Polish Parents Rarely Choose Name Io and Face Pushback on Gender‑Neutral Names

Io is one of the shortest and rarest personal names in Poland. According to the PESEL registry only three individuals bear the name, making it virtually unknown in schools and workplaces. The name traces back to Greek mythology, where Io was a priestess of Hera transformed into a white heifer by Zeus.

In a separate but related discussion, a pregnant woman shared on Reddit that she had chosen the gender‑neutral name Bennett for her unborn child. Her parents reacted negatively, calling the name “awful,” which brought her to tears. The post sparked online support and advice for parents dealing with similar naming disputes.