Haley Hodge’s daughter will be named after a late stranger buried in a North Carolina graveyard.
After her search for a baby name sparked some criticism online, Haley Hodge has finally chosen a name for her little one on the way. And yes, it’s one she found in a cemetery.
In May, Hodge went viral for her family’s unique name-hunting method. One of her TikToks, filmed while she explored a cemetery, reached 2.7 million viewers, sparking a mix of reactions. Some were unsettled by the idea of borrowing a name from the deceased, while others applauded her creative approach.
Hodge and her husband, Rivers, discovered their future child’s name on a headstone. Last week, the soon-to-be mom of four shared on TikTok that her daughter will be named Salem. The name caught the couple’s attention because it means “peaceful, safe” and “complete.”
“As far as the name choice went, my favorite has been Salem since I saw it in the graveyard. My husband’s favorite was Sailer, another name we found there,” Hodge says.
She adds, “However, we did a tie-breaker by having our family vote on their preferred name.”
The name Salem stood out to them during a visit to the Old Smithville Burying Ground in Southport, North Carolina. The name was inspired by a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of World War II, according to his headstone.
Writing over mixed footage of herself in the graveyard and on the beach, Hodge noted a “family water connection” with her daughter’s name being related to the Salem River, which flows into the Delaware River.
“Everyone in my direct family has some type of water-themed name. We have a Rivers, Rains, Brooks, and Banks already,” Hodge says. “Though it’s a bit of a stretch, I found a tie between Salem and water.”
In her video, she shared details about the man named Salem, who died in 1992: “Our lives missed overlapping by about 8 months. He was married but didn’t have any children of his own,” she mentioned, adding, “But hopefully, he will be okay being an honorary grandpa to our baby girl.”
The TikTok ended with a shot of the late Salem’s headstone, adorned with flowers. Hodge wrote, “Thank you, Salem, for inspiring us to bring new life to your name.”
Moreover, they received some celebrity advice they couldn’t ignore. Hodge’s viral fame attracted a Hollywood star who offered naming advice during a Skype call, soon to be aired on the star’s talk show.
“She chose Salem and I thought, ‘How cool, this baby will have an incredible story behind her name,’” says Hodge. “Not only did we find it uniquely, but one of my favorite celebrities helped choose it too! What a fun fact my baby will have in her future!”
Per her TikTok’s caption, the family hasn’t yet settled on a middle name for their daughter. Hodge wants Salem followed by something distinctly water-related, like “Harbor.”
When Hodge first posted videos from her cemetery search on TikTok, some social media users expressed discomfort. She defended her decision, explaining that she never felt uneasy in burial sites.
“I just saw it as visiting a place where people’s grandparents, best friends, and loved ones rest. I don’t see it as a place of evil,” she said. “These are people who lived lives, hopefully good lives, and were good people.”
Some comments pointed to superstitions discouraging pregnant women from visiting cemeteries. Hodge anticipated some backlash, acknowledging cultural variations in views about death. However, she wasn’t bothered by the proximity to the deceased.
“If there are souls out there, I don’t think they’re confined to cemeteries,” she said. “We have babies above morgues in hospitals, so we’re surrounded by it.”
With her first three kids — 10-year-old daughter Finley and sons Banks, 1, and Crew, 3 — Hodge looked for names from more conventional sources, like television. This time, she wanted an interesting story for her daughter.
Hodge also mentioned she documented the cemetery adventure to share with her future daughter.
“I wasn’t even going to post the videos,” she explains, though she eventually decided to share her naming process. “I thought it was cool to share … I knew it would spark attention because it’s different.”
