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I'm glad your getting some support. I suppose it's difficult to know whether the unhappiness with the name is linked to PND (names are a common thing that people with PND can fixate on) or whether it would be upsetting you anyway. Perhaps try just using his middle name on a daily basis for a while and see how you feel?

How did it go with the GP? Did you get some support?

What name would you like to change it to?

For what it's worth, I think Axl is kinda cool

OP my DS was 6 .5 weeks early, I was in shock for quite a while and a good 6 months to get to grips with what had happened so I know somewhat how you feel. Name wise, we had 2 names we loved, one was the one we ended up using and the other one was Axl. I love it and do sometimes look at DS and wonder if he should've been an Axl. You do whatever makes you happy OP, I think you have excellent taste xx

I really like the name Axl but would prefer the spelling Axel as it looks softer. I would do what you want and not what anyone else wants, he's your son. If you want to change it, that's your decision xx

What are you changing his name to? If you feel you want to say it!
Will you use his existing name as a middle name?
As for telling people, just send out an email explaining that you've had a change of heart and will re introduce your son as .....new name!
Hope you are ok following your gp appt

I love the name. Hope you are OK.

Get him some t shirts made off eBay.
My new name is.........

Hope you feel better soon OP, you did the right thing going to the doctor.

Do you have another name in mind? I think you should definitely change it if you're unhappy.

PS my son was born 6 weeks early by C section too so I understand how stressful it is. I'm pretty sure I had PTSD for several months and even now I find it hard to talk about the events that led to his early arrival (he's now a year old).

Hope you feel better soon OP whatever you decide

Great stuff OP. If you want to change it, absolutely change it x

It's really only up to your dh and you which name to give your ds! I also don't think you should change his name if you're not feeling 100% well.

It also shouldn't matter whether we (random internet users) like the name, although I do.

Hope you feel better soon.

Do you like Alexander? You then have a choice of gorgeous classic shortened forms and your partner could still refer to him as Axl as a pet name

Ok, I can see why you would want to change it. Not because there is anything wrong with it - it's quite cool! - but because it's an unusual, 'out-there' name. The kind of name that one can absolutely fall in love with (especially given pregnancy hormones!!) and then change one's mind about- particularly when you probably get 'oooh that's unusual!!' or 'you what?' when you introduce your DS!

So I think your change of heart is absolutely understandable. Just to say again: it's a good name!! But yes, look into changing it. Absolutely normal and more people do this than you realise. Hunt for threads on here - there are quite a few - and show them to your DH.

One idea- how about changing the spelling to Axel? That's a solid Scandinavian name, lovely and unusual but most people will have heard of it. Plenty of historic Axels.

What other name did you like? Does DS already have a middle name, if so how do you feel about that? How about changing the spelling of his first name to Axel (I'm liking that more and more as I type it) and adding the other name you like as a middle name?

Change it. I quite like it, but if it's not the right name for you and your son then personally I think you will continue to regret it and it gets much harder as he gets older. You can keep Axl as a middle name for the sake of appearances if you're worried about that. Just tell people you sopped them around. Saying your son's name out loud should make you proud and happy. No one's opinion matters but yours and your husbands.

I like the name, but if you are really unsure then changing is possible and something you should consider.

It does sound as if you need a chat with your doctor though, childbirth can be traumatic enough, without all of the added stress of an early arrival.

Does he have a middle name that you like?

Changing a child's name is not cruel though... I know someone who calls his daughter by her middle name (the only one who does) and she doesn't mind at all (she is an adult now).

Another vote for not cruel & sounds like there's more to it. Is the name unusual & wacky? You can change it up. To. A year for a reason. Have you another name that you love that you feel suits?

Either way you will probably learn to live with it at best or if you change it, everyone will be in the habit of the new name within a couple of months.

It does sound like you should talk to gp if you're obsessing about it. Hope things get better for you

It's not cruel, echo the post above x

There is no problem changing him name, he is only little so in no way is it cruel. Get to the GP for some advice with depression but please try not to feel bad about changing your baby's name, it isn't an unusual thing to do, it's fine! Go with your gut. Hope you feel better soon.