Going by middle name

Peope are always going to pull faces and make comments on names. No emotional intelligence. Esme Alice is a beautiful name. I wouldnt change it now but wait until shes older and has her own views. I have days when i wished id picked different names for my children.

I love, love, love both Esme and Grace, they are both beautiful and were two of the names we'd have picked if we'd had a girl but we had all boys!

There are a few little girls called Esme where I live (NI) so to me it's not uncommon or unusual.

My name is quite uncommon/unusual and although I'm early 40s I've only ever met one other person (when I was a child) with the same name which to be honest I really like as when people say my name I know it's me they're talking to and not maybe one of the dozens of Sharon/Claire/Sandra's etc that I know.

When our boys were born we tried to give them names that weren't overly popular in our area but some of their names have become very popular in the last few years which is a bit of a pain especially when you went to the school gate and called a name and maybe 7 or 8 boys with the same name came running!

You sound like your self esteem is low. Honestly nobody cares what you call your child and of anyone is judging you then that really is all about them being nasty and not you or your lovely daughter.

That's she's happy and loved is really all that matters.

I want her to share her name with many because then that to me means it's popular

Really? You purposefully want to choose a name that's already used by lots of others (which really defeats its purpose) just to feel validated in your name choice?!

I think you need to deal with your insecurities rather than change your 2 year old's name.

I'm surprised people think Esme is unusual, as PPs have said, it's quite popular at the moment.
Personally, I don't like Alice, can't escape the "lice" but and it makes me feel itchy but I'd never say that to anyone in real life.
Surely the etiquette is to say, "that's lovely!" in response to any baby name?
You must know some rude people!

And I don't think it's an advantage necessarily to know other people with your name. My name is very traditional and quite common in my generation and above. I always wanted something more distinctive!

Honestly, everyone will have a different opinion. Esme is a lovely name. Personally, I'd hate to be called Grace. So, it's not universally acknowledged that one name is beautiful and the other isn't.

At this stage I rather feel that your daughter deserves a say in it. It's her name afterall.

Esme has been pretty solidly in the top 100 for many years. It's 36 this year according to a very quick google. Not too popular that your DD will have to be known as Esme Sirname in class, but common enough that it's not unusual.

I can’t bear the name personally, but it’s quite popular so I’m not sure why it’s causing such issues.

It’s fine to change a name at any age, but it would be convenient to do so before she starts school.

I think Alice goes better with Grace.

I can't imagine why people would dislike her name, it's beautiful and also quite popular! At least around my area.

OP why would you want there to be another Esme in your DD's class?
Also saying a name is the same as your great grandmother's isn't a nasty thing to say at all. Nor is asking which was it is pronounced. Please don't give your DD a complex about her perfectly normal name.

Using a middle name as usename isn't uncommon, especially where names run in families and a child will be called by middle name to avoid confusion.

If you just start calling her Alice people will adapt quickly. However I can't see why people are pulling faces at Esme which is a perfectly normal name.

I've taught Esme's that were Es-may or Es-mee. I think thats just a preference but they always knew who I meant if I muddled it up. They have always been confident, happy girls.
There were over 1000 Esme's born in the UK last year and there has been a steady rise over the last 10 years. Unless she never leaves the area in her lifetime I am sure she will come across others.
As for the being the only one in her class- perfect! From experience of having classes with multiple children with the same name they do anything to be an individual and she will likely be happier being a single Esme than one of 3 Alice's.

@jessica011 I wouldn’t say any of those comments are said to be hurtful/spiteful or that they don’t like the name.

I think people will always comment on an unusual name.

Incidently though because I love Grace I often call her by both or just Grace and she answers to both names . It's as though in the family she has two interchangeable names. So may be Esme Alice could be the same. I never call Alice by her middle name, it's a family name.

Personally I think it’s beautiful. As you feel unhappy perhaps there is a compromise? Is there a nickname you could use for her OP? Perhaps having something special that just you used would help? It might be hard for your 2 year old to adjust now and a shame for your DP. How would you feel about Emmy?

I think you need to address your insecurities, not the name.
Esme is a perfectly normal lovely name.
You need to back yourself and be confident or it will rub off on your daughter.

I think it's too late to change and unfair on your husband. I actually have an Alice and loved Grace for my next daughter but felt they were too similar so gave her Grace as a second name. She has a lovely friendly name a bit like Esme not as classic as Alice but I don't think names of siblings have to match style.

Age 2 is definitely too old. It wouldn't be fair on your dd!