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Baby names

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

Is it worth changing DD's name?

39 replies

Redladybug · 28/04/2017 17:14

DD has a middle name which we've ended up calling her on a day to day basis.

She has a lovely first name which is quite long and that we still completely love! But we call her by her middle name.

Is it worth getting her name legally changed so her middle name is her first name on her birth certificate/legal documents? Confused

She hasn't started school yet - would it be possible to put her middle name as her first name on the register etc?

Thanks Flowers

OP posts:
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Bumbumtaloo · 28/04/2017 18:37

It's so common in my family I don't even know who is who anymore Grin. My nan, gramp and all of my aunts and uncles on my mums side weirdly she is the only one who doesn't have a middle name go by their middle names not their given names.

I also have friend who goes by her middle name simply because her middle name didn't sound right as her given name.

OffRoader · 28/04/2017 18:33

I'd leave it!

Also in a worldvdominated by social media it'll be good for her to have a different 'professional' name for work and her everyday 'known as' name for everything else.

Do tell school which name to put on all her books and which you want them to teach her to write. We often have 'know as' children whose parents then say they want all labelling etc. to be in their official name and it all gets confusing. Some even change half way through the year. So 'David' suddenly becomes 'James' Confused

User2468 · 28/04/2017 18:30

It's quite common to be called by a middle name rather than your given first name. I'd leave it as is to be honest.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 28/04/2017 18:25

Leave it.

Loads of people are known by their middle name.

QuietNameChange · 28/04/2017 18:23

I know people that are always called byy their middle names. My mother, for example... I don't think there's anything weird about it.

If her full name is nice? I wouldn't change it.

elpinguino · 28/04/2017 18:00

DH uses his middle name on a day to day basis and it doesn't cause any problems, even at school he was known as his middle name rather than his first name. I also know a surgeon who goes by his middle name at work and for everything professional, it's only confusing in that his full initials are used as a hospital code, but the name doesn't cause any problems at all.

TimeToMoveOnUp · 28/04/2017 17:39

Change it.
At hospital/anything medical she will be called by her first name, disorientation even as an adult.
If she joins the police/law/armed forces she has to use her given first name. We know someone like this and it's difficult depending on the profession you choose, some you just cannot go by the "given" name. The person we know would change it if it wouldn't offend their parents.

PotteringAlong · 28/04/2017 17:36

Leave it. I know lots of people known by their middle name.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 28/04/2017 17:35

Many people are known by their middle name OP, I don't think it's a big deal, but by all means change it.
Personally, I'd leave it, her full name obviously sounds nice.

RTKM007 · 28/04/2017 17:35

I knew a COLIN PAUL who was always called Paul

Didn't even know his first name til I saw his initials and DH told me his first name

Everyone just knew him as Paul SmileSmileSmile

FluffyMcCloud · 28/04/2017 17:34

I know several people who are known by their middle name. It's not that uncommon, I wouldn't bother changing it.

OlennasWimple · 28/04/2017 17:32

Depends really - I know quite a few people who are known by their middle name, mostly fairly posh people who have been given family first names but are known by something else on a day to day basis

thethoughtfox · 28/04/2017 17:27

I would change it. She will face a lifetime of confusion and explaining.

afatalflaw · 28/04/2017 17:23

You have the option to choose a 'known as' name at nursery and school, although this would probably be more usually 'Tom' rather than 'Thomas' for example rather than a totally different name. It could cause confusion or irritation in the future with an explanation needed every time ID is required but I have known people in similar situations. One girl at uni was Mary but bc said Jane her parents just changed their minds and called her a totally different name. It is your DD who will have most of the hassle in the future.

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