India, March 20 -- For decades, a couple in China, Jiangsu province, hoped to welcome a son into their family. Instead, they had nine daughters-each of whom carries a name reflecting their parents' long-standing desire for a male child, reported the South China Morning Post.

The father, an 81-year-old man surnamed Ji, gave all his daughters names ending with "di," meaning "brother" in Chinese. The eldest, now around 60, was named Zhaodi, meaning "soliciting a brother." The second and third daughters, Pandi and Wangdi, translate to "looking forward to a brother." Their younger sisters followed with names like Xiangdi ("thinking of a brother"), Laidi ("brother coming"), Yingdi ("welcome a brother"), and Niandi ("missing a brother"). Perhap...