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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

Help, I think I chose the wrong name!

93 replies

MissusBea · 07/02/2016 14:20

DD is ten months old now and I have never felt quite settled about her name. DH admits that it niggles him too. When I say her name to people over the age of 50 (and some younger) I sometimes get a reaction or slightly negative comments even. I am thinking about getting it changed - is it too late?

We called her Martha, but I am afraid that its not pretty and maybe even a little frumpy (servants name?). She's a beautiful, bright little thing. Thinking of adding the name Eleanor to the birth certificate as that seems so much more elegant and beautiful (means 'shining light', name of several Queens etc)

Honest thoughts / opinions pls! Am I overthinking this? Is it too late?

OP posts:

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Goingtobeawesome · 07/02/2016 14:21

Change it. You both feel the same.

dannydyerismydad · 07/02/2016 14:22

I love Martha. Really pretty.

Eleanor is a nice name, but there are a lot of them around.

confusedandemployed · 07/02/2016 14:23

I love both names but you don't - so change it.

Wait4nothing · 07/02/2016 14:23

I think Martha is a lovely name - strong and feminine. Does she have a middle name currently?

PooDogMillionaire · 07/02/2016 14:25

'Mother' was voted the most beautiful word in the English language by several different nations. Martha is very similar so it has to be pretty darn beautiful!

Seeyounearertime · 07/02/2016 14:25

I love Martha too.
Reminds me of the wonderful Martha Plimpton.

But if you want to change it, then change it.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 07/02/2016 14:28

I love Eleanor.

Martha... I don't hate it. I'd change it if you don't love it, though, especially as you both feel the same.

MissusBea · 07/02/2016 14:29

Her middle name is Anne. If we changed it we would add Eleanor to the start. My two year old son knows her name and says it perfectly so it does feel a bit late. It's helpful to hear that it doesn't sound 'frumpy' to you !

OP posts:

Murphyslaw21 · 07/02/2016 14:29

I really like it.

What2 · 07/02/2016 14:34

I think it's a cute name but I really don't think it's too late to change it. Especially if you are just adding a name. It's surprisingly easy to get used to a new name. I'd change it.

Choosing names is really tricky.

Eleanor is lovely.

itsbetterthanabox · 07/02/2016 14:35

I think Martha is a lovely name.
Is there a nickname you could use you like?

Toomanycats99 · 07/02/2016 14:36

maybe 5 years ago it would have been considered frumpy but now it's just one of many of the older names coming back into fashion. I know a couple and I would say I prefer to Eleanor. I see it as really girly.

Meeep · 07/02/2016 14:36

Martha is beautiful.

LadyLuck81 · 07/02/2016 14:36

I love Martha, it was on our shortlist, but if you don't then change it.

Seeyounearertime · 07/02/2016 14:37

We agonised for weeks about our DDs name. even after we'd registered etc.
turns out noone uses her name any way.

i call her Boo, GF calls her BaBa, her brothers call her ferret.

IguanaTail · 07/02/2016 14:38

Change it. You will soon adapt.

ImperialBlether · 07/02/2016 14:38

Could you call her Mattie instead, if Martha seems a bit adult for her?

What2 · 07/02/2016 14:38

Btw I forgot to say that if some relatives find it tricky to remember her new name it really doesn't matter if she ends up with a few people calling her Martha - I've had two first names my whole life and although it's occasionally caused a little confusion it's not been a problem. My Dad has always called me by my middle name and I'm known to some groups of people by my middle name and others by my first name.

My DC are also known by the their English relatives by one name and their overseas relatives by the 'foreign' closest version on their names despite the fact my DC don't speak their language. Again, it's never been an issue.

fastdaytears · 07/02/2016 14:39

It.'a a beautiful name and I know two lovely little Marthas. One is 12 one is 9.

What do you call her for short?

ConesOfDunshire · 07/02/2016 14:43

I have a Martha and have had nothing but positive comments about her name.

Is it possible that you are projecting?

Provencalroseparadox · 07/02/2016 14:46

I adore Martha

MissusBea · 07/02/2016 14:48

No nicknames yet itsbetter - though I had a friend who was called Martha and went by 'matttie'. Cones yes I might be projecting - though the negative comments i heard have really stuck. Thank you all for your thoughts, I want to decide this week as we don't have long to change the birth certificate. Eleanor is much more popular and I can't decide if that's a bad thing or a good thing.

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Finallyonboard · 07/02/2016 14:52

I love the name Martha.

workshyfop · 07/02/2016 14:59

Martha is lovely, reminds me of the Tom Waits song. Is it just other people's comments making you unsure?

Marshy · 07/02/2016 15:07

If there's a time limit, why don't you add in Eleanor on the birth certificate and then you can decide what you call her day-to-day.

I like both names though probably favour Eleanor even though it's popular. Not keen on Mattie as a nn

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