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Baby names

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Original poster

Alexa

82 replies

Chriss82 · 12/12/2018 09:34

Hi, our 2.5 year old toddler is called Alexa, before the amazon device was around. However we are increasingly worried about the impact for her now as the name has now been highjacked and we are considering changing it to Alexandra. Are we being paranoid?

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Original poster
Chriss82 · 17/12/2018 14:05

@Catnapqueen i find ever time these bloody adverts show they are taking more and more of my daughters identity as the name Alexa is now know as a product. I am annoyed with myself for giving her a unique name but I realise this is a stupid thing. I can't protect her forever I realise this, this is why I'm thinking of taking action.

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Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 23:22

@Catnapqueen thanks for your comments. It's nice to hear that there hasn't been any bullying our hassle with your daughter, maybe though it's just at the age of 5 their to young to realise the connection yet. We definitely didn't call our daughter after that bloody thing but we were only aware of it only when our little girl as turning 1 and even then we didn't really understand what it was.

It's interesting to hear that there is two in her class as we liked the fact the name was not so common, however for your daughter that makes for safety in numbers.

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Catnapqueen · 16/12/2018 23:01

My daughter is called Alexa and she's 5. She's also one of two in her class at school. I was a bit annoyed at first that Amazon had decided to use the same name but I wouldn't change it now and I would choose it again as I love it.
AFAIK she hasn't experienced any bullying by other children at school and she loves her name. When I introduce her to new people I will sometimes say "her name is Alexa, named before the Amazon thing" before anyone can comment.
I haven't come across problems with setting the Amazon devices off but I couldn't care less if I did, I assume they can be switched off? I'm certainly not going to stop using my daughters name in conversation for fear of setting someone's device off. Don't let some big faceless corporation take away your daughter's identity. It's a part of who she is, the same way my daughter's name is a part of who she is and she couldn't be any other name now.

Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 22:17

@JugheadismyHero well I'm pleased you still it has a positive vibe. I can just see anyone called Alexa gets bossed about and will have the mickey taken out of them.

Having done a lot of research on Amazon's plans I think this Alexa technology will be around for many a year. Also you are well established with your name my little girl has got to get through the school years yet.

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JugheadismyHero · 16/12/2018 21:59

I don't personally think they have ruined it, I love my name!

When asked my name I'd do get "oh like the amazon Alexa?" And "it's a beautiful name". Last week I met someone new and they just said "wow!"

I really think the Alexa will become old news soon, but if not the new younger generation will at least know how to spell it - mine never did.

Also in America Alexa.com has been a search engine for years

I would keep the name, when she's older she may want to shorten it or lengthen it or she may just embrace it.

No one calls me Alexa, it's always shortened to lex, and I hate it.

Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 21:43

@JugheadismyHero hi Alexa!

How do you feel about hearing your name every two seconds!

It's such a shame they have ruined a beautiful name, what do you think of our dilemma?

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JugheadismyHero · 16/12/2018 21:30

My name is Alexa and I own an Alexa, as do my parents. They now don't say my full name in the house 😂

When I was at school no one could spell the name, or say it but it's becoming more common and I am no longer having to spell it out for people (thanks amazon!)

My husband loves our Amazon Alexa, because he can say "Alexa shut up" and she does 😂

My name has been shortened to Lex since I was a teenager, absolutely hate Alex. Lexi is also an option and that's quite common now

Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 21:24

@GrannyHaddock thanks for your comments but I was thinking of taking action before she went to school. I still feel crazy for even considering changing my toddlers name. It's so bizarre

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Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 21:20

@pallisers I think if we went with Alexandra then we are giving her the full name that she can do what ever she wanted with it when she is older

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GrannyHaddock · 16/12/2018 21:08

You know, you could change your daughter's name, but she could still be teased for some other reason, appearance, hair colour, anything. I would wait until she is socialising a lot with other children, see how it goes, alert school staff, and only change name as a last resort.

Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 20:35

@CoperCabana thank you. This is a huge decision to take, some many day I overthink things but I just want to do the right thing, as any parent would. I know what you mean about your daughters, I think anyone if honest would find humour in it.

