Changing babies name at 4 months

[Undercooked]

We have a Matilda Dorothea

Her older siblings all wanted her to be Dorothea but we weren't brave enough. However they all just went on calling her Dora even after we registered her as Matilda. Now we all call her Dora or even Dot/Dotty/Dodo. I often say Tilda but nobody else does. Should we just change her name or is it too late?

[Burgatroyd]

Change it! I did! Really easy until baby is a year-old. Both names will appear on New cert

[Floggingmolly]

If everybody's using the other name, it's not too late . Or you could just leave her name as Matilda, but have her "known as" Dora?
We did this with ds1; I wanted to call him after my late Dad, but didn't actually like the name, so he's always been called by his second name.
In mature reflection though, I probably should have done it the other way round...

[mydogeatsnutstoo]

Lots of people are known by their middle name, just keep calling her that don't think there is any real need to change it.

[MumsKnitter]

I would change it. In fact I did change my DS3's name at exactly 4 months. I'd been talked out of the name I really wanted, and then found I hadn't really been using his registered name, but calling him 'the baby' or 'Muffin' instead. It was really easy, and cheap, and he now has a new birth certificate with his new name and I'm really pleased I bothered to change it.

[SabineUndine]

You can change a baby's name any time before she's a year old. I know someone who did this with about a week to spare.

[FusionChefGeoff]

If it's easy to change, I would swap it. My mum is known by her middle name and it can be a pain with official stuff always needing to use a different name.

[Undercooked]

Thanks all. I know it's easy to change but I'm just worried that we chose Matilda for good reasons (it's lovely, versatile, not too out there). I'm concerned she will resent the more unusual Dorothea when older and won't feel she fits with her siblings who have very classic names. But on the other hand lithe middle name has stuck so why not say it's her name?

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Tell her older siblings to call her by her actual name?

[Burgatroyd]

You are over thinking this! Everyone must dislike their name at some point! I prefer Dorothea.

[mummytime]

My SIL has been known by her middle name for almost all her life. I don't think it has caused her any problems.
It used to be the normal thing in some "posh" families.

[SanityClause]

One of my sisters has always been known by her middle name.

Another one, we often call a diminutive of her middle name, although she does go by her first name, usually.

There's no need to change her name. If she prefers Matilda as she gets older, then she can change.

Or, you can call her Tilly, and her siblings can call her Dora, and that will work fine, as well.

[onemoremummy]

She can choose to be called Thea when she's older, I think it's lovely.

There are so many Matilda's out there nowadays, I would change it!

[Pipsweet1]

Both beautiful names!

[PattyPenguin]

It used to be pretty traditional in all classes for children to be given as a first name the name of a family member and then as a second name the one the parents (or often, the mother) really wanted, and to be known by family, friends and teachers by the second name. This was certainly the case with my parents, their siblings and many of their friends (first half of the 20th century).

It's still far from unknown. I've had several colleagues who go by their middle names. They reckon it's a good way of weeding out cold callers - anyone who asks for Jane Smith when the person is known as Angela (say) has the phone put down on them!

And there have been several pupils in my children's classes whose full names were recorded in school with a note about being known by their second name.

That covers at least three generations! So keep both names but called your daughter Dorothea or Dora or Thea, and just tell any schools she goes to that she's known by her middle name.

[FarrowandBallAche]

Prefer Tilda to Dora.
Personally I'd keep Matilda.

[DerelictMyBalls]

Keep the name Matilda if you really love it. It's fine for her to have a family 'pet' name.