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Baby names

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Original poster

Anybody got a daughter called Alexa

112 replies

Chriss82 · 27/01/2019 18:36

I know I asked this before Christmas but we are getting more pressure about this. Our daughter is called Alexa before the amazon thing came our and we were thinking about changing her name for obvious reasons but we stayed firm with it as it is. However we have come under pressure from other parents and friends to consider changing it, which if we had to it would be Alexandra as its close to what it is now. We have even been called cruel for not doing it! We have had one parent apologise for the way her son might speak to our daughter as he is very rude to Alexa at home....Has this world gone mad?? Our daughter will be 3 in a few weeks and this is causing us so much worry at home as the next years are crucial to her finding her identity.

Has anyone with a daughter called Alexa really finding it so much of an issue? So sorry to ask again but if we have to act it will have to be soon, thanks again.

OP posts:
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hoppybee · 03/02/2019 21:26

I don't know why you have bothered posting on here - you clearly have already made up your mind that you must change it.

Many people grow up with names associated to other things - animals, celebrities, toys, and it's up to us as parents to make sure our children don't laugh at those people for it.

I think it is a real shame as Alexa is a lovey name that she knows to be hers.

Jorgezaunders · 03/02/2019 21:25

Could you casually introduce a nickname instead of changing it? Like Lexie. Tbh if she is bothered by it she will choose a NN herself when older anyway.

chocolatecake08 · 03/02/2019 21:21

I think whats more cruel is changing a 3 year olds name than the way people speak to an electronic device..

You seem to be the only person with the issue with the name, its almost as if you have some strange hatred for the electronic device not her name..

WoahMumma · 03/02/2019 21:13

Btw Amazon Alexa was first released in November 2014

WoahMumma · 03/02/2019 21:12

It's incredibly cruel to change a 3 year olds name because of a bit of technology, whoever is telling you to do so is an idiot.

As an Alexa myself I like the amazon echo, at least I don't have to spell my name for everyone now!

WomanWithAltitude · 03/02/2019 21:10

And I don't know what circles you move in, but hardly anyone I know has an Alexa. It is really not the norm to walk into people's houses and hear them shouting Alexa.

WomanWithAltitude · 03/02/2019 21:08

Your new tv 'wants you' to use Alexa?

I bought a new TV this year, there is no obligation to set up any functions that you don't want!

Original poster
Chriss82 · 03/02/2019 21:05

@Cbeebiesrehab I appreciate brutally honest opinions because 3 years ago when we were selecting our DD's name, Alexa was seen as her name, nothing more or less, we could say her name with no comments or association. 3 years on, our new tv says wants us to use Alexa to control it, a little holiday cottage we regularly go to in Devon now what's us to shout her name to control the heating on our next visit, friends of ours are looking at new car which apparently has Alexa fitted in there as their electronic friend, not to mention all the people we know shouting Alexa at the little devices. So yes it does feel that Alexa is taking over the world based upon what we are seeing in our little world. Hearing so many children in her dance class and nursery (her generation) and their parents comfortably accepting this technology and telling us why would you want your daughter with this association and us getting fed up defending her name. Our comeback is 'you can't protect kids from everything in the world and they will be bullied for something' but the amount of people for months now telling us is making us think are we wrong to stand by our name choice. Yes the bullying is one concern but not our many worry it's the manner in which you command this Alexa and the way you engage with it that we don't like and as said had parents apologise to us if their kid speaks the same to our daughter. It feels like this world has gone crazy and common sense has disappeared. This is not like Henry hoover, Thomas the tank engine and every other name associated thing, you don't command them and say the name every time you want it to do something for you.

Look where this has come from in a matter of years and if only we had a crystal ball to see where this will be in a matter of years but we only want to do what's best for our little girl, just like every other parent.

OP posts:
drspouse · 03/02/2019 20:40

No, but we have friends with an Elsa who is just older than Frozen. When she and our DS were about 2 or 3 everyone thought they had chosen the name from the film (and I think there was a bit of eye rolling), but now they are both 7, it's waning.
It will pass! The next thing will be called something else and Alexa will remain a lovely name.

GreenTulips · 03/02/2019 20:37

I know a 7 year old Alexa - lovely child and no issues with bullying

Some parents allow their kids to bully are bullies themselves

daisypond · 03/02/2019 20:24

I think Alexa is a lovely name. I do know one - a teenager now - and she's had no problems. Is the Alexa device really that prevalent that primary school kids know about it? I've never come across it in real life, just on telly.

GreenTulips · 03/02/2019 20:08

I know a 7 year old Alexa - lovely child and no issues with bullying

Some parents allow their kids to bully are bullies themselves

Cbeebiesrehab · 03/02/2019 19:56

I said the word ‘name’ a lot there...

Cbeebiesrehab · 03/02/2019 19:55

Charlie why is it cruel? It’s the little girls name! Because a random piece of technology has the same name? It’s not like she’s called some made up, ‘younik’ monstrosity. Also, if a kid wants to make fun of you for your name, they will-regardless of your name! (Smelly Kelly, Scabby Abbie, Willy-Bum etc etc etc)

twattymctwatterson · 03/02/2019 19:54

You do realise that in a few years time the technology will be defunct and we won't have them anymore? I can't believe you're actually allowing people to pressure you into changing the name of a 3 year old

Charlieiscool · 03/02/2019 19:45

I think you should change it. She will be teased and she will hate it. You can change it to Alex so it sounds very similar to what she is used to but don’t send her to nursery and school with such a target on her. It would be cruel.

WomanWithAltitude · 03/02/2019 19:39

Also, kids have been being teased by other kids about their names for ever. It doesn't even have to be a funny name, kids will find a joke in anything.

Cbeebiesrehab · 03/02/2019 18:52

Honesty not honestly.

Cbeebiesrehab · 03/02/2019 18:48

So if there was another little Alexa in the dance class that the teacher was shouting commands at would that mess with your daughters identity too?
OP I mean this in the nicest possible way, but I think the person with the issue about the name is possibly you. Mumsnet is known for its brutal honestly and every single reply has basically said it’s fine and leave your daughters name as it is. You seem to believe Alexa is going to take over the world but in reality it will be superseded by some other technology soon enough. I know a girl called Isis. Now that is a tricky name-and her parents believed at her age it would be wrong to change it. Alexa will be fine. I think you need to let it go.

TheWanderlust · 03/02/2019 16:04

@chocolatecake08 unfortunately not as we have a long surname so it sounds funny with so many syllables 🙈 who knew naming a baby could be so difficult 🤦🏼‍♀️

chocolatecake08 · 03/02/2019 16:02

@TheWanderlust

I know a girl called Alexia who gets called alexa/lexi for short would that work for you? X

Original poster
Chriss82 · 03/02/2019 15:32

@Alongwaytogo thank you for your reply, so that goes to prove that that Alexa's parents want her known by another name and has done exactly what we are being told would be fair on our Alexa. I really believe it's a generational thing.

OP posts:
Alongwaytogo · 03/02/2019 14:31

Alexa is a lovely name. However i know a 6 year old alexa who has recently been having trouble as the other kids find it funny to shout order's at her. The teachers have tried to rein it in but it's still on going. She now goes by Ali. Kids can be so cruel.

missmouse101 · 03/02/2019 14:27

OP, it's a lovely name but time to stop the agonising now. I would change it ASAP as you clearly are so worried about it.

Smoggle · 03/02/2019 14:21

Alexa is a beautiful name, I would call her Ally or Lexie for short if it's becoming an issue.

If anyone tells you to change her name because they have an Alexa, tell them to change it to Echo!

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