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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby Name Regret: can I change my baby's name?

37 replies

aliceandkids77 · 13/03/2019 09:50

Hi ladies,
I'm suffering from baby name regret and I don't know what to do! My baby girl no2 was born at the end of February, so she is only a few weeks old but already both me and my husband regret the name we chose for her.
Her name is Betty. I actually do like the name Betty but we rushed into naming her without thinking about it properly and now it just does not suit by girl. I actually get quite embarrassed introducing her to people it's that bad! I don't call her Betty at all because I can't stand to imagine having to call her that for the rest of my life!
my DH said he wants to change her name and honestly so do I. He says she's not too old and when she will get too old we won't be able to change her name.
We would be changing her name to Iris. I think it's a gorgeous name and much prefer it to Betty. We actually decided to call her Iris yesterday around the house to test it out and it suits her perfectly, I also like how it goes with our eldest's name, Poppy. (isn't Poppy and Iris so cute?)
It's just that my baby's name seems weird to me and I don't know whether I should go for it! Has anybody changed their baby's name or known somebody who changed their baby's name? Do you think I should? Or should I learn to live with Betty?
Please help!

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YouBumder · 16/03/2019 01:45

Yes yes yes! I love Iris. I have boys but I loved Iris for a girl. My favourite flower and my favourite painting rather than part of an eye to me :)

Sophronia · 16/03/2019 00:24

Iris Elizabeth is lovely

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 15/03/2019 18:37

That’s lovely OP. Do you feel better?

SavoyCabbage · 15/03/2019 18:36

Ahhh, lovely Iris Elizabeth. It’s beautiful.

Refilona · 15/03/2019 18:34

Yay! It’s beautiful.

Wedgiecar58 · 15/03/2019 15:38

change it, she's only had it for a couple of weeks!

Original poster
aliceandkids77 · 15/03/2019 10:46

thank you for your replies everyone! we adored the suggestion of Iris Elizabeth and so now she is now an Iris Elizabeth! x

OP posts:
foxtiger · 14/03/2019 21:07

I don't dislike Betty, but I like Iris better and I agree it goes very well with Poppy. Now would be a good time to make the change as your DD herself will not remember a thing, and other people haven't had too long to get accustomed to one name.

FiddleFaddleDingDong · 13/03/2019 22:44

Aww, I remember Betty being born, and you were red hot on her name.

Grin I remember the thread too!

FiddleFaddleDingDong · 13/03/2019 22:43

Go for it. She's so new that people will hardly remember her brief Betty phase!

NataliaOsipova · 13/03/2019 22:41

I would change her name to Iris Elizabeth or Elizabeth Iris so it would still make sense if someone called her Betty iyswim

Agree. Iris Elizabeth is lovely and you still “have” the Betty if anyone still remembers it.

missmouse101 · 13/03/2019 22:36

Of course you can change her name, but I don't get the Iris love. It's part of an eye.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 13/03/2019 22:28

Agree to changing it. I don’t like Betty fwiw. Iris is nicer and goes well with Poppy.

PurpleCrowbar · 13/03/2019 21:00

Yep, that makes sense - iris Elizabeth. Which is lovely, & if anyone in the family clings to Betty for a bit, you can avoid being annoyed by them because it's an early nickname that makes sense with Elizabeth?

Refilona · 13/03/2019 20:49

I would change her name to Iris Elizabeth or Elizabeth Iris so it would still make sense if someone called her Betty iyswim

Minglemangle · 13/03/2019 20:46

I think that Iris is nicer although there is nothing wrong with Betty (apart from sweaty Betty etc). As your DH is on board old change it now.

honeyman · 13/03/2019 20:26

Why not call her Beth ?

SeeYouLaterUserData · 13/03/2019 20:24

I think Betty is much nicer certainly than Iris! But only thing that matters is what you like, OP. So definitely change whilst you can if it's important to you!

BertrandRussell · 13/03/2019 20:22

Absolutely change it. But if you don’t want to be too radical, you could change it to Elizabeth and pick another short form?
But I would go with Iris.

Antonin · 13/03/2019 20:20

Iris is much nicer. Go for it

AndItStillSaidFourOfTwo · 13/03/2019 20:16

Iris is lovely, much nicer (and suiting all ages) than Betty.

WooWoo1000 · 13/03/2019 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JimJamJarmusch · 13/03/2019 19:07

There are threads on here almost weekly about people regretting their initial name choice and wondering if it's okay to change it. It doesn't seem to be all that unusual. I guess the fact it's so easy to do within the first year suggests a lot of people find themselves in your situation. Definitely go for it - that's always the advice on these threads! Smile

Original poster
aliceandkids77 · 13/03/2019 16:07

@Awwlookatmybabyspider I think I convinced myself into thinking that Betty was 'the name', probably because when I was pregnant with my first I thought of Poppy and never looked back! Thank you for the feedback, I guess my little girl is a gorgeous Iris now! x

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 13/03/2019 10:58

Aww, I remember Betty being born, and you were red hot on her name.
Of course you can change it at this point. The earlier the better.
Iris is gorgeous.

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