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Baby names

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

Name Regret

61 replies

PostpartumPolly · 30/10/2024 12:23

My DS is almost 5 months old and I feel like I have serious name regret. We have two DD’s and with both of their names we chose them in pregnancy and have always loved them. We found it much harder to name DS and had settled on the name Noah in pregnancy, which is a name I’ve always loved but was put off by the sheer popularity of it. We called DS Noah for around 4 months of the pregnancy, and then I had a lot of doubts about the name so we revisited the name lists and considered others. I went into the hospital to give birth with no name set in stone.

When DS was born my DH asked what name I thought he suited. I said Noah I guess, but was still unsure and wanted to trial a few names. One of the names I had brought up when having my wobble about Noah was Milo. I love the name Milo but always had worries about the wearability on an adult. My DH shared that he actually thought DS suited the name Milo more, and we didn’t really trial Noah or any other names - Milo just stuck.

DS does suit the name Milo, but I can’t help but feel regret that we didn’t use Noah. It almost feels like I was pregnant with a different baby because the baby that was in my tummy was Noah (probably sounds really stupid 🤣). I still have the same worries about the wearability of Milo on an adult. Everyone we have introduced him to as Milo have said they absolutely love his name, and when we’ve mentioned that he was nearly Noah they say they prefer Milo, but I feel like they would say they prefer the name we chose either way as it’s polite.

Have any of you experienced similar feelings? I don’t feel like we could change his name, I feel like it would be too confusing for our DD’s (youngest is 3) and I also don’t even think my DH would want to. I know this can be a symptom of PPD, but I have had that before after my first pregnancy and other than these doubts I actually feel so much better in myself so I don’t think it’s that.

OP posts:
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MerryChristmasToYou · 01/11/2024 10:39

@Calliopespa , she did mention PPD. know this can be a symptom of PPD, but I have had that before after my first pregnancy and other than these doubts I actually feel so much better in myself so I don’t think it’s that.

It was Kindly op, ... You are looking for drama in life. that I objected to.

user1492757084 · 01/11/2024 09:51

Regret is a bit too weird for me.

I prefer Regina or Rebecca.

Calliopespa · 30/10/2024 21:51

MerryChristmasToYou · 30/10/2024 17:02

@Calliopespa , name regret is often a symptom of post-partum depression and your comment is offensive.

Sorry it wasn’t meant to be offensive, just a reassurance that it really isn’t one to sweat. She hasn’t mentioned pp depression, and even if she had it, surely the reassurance it’s no biggie is helpful. She and DH both liked the name, the baby suits it, the baby has it. It’s all good.

Firsttimebabymummy · 30/10/2024 21:08

Much prefer Milo!

I had something similar. I knew my little girl (now 5 months) would have the middle name Joy. Took me a while to decide on her first name. I referred to her as Joy whilst pregnant.
Felt so strange calling her Alexandra for ages after she was born! X

DeepRoseFish · 30/10/2024 17:15

I changed my baby’s name and SO glad I did. It’s more common than you think.
Sorry for multiple posts!

DeepRoseFish · 30/10/2024 17:12

Oh and stop asking others opinions. If he’s a Noah to you then that’s all that matters!

DeepRoseFish · 30/10/2024 17:11

You can change it and the time to do it is now.
Any longer and he will start to know his name.
Noah is much nicer than Milo.
I say go for it!

ginasevern · 30/10/2024 17:02

Milo is definitely more original. There will be thousands of Noah's when he's an adult. The first time I heard the name Noah for a baby I thought oh how lovely but now I'm sick of hearing it. I don't see why Milo won't suit an adult. I actually think it's more grown up and sophisticated (if that's the right word) than Noah.

MerryChristmasToYou · 30/10/2024 17:02

@Calliopespa , name regret is often a symptom of post-partum depression and your comment is offensive.

diddl · 30/10/2024 16:45

Snoken · 30/10/2024 16:30

Milo is great! My only association is Milo Ventimiglia (an adult) and don't think it's a particularly childish name.

I was about to say the same re an adult Milo.

Also prefer it to Noah.

Snoken · 30/10/2024 16:30

Milo is great! My only association is Milo Ventimiglia (an adult) and don't think it's a particularly childish name.

Calliopespa · 30/10/2024 16:28

PostpartumPolly · 30/10/2024 12:23

My DS is almost 5 months old and I feel like I have serious name regret. We have two DD’s and with both of their names we chose them in pregnancy and have always loved them. We found it much harder to name DS and had settled on the name Noah in pregnancy, which is a name I’ve always loved but was put off by the sheer popularity of it. We called DS Noah for around 4 months of the pregnancy, and then I had a lot of doubts about the name so we revisited the name lists and considered others. I went into the hospital to give birth with no name set in stone.

