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Baby names

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

Original poster

My baby doesn't suit her name

34 replies

ChristmasCarrot · 22/05/2019 20:34

I don't dislike her name, but it just doesn't suit her. I chose it a week before she was born, as I was struggling to come up with something for her and decided it should 'go with' my elder girl's name.

I know it's really silly, but it's got to the point where it feels weird to even use it and end up changing the ending (from 'a' to 'ie'). I like her name, but when I look at her, I sort of wish I'd chosen something else. Sad

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zvjezdica · 06/08/2019 14:31

@user1493494961 I don't, my stepmother does and that's one of the things that puts me off the name! I'm not keen on that NN at all. Thanks for the suggestion though x

Jojo0286 · 06/08/2019 13:39

Sorry * it isn’t the most obvious one

Jojo0286 · 06/08/2019 13:38

I changed our baby name in the first 6 months we registered her the long name ‘ proper’ name , and always called her the shorter version ( although it is the most obvious one and the proper name lends itself to quite a few shorten/nicknames. To be it didn’t feel like my daughter had the ‘right’ name and I would prefer her name to be the known as one, so my husband and I agreed to change it officially. You really do have to do what feels right in your heart for yourself and your family. I know a lot of people didn’t see the need for us to change it but for us we did. I also felt pressure my my mother to registered the long name so now I feel content with her name :) sending you lots of love. I know how this consumes your thoughts xx

Vanillelle · 06/08/2019 07:03

I know someone who changed their baby's name when she was a year old. Everyone got used to it quickly and said baby is now 9 years old and absolutely fine. If you don't love it for her, change it!

user1493494961 · 05/08/2019 20:10

zyjezdica - Do you shorten it to Tilly?

zvjezdica · 05/08/2019 18:31

I'd say change it.
I wasn't keen on my daughter's name but her dad was living overseas and I desperately wanted him to be involved in naming her and this was the only name he agreed to. When he agreed I immediately realised I didn't want to call her that, but we'd already been arguing for months, she was 4 days old and I was under immense pressure from my family so I just went with it. She's now almost 6 and truth be told I still don't like it. It's very unusual so I won't type it out, but it's a type of cream and a type of lace as well as being a place in France. There's a song called (Name) Lace. Hopefully you've figured it out by now. She gets tons of compliments on her name, but I just can't fall in love with it. I wish I'd gone with something else or changed it, so my advice is if you're uncomfortable with it, change it while you have the chance.

Sabato · 28/05/2019 06:48

I know someone who changed their baby’s name after a year so if you really don’t like it you aren’t stuck with it! People will get used to the change.

Bol87 · 27/05/2019 22:12

My daughter is Annabelle. It doesn’t suit her one bit. It’s such a pretty, girly name & my daughter is a cheeky, outgoing, plays in the mud kind of a kid! She’s therefore known & introduced to everyone as Annie. It suits her so much more! As she gets older, I’m sure she’ll change & grow into it plus she can choose what she’d like to go by. She happily answers to both names now, no apparent confusion!

Can you do anything similar with your little ones name?!

MollyHuaCha · 25/05/2019 17:09

If it's something like Anastasia and you call her Annie, I would just leave her real name as it is, but introduce her to people as Annie.

Wishing you well whatever you decide.

Original poster
ChristmasCarrot · 25/05/2019 15:59

Thank you all for your advice Smile

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newtlover · 24/05/2019 21:10

I knew someone who changed her baby's name quite drastically (eg from say Jenny to Amanda) at about 6 months. I don't think you could leave it much longer, tbh, babies start to recognise their names.
She will have her name for the rest of her life, you need to be happy with it. Other people will get used to it.

Astronica · 24/05/2019 09:30

I think you should change it. Other people will get used to the change - you just need to make the decision. It will involve some costs and paperwork, but sounds as if it's worth it for you.

Chocmallows · 23/05/2019 22:35

Change to the original choice if you think it suits her better. Your family will be ok if you make a clear decision now whilst she is still very young.

Original poster
ChristmasCarrot · 23/05/2019 22:24

antonin I would like to change it to the original name choice, but maybe that would be too much of aforementioned Greek theme. Her middle names are family names, the first of which is probably a little bit too old-fashioned. I like it, but probably won't fit a child born at the end of 2018.

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Original poster
ChristmasCarrot · 23/05/2019 22:21

Yes, think of a much more exotic Eva, being called Evie.

crunchy yes, but I feel totally ridiculous. I've spoken to my family, they said that her name has grown on them and that they think it's nice. It's not that I'm scared of being judged by anyone else, I'm hugely judging myself.

potato my elder daughter has quite a 'strong' name, but it's never been too harsh on her and can't really be changed into a nickname anyway. Before she was born, I thought it sounded a bit like what a middle-class teacher, who's a bit of a free-spirit would be called. But it fits her well.

Maybe it's just that I rushed into decision about her name, simply because I didn't want to continue a Greek theme (my elder daughter's name is from Greek mythology) or something too old-fashioned. My baby's name is Sanskrit and more common within the Indian community.

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Antonin · 23/05/2019 22:20

Do you have any idea about what she DOES look like?

Crunchymum · 23/05/2019 21:30

Have you changed your mind about the name completely?

Cbeebiesrehab · 23/05/2019 16:22

Is it something like Eva and you’re calling her Evie? So something that could tangibly be a diminutive? If so just call her the ie version and put it on school forms etc.
If it is really bothering you however, and you have an alternative in mind, then change it!
I agree names can feel a bit ‘big’ on babies though.

PotatoCity · 23/05/2019 16:10

Honestly if you like her name and are happy using it with the ‘ie’ instead of ‘a’, so effectively just using a nickname, then personally I’d stick with it. I really don’t think many babies suit their names as such, they are often a bit too ‘big’ for them, but they grow into them! It depends how much it’s stressing you out though I guess.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 22/05/2019 22:01

With her being under one. I'm sure you can get a fresh BC. If you ate unsure and you do feel changing her name is something you want to consider. Its better to do it sooner rather than later. In a few months or even weeks she'll know her name

Original poster
ChristmasCarrot · 22/05/2019 21:33

bumble Alice goes with Elizabeth quite well. I decided a week before she was born, it wasn't even on the list before then, I just wanted a name sorted.

OP posts:
BumbleBeeWineGlass · 22/05/2019 20:57

My DD has a name that both DH and I decided in the delivery room, it was one of two that we could agree on.

For the first 6 months I kept accidentally calling her a third name, no idea why it kept just coming out my mouth. As an example, we both liked Alice and Amelia, her name is Alice but I was calling her EIizabeth?! I have now (she's 4) gotten used to her original name and it seems to suit her, but for that time I was so worried that we'd got it wrong.

Original poster
ChristmasCarrot · 22/05/2019 20:56

At the moment, I basically change the ending from 'a' to 'ie' (her name is very uncommon, so I can't state it on here). But I think that's purely down to the fact I feel uncomfortable with it, in the first place. I actually quite like it, but when I look at her, it isn't right.

My elder daughter has a reasonably big language delay, so she doesn't talk at all.

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Original poster
ChristmasCarrot · 22/05/2019 20:53

It's not what other people think of the name, I just don't want to act irrationally.

She already has a passport, will I have to pay for a new one? Or will it be amended?

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Chocmallows · 22/05/2019 20:51

My DD suggested her younger brother's name and her dad (exH) jumped on it as liked it too. It was a name I'd never liked, but they loved. He was born, named and straight away I used the shortened version (think Will not William). Roll on years and everyone uses Will and I love it.

Can you shorten her name, adapt it or do similar with a middle name? Do it, stick to it, everyone else will follow.

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