If hearing your new baby's name said out loud makes you wince...

When my DS was first born the name that we had chosen seemed far too formal and long for such a tiny thing. I was also too anxious that everyone would like it and was looking for signs that we had made the wrong decision (god knows why- I blame the hormones!) It took a while to get used to it and there was a short period of time that saying it out load or addressing him by that name felt really unnatural. I used to try and match him up with other names to see if they would fit but to be honest everything seemed odd. I think it's only now nearly a year on that he has grown into the name and it really suits him. I often reflect on why I found it so strange at the start, I've come to the conclusion that it's probably because choosing a name is such a big responsibility. When we meet other people or their babies, the name is already given and you accept it and that person is that name IFKWIM. When it's yourself choosing a name for a little human being without really knowing them it feels very odd and forced until they grow into it. That's what it was like for me anyway!

If you like it, stick with it, your feelings may change. However if you are completely certain that they won't, do something about it- people will soon accept the new name and forget that your baby was called anything else!

It took me three months to actually call DS by his name rather than the nickname we'd given the bump, or silly names I made up... Even introducing him by his name (uncommon but not too far out) felt really weird! I think it's because I was never really in love with the name we chose, plus he felt more like a baby than a person, IYKWIM? But a nearly 6 months it feels like his name really suits him and it's much more natural

Agree with the other about it taking time for some people my dd is 8 months now and I still call her by her nn sometimes as her name seems a bit too formal for a little baby but I love her name and wouldn't change it as there's nothing else I would want it to be. If you really aren't sure though do it while the baby is little- but I would try what another poster said up thread and say both names it could be that while the baby is so young any 'proper' name seems strange.

^^ what bundaberg said.

We chose a top 100 name but at the far end and it's a bit of a grandad/marmite name. For the first few months I would feel odd about telling people his name because of the marmite reactions - from 'wow that's so cool' to 'is that a family name?' 'Why did you choose that?' 'will you shorten it?' To 'that's different....'.

But I love it and always have and it definitely grown into him. It was our only choice. He couldn't be anything else! As he's got older that initial fear of telling people his name has completely gone.

i'm not sure I would describe it as a wince but I did used to feel very odd (and not in a good way) whenever I had to tell people what DS1 was called.
We'd chosen an unusual name that we both loved, but I think it was a combination of being kind of young and shy and not very confident and the fact that I knew people would then ask about the name and I suppose I was maybe worried that people would think it sounded silly? I don't know really.

definitely agree with petshopgirl that after a few months the name very much grew on him and we absolutely adore it now!

I've got 3 boys now and I think I've prob had wibbles over each of their names tbh. It's a massive deal giving someone a name! I felt a lot of doubt each time over whether it was the "right" name for them. Big issues with DS3 too but that was more with not being able to choose a name and then being unsure that the one we finally agreed on was the right one.

So... in a nutshell, if you LIKE the name then I would stick with it :)

Were you thinking of two names, can you use the 2nd on a daily basis? .

Fwiw I knew someone who went with one name, amidst much rejoicing off I went to buy a cute toy with the name on. When I turned up with it she went quiet and said they'd actually changed the name to something very different. How very dare they after I'd gone to all that trouble

My DS's name is extremely unusual and I felt the same way for a bit. He is nearly two now and I love it. It is a name from DH's heritage so it's my turn next time!

Goodness no, there are worse things my friends do

Is there a name you both like and can agree on?

Surely you need DH to be on board with the new name?

My sister spent most of her pregnancy calling her baby by the chosen name and even announced that name when he was born, but two days later changed it something totally different that she had mentioned liking, just once, briefly at the start of her pregnancy. Everyone just sort of shrugged and went 'yeah okay.'

How old is your newborn? It's not that unusual for people to change their baby's name. I've definitely known this to happen. But what is the name? Why do you wince?

I wouldn't think you were ridiculous - your baby, your choice. But upthefrigginduff is right, this is a one shot game!

My DD is 5,and I still regret not changing her name when she was a baby.

I wouldn't think you were mad at all,but you do need to be very sure...

What petshopgirl said. My DD has quite an unusual name (it's a classic name, but not used often). It also has the traditional spelling which is also uncommon. It's taken me 10 months to be sure it was right, but now she is definitely her name. Nothing else would suit. BUT I always knew at the back of my mind it was right, it was just hard to get used to calling her anything other than baby! If you really don't think it's right, you should consider changing it.

DD1 had her name from my 20 week scan, then I heard my x mil say it out loud. It made me CRINGE. So it got changed

My Ds2s name did not suit him as a baby it is a mans name really not a babies name but now he is 3 I cant imagine him being called anything else.

If it helps I also feel a bit strange giving a little bundle of squishy baby a proper persons name and always wince a bit at first with mine but get used to it!

Agree with petshopgirl.

It might take some getting used to especially if you didn't chose it until th baby was born.

I wouldn't have thought it should make you wince, though.

Don't you like the name any more? What is it?

Didn't you know what it sounded like?

Change it now.

I don't know what the right decision for you is, but it took me a long time to get used to hearing/saying DS's name out loud. To be honest it's only really now, at 10 months, that it's starting to properly bed in and I'm really glad we chose it. I think it helps that he's developing his own distinct personality to attribute the name to, if you see what I mean.

I never seriously considered changing his name, but for a long time I felt quite uncomfortable with it and would worry we'd chosen the wrong one. However, my test was to occasionally think of him as being called one of the other names on our shortlist - say it out loud/imagine other people saying it out loud - and that didn't sound right either. My conclusion was that it was probably more to do with the fact I couldn't get my head round having a baby full stop. We had a long and rocky path to having him and for a long time thought it would never happen, and I think for me it felt a bit weird to suddenly be mentioning him casually in conversation like a 'normal' mum. Obviously those are slightly unusual circumstances though.