I named my little girl after a wild dog - people think I'm barking mad

"I refuse to use a boring name, and her name is better than Olivia, Alfie, or Louis."

A 34-year-old single mum has opened up about her unconventional choice for her two-year-old daughter's name. 

"Yes, I named her after a wild dog," Kerrie says unapologetically to The Sun.

"People think that’s crazy. Some people are shocked, others troll me. I don't care, I love the name."

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"I refuse to use a boring name"

Her daughter is named Riley Coyote - a play on the name of the cartoon character Wile E. Coyote.

Apparently, the mum beamed with pride when she explained her decision to the news outlet. "Riley Coyote is the perfect name for my little girl. It’s original, it’s unusual, and you will never meet another child called the same," she says.

"But many other people [also] think it's brilliant. I refuse to use a boring name, and her name is better than Olivia, Alfie, or Louis."

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The inspiration behind the unique name

The divorced mum, who conceived after a brief relationship, said she had a traumatic pregnancy, developing pre-eclampsia at 31 weeks.

After being in and out of hospital multiple times, Kerrie went into labour at 32 weeks and had an emergency c-section.

Her daughter, weighing just 1.8kgs, then had to be revived and was rushed to intensive care where she was then tube fed for four weeks. 

"She was a fighter and despite multiple complications survived and thrived," Kerrie says. "I knew she needed a unique name."

It was then that she turned to her childhood cartoons for inspiration and settled on the name Riley Coyote, as she's a huge Wile E Coyote fan.

"I know he fails all the time, but despite constantly being beaten by the beeping Road Runner, he always gets up and tries again," says Kerrie.

"[Her name] pays tribute to her spirit."

When Kerrie first announced the name, many of the nurses thought she was joking. 

"I have lost track of the number of people who have told me that her name would see her teased or bullied. Others thought it was bonkers," she said. 

"I tell people when she is older that she can choose what name she uses - Riley or Coyote.

"She's allowed to grow into what suits her best."

Speaking to The Kidspot  team, many of them had thoughts on the name.

"Coyote Ugly is all I can think of," one said, referring to the cult film.

And another added: "Wile e Coyote, Coyote Ugly... it's a bit odd."

"What would her nickname be? Co? Yote? No thank you!" a third queried.

Finally, this team member joked, "I hope the kid doesn’t get an anvil dropped on their head!"

What do you think of the name? Tell us in the poll above.

Originally published as I named my little girl after a wild dog - people think I'm barking mad