Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

I don't love my baby's name

40 replies

Scraggyspanner · 05/05/2016 20:46

I spent my pregnancy expecting I was having a boy for no real reason, we didn't find out. We had an amazing boy's name ready and waiting but had really struggled to strongly consider a girl's name.
Then, my baby girl arrived.
In the adrenalin filled hours post birth I said to my husband 'what shall we call her' and he said 'Hattie' (a name that had been briefly thrown around in our very minimal girls names discussion. And I agreed.
But I don't love it. I think I struggle that it's not a 'proper' name, that people will always assume she is Harriet, which she isn't.
I'm not sure I could deal with the embarrassment (and confusion of my 2 year old) of changing it and nor do I really know what I would change it to.

I'm not sure what I'm asking really, has anyone realised they don't love their chosen name? Did you come to terms with it/change it?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ClubTropicanaDrinks · 05/05/2016 20:57

What would you change it to, though? Do you have another name in mind?

FutureGadgetsLab · 05/05/2016 20:56

Ah okay OP. If you don't have another name in mind, I'd leave it. Hattie is perfectly fine on its own.

spad · 05/05/2016 20:55

Yes, Hattie is a lovely name. But if you are worried you could change her birth certificate? Why not ask her when she's older?

123rd · 05/05/2016 20:55

Oh, I have re read I'm not sure now Confused

FutureGadgetsLab · 05/05/2016 20:55

I thought Hattie was the toddler?!

Original poster
Scraggyspanner · 05/05/2016 20:55

Ah sorry I realise it wasn't very clear. She's 4 months and my son is the 2 year old.

I guess my issue with Harriet is that I wouldn't choose it as a name, I don't love the nickname Harry and by just changing it on her birth certificate she would then be registered in official capacities, passport, school, driving license etc in a name that potentially she might never use...

Argh, so confused!

OP posts:
julfin · 05/05/2016 20:54

Just to clarify: when you refer to your 2 year old, do you mean an older sibling of the baby? (ie two years haven't passed before you've decided to reconsider the baby's name?)

123rd · 05/05/2016 20:54

I think Hattie is a newborn and they have a 2 yo....

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 05/05/2016 20:54

Change it to Harriet.

Then she can be Hattie, Harri, Ettie, Etta

Or whoever she wants to be.

ClubTropicanaDrinks · 05/05/2016 20:53

I don't think it's worth changing it unless you have a name you DO love.

FWIW I think Hattie is a lovely name.

FutureGadgetsLab · 05/05/2016 20:53

Hattie is a lovely name. As someone else said why not just change her full name to Harriet?

CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 05/05/2016 20:53

Oh wait... Is Hattie the two year old or are you talking about a brand new baby and the two year old is her sibling?

julfin · 05/05/2016 20:52

How old is she now?
Do you have another name in mind?

I don't think you should feel bad about changing her name. (And, not that it's anyone else's business other than yours and DH's, but if anyone does ask why, I'm sure they'll understand if you tell them that you simply changed your minds / it didn't suit her.)

I do think it's best to change it sooner rather than later though, not least for the sake of your other DC.

CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 05/05/2016 20:51

I've not been in your situation but why not just change her birth certificate to Harriet? You don't need to tell anyone now but when she gets older it would give her the option to use the full version or to stick with Hattie as a nickname.

At two she will know her name so I agree you can't change it to something completely different.

123rd · 05/05/2016 20:49

How old is she? I would change it... A few days of confusion or a life time of you thinking how it doesn't suit her. Congrats by the way!!!