Girl whose mother named her IKEA after seeing TV advert had to legally change her name to Jasmine to stop bullies from picking on her in school
- Jasmine Dagless, 19, was dubbed ‘flat pack’ by bullies after being named Ikea
- Teenager, who has visited Ikea once, legally changed her name aged 12 in 2014
- The NHS administration assistant said her mother agreed to the name change
An NHS worker whose mother named her Ikea after seeing a TV advert for the Swedish furniture giant had to legally change her name to Jasmine after years of bullying.
Miss Dagless, 19, was relentlessly teased by cruel schoolyard trolls, and was even cruelly dubbed ‘flat pack’.
She changed her name to Jasmine, her middle name, in 2014 – but said her family are still allowed to call her ‘Ikea’, or ‘Kea’ for short. She added that she has furnished her flat with Ikea kit.
Jasmine Dagless, 19, from Norwich, was dubbed ‘flat pack’ by bullies after her mother Linda (both pictured) gave her the name Ikea at birth
The teenager, who has only visited Ikea once, had to put up with years of teasing before legally changing her name when she was aged 12 in 2014
‘I used to get called flat pack quite a lot at primary school. The bullying really shocked me because young children don’t know about Ikea,’ Miss Dagless said.
‘I legally changed my name when I was in secondary school. It’s only legally that I get called Jasmine. My family still call me Ikea, or “Kea” for short.’
The NHS administration assistant said her mother agreed to the name change – despite the family enjoying perks from Ikea after her birth.
Jasmine (pictured with father Bradley) said: ‘I used to get called flat pack quite a lot at primary school. The bullying really shocked me because young children don’t know about Ikea’
She said: ‘When I was younger my mum got a letter from Ikea that basically said we could get furniture and toys free of charge. I got a few toys and my mum got a sofa.’
The teenager has stayed loyal to the store by furnishing her flat with a branded six-drawer commode – and is considering buying a built-in wardrobe from the chain.
Miss Dagless said she is keen to visit her local Ikea on a sentimental trip. She added: ‘I went to Ikea when I was one or two but as an adult I’ve never been – I really want to go.’