When DS was born my DH asked what name I thought he suited. I said Noah I guess, but was still unsure and wanted to trial a few names. One of the names I had brought up when having my wobble about Noah was Milo. I love the name Milo but always had worries about the wearability on an adult. My DH shared that he actually thought DS suited the name Milo more, and we didn’t really trial Noah or any other names - Milo just stuck.

DS does suit the name Milo, but I can’t help but feel regret that we didn’t use Noah. It almost feels like I was pregnant with a different baby because the baby that was in my tummy was Noah (probably sounds really stupid 🤣). I still have the same worries about the wearability of Milo on an adult. Everyone we have introduced him to as Milo have said they absolutely love his name, and when we’ve mentioned that he was nearly Noah they say they prefer Milo, but I feel like they would say they prefer the name we chose either way as it’s polite.

Have any of you experienced similar feelings? I don’t feel like we could change his name, I feel like it would be too confusing for our DD’s (youngest is 3) and I also don’t even think my DH would want to. I know this can be a symptom of PPD, but I have had that before after my first pregnancy and other than these doubts I actually feel so much better in myself so I don’t think it’s that.

Kindly op, you have a healthy baby boy who has your second choice name ( which might have been your first choice at the time, and you’re still not very sure) . You are looking for drama in life.

Give Milo a big hug and forget about it. I infinitely prefer it to Noah anyway.

kizzyyy · 30/10/2024 16:23

My partner is an adult Milo and wears it well x

JC03745 · 30/10/2024 16:23

Does Milo have a middle name?

My mum had a similar wobble, because my 1st name is a slightly uncommon, 4 letter name. She thought that if I really hated it, I could use my middle name or a NN from that. I have always loved my name though!
If Milo does like he, he too could use a middle name, or a variant like Myles etc.

LivinInYourBigGlassHouseWithAView · 30/10/2024 16:20

Personally, I much prefer Milo.

Noah is too religious for me and more popular.

Not2identifying · 30/10/2024 16:18

Don't forget that when you think of adult names you're thinking of your own (and older) generations of adults. Debbie, Karen, Sarah, Ben, Matt, Sam, Kevin, etc.

But the people who are being born now will have a completely different set of adult names. So it won't matter that 'Milo' doesn't fit with Debbie, Karen, etc. It will fit with the trendy names that around in his generation.

I prefer Milo to Noah although I like both. I know several (young) Noahs and no Milos (of any age).

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 30/10/2024 16:14

Love Milo.

Noah, built himself an arkey warky (wasn't that how the song went?)

LauderSyme · 30/10/2024 16:10

Milo is a great name, I was very tempted to use it with ds but settled on another name ending in -o.

It works just as well for adults as for children so I am surprised you are concerned about that, I don't think you need to be. I don't associate Milo with any fictional character at all.

Noah is a good name but there are lots of them around here. I've never met a Milo though. (My autocorrect changed Noah to Nothing too!)

All the best to you and your family 💐

CookieMonster28 · 30/10/2024 16:08

I really like Milo
I went to school with one so would be in early 30s now. I think it suits all ages!

itsmeits · 30/10/2024 16:02

Sorry @PostpartumPolly but that's what I see when I hear Milo.
I was horrified when my MIL suggested it as a name when I was pregnant.
That's my personal opinion I'm sure others have names that they associate with particular characters.

the mask dog GIF
loropianalover · 30/10/2024 15:55

Agree with PP’s Noah is unbelievably boring now.

Milo is lovely.

Yeahnoforsure · 30/10/2024 15:54

I see many PPS prefer the name Milo and I do too.
Milo and Noah, I don't want to stay they're similar, but I guess because they're both names that have two syllables, each have the same number of letters, they are quite similar, and neither name would be subject to being shortened.
I used to love the name Noah and I still do but it's so very common now that it puts me off.
Milo is much less common, but not strange or unheard of.
That's my thought on matter anyway, but ultimately it's up to you and your DH.

Noideawhatiam · 30/10/2024 15:53

I much prefer Milo too. I struggle to understand the popularity of Noah, it reminds me of a young child whinging Nooooo.

But on the point of suiting an adult, it will be fine. There are much more cutesy names out there that are fine when you actually meet adults with them.

Orrinocc0 · 30/10/2024 15:52

Noah is so so overdone. Literally any other name is better at this point.

Radiolala · 30/10/2024 15:50

I much prefer Milo.