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Baby names

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Original poster

Would you let a 6 year old change their name?

44 replies

Bricks4 · 27/10/2016 19:28

My son is called Matthew. I liked the name, thought that it was 'normal' and wouldn't cause any problems... no...

For some bizarre reason, his teacher called him 'Maths' once... As it's Math-hugh (I suppose) we call him Matt at times and his friends used to call him that. Ever since this Maths thing, people take the piss and call him English, Science, PE, etc.

It's really getting to him and I know that it's the teasing that should stop, but DS has just become to hate his name...

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BikeRunSki · 27/10/2016 20:08

Even if he changed his name the "Maths" incident will still have happened and the nicknames will still be there. Bizarre abbreviation of Matthew though. The school needs to address the bullying.

Matthew is a dab name by the way..

Original poster
Bricks4 · 27/10/2016 20:04

Zen, so you think I'm talking about 20 years ago? The these days it was just silly, it's obvious that it depends on school as at DC's school, they interchange

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Purplebluebird · 27/10/2016 19:57

No way! Stop the bullying instead. There is no way I'd let my child change his name at 6 years old.

zen1 · 27/10/2016 19:55

My DC at primary school wouldn't have heard the terms 'maths', 'English' etc. It's all numeracy, literacy these days.

PlumsGalore · 27/10/2016 19:51

Seriously? This is normal childish behaviour typical of that age group. DS friendship group started calling each other the female version of their names at this age, so think Jackie for Jack, Chrissy for Christopher . DS's female name stuck for ten years!!! He still gets called it occasionally by one of his friend's mums!

TwentyCups · 27/10/2016 19:41

I think I would let a 6 year old change their name (maybe not legally but let them choose what to be known as) but I'm not sure I would for this reason. As Crazy Cat said, they would continue with this name calling regardless IMO - the name is not the problem - the bullying is and this is what needs to be dealt with.

Pancakeflipper · 27/10/2016 19:40

Changing his name will not stop it. And any name you pick has some opportunity to take to piss out of it.

Get the teachers to keep an eye on this.

And encourage your son to laugh about it back - then the power of the nasty is defused and it's boring teasing someone who ain't arsed.

Believeitornot · 27/10/2016 19:40

My 7 year old wouldn't call names like that. And anyway you can't change his name every time he gets teased!

I got teased because of my name. But name changing didn't occur to me. That would imply that my name was the problem.

Wolfiefan · 27/10/2016 19:38

Hippy! Mine would probably be Princess Sparkly Kitty Kitten Unicorn. Bit of a mouthful!

princesshaley · 27/10/2016 19:37

has the teasing been reported to the school? if the teacher is made aware of the situation, they might be able to put a stop to it, as the children are still quite young.

definitely don't change his name over it though - being called Maths isn't a serious problem that he'll likely run into later in life.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 27/10/2016 19:37

I have a 6 year old and they would not be paying attention to what a teacher was saying to another kid and to hear the distinction between 'Maths' and 'Matts' in a busy classroom they would have to be listening very carefully. I am sorry they are being nasty but why hasn't the teacher stamped down on it already?

HappyHeart87 · 27/10/2016 19:37

I'd say really no don't change his name. Without even going into why that's a really awful idea (imo), it obviously wouldn't stop bullying if the name calling has already morphed into words that have no relation to 'Matthew'.

hippydippybaloney · 27/10/2016 19:36

No of course not. I can't see myself shouting 'spongebob! Across the playground'

CrazyCatLaydee123 · 27/10/2016 19:35

Even if he changed his name, they'd still do it.

Wolfiefan · 27/10/2016 19:35

People? Kids at school? It's bullying. Get that to stop. Don't change his name. Let him decide if he wants to be Matt or Matthew or whatever.

Original poster
Bricks4 · 27/10/2016 19:33

ineed, how many 6-7 year olds are you around? Some can be seriously nasty.

Lucy, yes, it's said in a nasty way, his teacher was the one who told me.

OP posts:
LucyFuckingPevensie · 27/10/2016 19:32

Nope, I wouldn't either. How bad is the teasing ? Is it done in a nasty way ?

ineedamoreadultieradult · 27/10/2016 19:32

Who takes the piss? I can't believe a class of 6 year olds actually even heard 'Maths' being said let alone made the link to naming him after other subjects?

PoldarksBreeches · 27/10/2016 19:30

No. it will blow over.