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Baby names

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

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 · 13/12/2018 22:25

Hi 3boysandabump I appreciate that the device might go off when you say your name but atleast you say your name without the social prejudice.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chriss82 · 13/12/2018 22:22

Hi SenoraSurf thanks for replying, I think this is my worry that the social perception is to talk to Alexa like she can be ordered about and not a human being. In your opinion are we wish to consider a name change?

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3boysandabump · 13/12/2018 22:20

I wouldn't change her name. Just a heads up our Alexa responds to people saying my name and I'm an Alexandra

SenoraSurf · 13/12/2018 22:11

I teach an Alexa and the amount of times I've heard other teachers and children say 'Alexa, stop talking' is unreal.

Original poster
Chriss82 · 12/12/2018 20:45

Eloisejane you have read the situation exactly. We loved the name Alexa as it was short but strong and went well with our surname. Also there wasn't many others around with the same name and whilst we liked Alexandra we thought it was a bit long as an everyday name so Alexa was perfect. We did a lot research and at the time nothing came up about amazon.

However now the association with the name Alexa is no longer a girls name but this device which you can order about, who would want that for their own name never mind your daughter. So we think if we're going to do it, it's now or never as it really would be unfair on her.

OP posts:
EloisaJane · 12/12/2018 20:31

I'm assuming the issue isn't so much that the echo goes off everytime Alexa is said (as you can obviously change that) but more that an entire population associate the name Alexa with the amazon echo and therefore will make Alexa jokes etc. Is that right OP?

I can see your issue with it and it actually sounds like you might prefer the name Alexandra, so go for it and change it on the BC. She can still get called Alexa but gives her lots of options in later life. Alexandra is one of the most beautiful and versatile names out there IMO.
Lots of people have longer BC names that are hardly ever used, but they still appreciate the option in later life to reinvent themselves or just change things up a bit.

ARRRGGGGHHHHHHH · 12/12/2018 16:25

I have a son called Maxwell and Alexa goes off when we say his name quite often so to have the same name must be really annoying. Sounds like you're quite keen to change it for other reasons too so just go for it!

tammytoby · 12/12/2018 16:24

Alexandra will also set off Alexa, so that wouldn't really help.

Can't you change the command from Alexa to Echo or another name?

Your poor dd must get confused if you sometimes call her another name.

Alexa is beautiful.

Original poster
Chriss82 · 12/12/2018 16:09

It's so confusing for us but we feel we are having to justify her name all the time at the moment and we both don't like Lexie as a name so were thinking if Alexandra was her formal name and she will of course still called Alexa! As first time parents this was something we never would have thought we would have to ever be considering!

OP posts:
Somewhereovertheroad · 12/12/2018 15:51

Chriss82 I think if you try to call her Alexandra it will automatically get shortened by kids at school.

And the Amazon device wakes up for anything starting with an Alex sound so I am not sure that Alexandra wouldn't trigger it.

If I was you I would introduce a nickname like Lexie now and take control of what her nickname is yourself.

Terribly confusing for the child though.

Original poster
Chriss82 · 12/12/2018 15:42

Thank you all for your replies, our daughter does know her name but have been calling her Alexandra as well saying lots of people have a long and short name. I think for her in later life to be called Alexandra would give her a bit credibility plus she then has the full name to call herself whatever she chooses, Alexandra, Alexa, Alex etc

OP posts:
afrikat · 12/12/2018 15:31

No it's a beautiful name. Our daughters names has a slightly similar sound and Alexa sometimes picks that up instead so you'd probably have the same problem with Alexandra. You can change the alert word to Echo I think so if she is somewhere where it keeps going off, that could be an option

tammytoby · 12/12/2018 15:12

Alexa is beautiful and I wouldn't change it. She must know her name by now?!

EloisaJane · 12/12/2018 15:00

I actually prefer Alexandra to Alexa but I wouldn't change it just because of the device. It's a lovely name and the device will go out of fashion soon enough or be replaced with something else.

Chewbecca · 12/12/2018 13:38

I would be worried too and annoyed as it is a lovely name! I think your suggestion to change to Alexandra is a good one that gives more options.

ZebraKid71 · 12/12/2018 13:34

Ita not fair to change her name at two and a half. I'd just pick a nn from Alexa, Lexie, Allie, Alex...

Alexa won't be around forever.

Birdie6 · 12/12/2018 11:11

Allie ?

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 12/12/2018 11:08

FurryDogMother bought a sonos instead. Much better sound quality.

PositivelyPERF · 12/12/2018 11:07

What about just nick naming her Lexy?

ShadyLady53 · 12/12/2018 10:34

How about Alexis or Alexia? Less of a mouthful than Alexandra. Or does she have a middle name she could go by.

I used to love the names Yasmin and Allegra but one is now a contraceptive pill and the other a hay fever remedy.

Why is it always girls names they do this to?

Although, tbh, kids can mess around with any name. I know an adorable 5 year old Matteo who is constantly referred to as “Potayyytoh”.

bridgetreilly · 12/12/2018 10:28

I wouldn't change her name on the bc, but I might start calling her Lexie or Allie or something else that doesn't trigger the stupid machine, and hopefully by the time she's older, it won't be a big deal.

Amazonstolemyname · 12/12/2018 10:15

I have name changed.

My name is Alexa, my Mum named me after a novel and the pretty actress playng the character in a play adaptation 35 years ago.

I still love my name, I've never met another Alexa. The closest I have come was overhearing a young girl being called it on a day out.

The adverts are annoying and now I have billboards telling me what to do as well. My husband's boss calls gives everybody a nickname and mine is ... Amazon.

I'd stick with the name though, the technology will be replaced, at that point she'll have a really unique name as I doubt many people are using it atm!

FurryDogMother · 12/12/2018 10:14

My name is Alexandra and alex sometimes sets it off. It's very annoying. It's why I sent mine back as my daughter thought it was hilarious!

It might have been easier just to change the wake word to 'Amazon', 'Echo' or 'Computer' - all of which are available :)

foxtiger · 12/12/2018 10:10

i Well there are plenty of Thomas around. None of them are teased due to the Thomas and Friends association.

But when you shout for your son Thomas, a Thomas toy doesn't usually start doing what you said.

I don't think you should change it now, she's old enough to find it confusing, but I can appreciate your annoyance. With a bit of luck, the Alexa device will be out of fashion within a couple of years and it won't be a problem any more.

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 12/12/2018 10:04

My name is Alexandra and alex sometimes sets it off. It's very annoying. It's why I sent mine back as my daughter thought it was hilarious!

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