‘I named my child after a Disney character – everyone needs to leave Molly-Mae alone’
Tashana Gray, 27, ‘absolutely loves’ Molly-Mae’s choice, Bambi, for her first child with Tommy Fury
A mother who named her daughter after a Disney princess has backed Molly-Mae Hague’s choice of baby name - and says critics should “stay hush”.
Tashana Gray named her child Tiana, the name of the princess in the The Princess and the Frog.
The 27-year-old says she “absolutely loves” Molly-Mae’s choice, Bambi, for her first child with Tommy Fury, after the reality star couple drew criticism over the name online.
But Ms Gray, from Newbury, Berkshire, said: “I think if people have negative things to say about it they should stay hush.
“Especially because after having a baby your hormones are all over the place and you should be careful about what you say.
“At the end of the day, it’s up to them what to name their child.”
The mother-of-one, who used to work in dementia care, picked Tiana after watching the Princess and the Frog.
The film was released in 2009 and tells the story of a hardworking waitress in 1920s New Orleans.
Ms Gray says she picked the name because she and her daughter, now 10 months old, are both mixed race.
And Tiana, as Disney’s first Black princess, was a great fit.
Ms Gray said: “Because my dad is African-American I always loved the Princess and the Frog because she was the first black Disney princess.
“It’s a part of my culture and I really loved that and so did Tiana’s dad, who’s also half Jamaican.
“So our whole family is mixed race and we love the fact that Tiana was the first black princess. It’s a nice idea and there’s a story and reason behind.
“I also love the way it’s spelt and that it’s kind of similar to my name.
“Tiana is such a funny little character already, she’s such a lovely smiley little girl.
“She absolutely loves the film, whenever I put it on she’s glued to the screen. She loves all things Disney but especially Princess and the Frog.
“She’s definitely growing into the name - she has the same big brown eyes that Tiana has and her the same kind, joyful character.”
Ms Gray says she thinks more people should name their children after Disney characters.
She said: “I absolutely love Molly Mae’s baby name. I think it’s so unique and I haven’t heard of any other baby named Bambi.
“Everyone that’s heard Tiana’s name has loved it. All our family are big fans because they like how the film and her character means something to our family.
“Surprisingly, people know where the name’s from straight away.
“As soon as I tell them her name at play groups people immediately say ‘oh, from Princess and the Frog?’
“I’ve never come across someone who says they don’t like Tiana’s name, but I feel for Molly-Mae when I see people leaving nasty comments about her daughter’s name.
“I think it’s nice there’s a reason she’s got that name - she’s like our own little Disney Princess.”
Molly-Mae and Tommy’s baby girl was born on January 23.
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