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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

DS is 2 1/2 and I want to change his name, I hate his current one.

96 replies

PurplePuffin · 12/02/2016 00:00

DS is 2 1/2, rather old to be thinking of changing his name. However, we have had some negative comments on it and at first, I thought, hey ho, but now, too many people dislike it and as much as we liked it at first, we both hate it now, but DS does know his name, just wondering if it's a terrible idea? Thanks.

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3boys3dogshelp · 12/02/2016 00:06

I think it's a terrible idea, sorry. At 2 1/2 he is old enough to know his name, but not old enough for you to discuss it with him. Can you abbreviate it to something you prefer?

Becciilouisex3 · 12/02/2016 00:06

Just out of interest what is your DS' name and how do you want to change it?
Longer/ shorter, more modern or traditional?

It might be a little confusing for him as he's sort of at the age where he's learned to respond to his original name and it could be hard to condition him to respond to a new name.

And if you liked it lots at first you should forget what other people say! At the end of the day he's your beautiful DS whatever his name!

PurplePuffin · 12/02/2016 00:07

The problem with shortening it, means it is 'even worse' in a lot of people's eyes

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PurplePuffin · 12/02/2016 00:08

His name is...

Kyle

Not sure, I just know that I don't like it now :( people say it's chavvy and at the time, I never looked into baby names, I just chose one we liked from the TV!

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Xmasbaby11 · 12/02/2016 00:11

Oh I'm sorry. It's not an awful name and I wonder if a few negative comments have made you anxious?

Does he have a middle name? My parents decided they didn't like my first name and changed to my middle name. I was younger than 2 though.

Fangs4themammaries · 12/02/2016 00:12

Find a name that is similar. Kilian? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Kilian

PurplePuffin · 12/02/2016 00:13

Yes, his middle name is Alexander, but that was my dad's name, so I would feel a bit weird!

We liked it as it isn't used much, but people have said it's because it's horrible!

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Becciilouisex3 · 12/02/2016 00:13

See now I don't see anything wrong with Kyle at all! And there are lots of women calling their baby boy Kai now, it's pretty popular!

Honestly, your son won't care what his name is and it's not a massively unique name so em he's highly likely to find people with the same name. Be thankful he's not stuck with something so unusual that people always pull him up!

I wouldn't worry about it, it's just people being petty and snide. You'd think people grow out of it but sadly some never do!

gooseberryroolz · 12/02/2016 00:14

Could he go by Alex or Xander?

SanityClause · 12/02/2016 00:14

I think it's fine. But I probably would choose different names, if I was having my DC now, so I get that your taste in names might change.

Does he have a middle name, or a nickname you could use?

PurplePuffin · 12/02/2016 00:15

The only NN is Kai! People say it's worse?

Alexander is his MN, but my dad went by Alex, so I suppose he could go by Xander, but I think that may become confusing at doctors/school, etc.

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SanityClause · 12/02/2016 00:16

Oh, x posted.

Yes, how about Xander, or Sandy or something that your father isn't known as?

SanityClause · 12/02/2016 00:17

X posted again!

My DSis has always been known by her middle name. There's never been any issue, at all.

TealLove · 12/02/2016 00:19

Change it if you hate it. Honestly you can't go through his life disliking his name so intensely. It's no big deal just change it.

gooseberryroolz · 12/02/2016 00:19

If it's really upsetting you switch the name order by deed to Alexander Kyle and call him (verbally) Kyle-Xander or Kyle-Alexander for a while before dropping the 'Kyle' part.

Easy enough to supply copies of the deed to GP surgery, Nursery etc and explain that you've had a change of heart about name order. But if you must do it, do it now before he is any older.

PurplePuffin · 12/02/2016 00:19

I suppose I could, I just feel like he will be Kyle...

Is Kieran similar/nicer?

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PurplePuffin · 12/02/2016 00:20

That's a great idea goose!!! He will have my dad's name then tho

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lunar1 · 12/02/2016 00:22

His name is absolutely fine, and he's too old to change it.

gooseberryroolz · 12/02/2016 00:23

My DS1 has DF's name (a version of actually) so I'm probably definitely biased by I like it, DF was delighted, DS likes it, I think, and it doesn't cause problems.

Shemozzle · 12/02/2016 00:24

I don't think it's too confusing to change it, I mean my 2 and a half year old goes by her nickname mostly, her full name, her own version of her full name and several silly nicknames we all call her. I'm sure your son has lots of silly nicknames too? So introducing a new one wouldn't throw him. I like the idea of Xander or Sandy, you could a few times a day introduce 'Kyle Xander' and mix them up a bit gradually using it more and eventually dropping the Kyle. Just as nicknames grow like that.

Having said that, I don't think Kyle is an awful name, and I think people that have criticised it to you are just horribly rude. I don't like my nearly 9 year olds name anymore, I was young when I had her, it's not popular but I think it sounds a bit too american chav. But I can't change her name now, I don't think 2 is too late though if you've really had a change of heart and it's not just other people. You need to think long and hard, would you still like it if you hadn't received negative comments? There aren't any names that everyone likes so it's your opinion that matters not anyone elses.

cellnev · 12/02/2016 00:25

I think Kyle is fine but if you really must change it how about Karl ??

Shemozzle · 12/02/2016 00:25

Totally didn't see the post from Goose and now feel a bit silly just repeating!

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Shemozzle · 12/02/2016 00:28

Another option is changing it to something similar sounding. Lyle is one possibility i've heard recently.

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 12/02/2016 00:30

Meh, I think I'd change it. He's 2 and a half - he'll adjust easily and won't remember.

I don't think Kyle is an awful name, but I wouldn't choose it. Funnily enough, years ago I had a friend with a DS Kyle, and she also stopped liking it. She had been talked out of her preferred name by her mother - so it was never a name she absolutely loved, but one she settled on iyswim.

PurplePuffin · 12/02/2016 00:32

My favourite name is Evan, but it's just too different to Kyle! I think we'll leave it... He gets Kai most of the time!

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