January 7, 2020 in our little home by the sea. Her big sister awoke to watch her emerge from my waters and her big brother awake to meet her early the next morning,’ the mum wrote on Instagram.

‘Our birth journey was sacred. Me and Antoine communicated through sound and telepathy for the whole ride and we were so proud of her when she was finally in our arms.

‘Welcome to Earth little one. Metta IV (pronounced Metaphor).’

‘I find myself actually glad they went so hard against all spelling rules – Metta isn’t as bed as Meta for word-association? At least if this child goes by Metta later in life, it’ll be an odd but not immediately cringe-worthy name?’ One said, defending the name 

‘Nope nope nope nope nope,’ one person wrote, another said: ‘I’ve never laughed at anything this hard off Reddit before.’

‘Emerge from my waters’.. Listen.. I’m pretty new agey and woo-woo, but this makes me wanna vomit,’ a third added. 

Others defended the name. 

‘I find myself actually glad they went so hard against all spelling rules – Metta isn’t as bed as Meta for word-association? At least if this child goes by Metta later in life, it’ll be an odd but not immediately cringe-worthy name?’ One wrote.

‘The little girl can at least go with Metta! She doesn’t have to tell people about the IV. Metta is a little weird but not too much to automatically cringe!’

It’s not the first time a baby has been named using numeric figures, with one mum going viral for her use of ‘KVIIILYN’ (Kaitlyn) and Tesla founder Elon Musk making headlines for his child’s name X Æ A-12 who is referred to as ‘X’.