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pallisers · 16/12/2018 19:58

it seemed to me half the girls in my dd's hockey team (age 17) were called some variation of Alexa, Alex, Alexandra. Bit confusing when cheering for them. It is a lovely name and none of them have any issue with Alexa.

There are lots of nicknames too - Alex, Alicky, Allie. Personally I'd stick with Alexa - the technology may well be replaced with something called Tom or Sue or whatever in the next few years.

Bugs the shit out of me that the helpful persona you give orders to in your home has a female name though.

CoperCabana · 16/12/2018 19:57

@Chriss82 I really feel for you but you sound very pragmatic about it. Who knows what it will be like in 10 years? But for now, I know my two daughters, who are not in any way mean, would find it funny as we have a few Alexas. They wouldn’t say anything but unfortunately other children might. Not an easy decision for you. Hmm

Snapsnapsnap · 16/12/2018 19:57

Speed of change isn't the issue though, she'd have to put up with it for her childhood, which is when it counts tbh. OP I really feel for you but think you're doing the right thing

Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 19:50

@ICJump I am surprised where this technology has come from and also (call me old fashioned) I can't see why we would want this regardless of its name. Do we sit it out and hope it disappears then? Personally I think her generation will grow up only thinking Alexa is a device not a person hence my concerns for action now

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ICJump · 16/12/2018 19:42

Honestly look at the speed of change with technology. In ten years time we won’t have an Alexa. It will be something else.

Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 19:34

@CoperCabana thank you. I'm of the same opinion as you. The name is not mainstream enough so she is definitely in the minority and therefore a easy target. I do believe the amazon Alexa will grow, they can afford to make it work! It breaks my heart to even consider changing my daughters name but I think it's best in the long run especially as she is young enough. I just get annoyed that when doing our research of the name we didn't come across the amazon device

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CoperCabana · 16/12/2018 19:28

I know lots of people with Alexas, and given they sold out of all the cheaper models during Black Friday, there will be many more getting them this Christmas. Of course we would all like to believe that people won’t make fun of her and ask her to do stuff, I am sorry but I think they will. Through no fault of my own or my parents, I was picked on for being different. If I or they could have changed that, we would have. I didn’t believe I would ever say this, but I would seriously consider either changing her name or changing her alias.

MrsFoxPlus4 · 16/12/2018 19:22

People aren’t going to talk to your daughter like an electronic device because they have the same name Hmm

Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 19:03

@MrsFoxPlus4 it is an issue to us as parents, we know lots of people with this device and I'm sure after Christmas there will be many more! My wife can't even mention over daughters name at her hairdressers as they have one there. My mum (Alexa's granny) couldn't talk about her granddaughter at her brothers house as it went off. If we can't even talk about our daughter in places how is she going to feel. Please the way you talk to the Alexa device is such a commanding way my I don't what that for my daughter

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MrsFoxPlus4 · 16/12/2018 18:22

Is it really that much of a massive issue? I don’t even know anyone who owns an Alexa lol. It’s a beautiful name no need to change it

Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 18:20

@WitWicky thanks for your comments. Interesting to see you with a name very similar to Alexa, do you not worry that by being so close there will still be confusing later down the line?

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Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 17:36

@itisitis thank you for your comments. I feel sorry for your colleague's Alexa as at the age of 8 your name is well established and approaching secondary school where you just want to fit in but this name will definitely make you different and that means bullying. It's disgusting and irresponsible of a company to use a persons name in this way, if google and all other smart devices use separate names why couldn't amazon, how can they highjack a name for commercial gain?

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Original poster
Chriss82 · 16/12/2018 16:46

@darceybussell thank you for your comments. I know technology comes and goes but I think this will be around for a while, certainly reading what their plans are for it and by the investment they have made to it. I think whilst she is still young enough for change (do you remember what happened at the age of 2.5?) she might thank us further in life. We were thinking of Alexandra as this is only extending her name and she can see still be called Alexa as a nickname. So this should be less confusing for her.

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darceybussell · 16/12/2018 09:02

It's annoying, and some kids might tease her, but please don't change her name, it's a lovely name and she'll be confused if you change it! Kids will tease each other whatever name you choose for them and the technology may well be gone in a few years.

I know an older Alexa, I think she's a bit bemused and irritated by the amazon link, but that's all it is - a minor irritation.

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