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Baby names

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

Baby name regret - any positive stories?

88 replies

Belen82 · 12/02/2025 18:18

I have just been through a tumultuous name choosing process with my husband - stressful and emotionally charged. We had a beautiful, in my mind perfect boy name lined up before pregnancy that matched with my eldest sons name.

i had a wobble early pregnancy thinking the name was too common (top 5) and convinced my husband to consider the middle name as the first. He was convinced, but overtime when I thought about it practically the middle name wasn’t a good fit (uncommon though not unusual, long - three syllables, inevitable nicknames, can be perceived as foreign). I like short punchy names and don’t like nicknames.

However husband would not switch back - decided how that we had thought about it, he doesn’t actually like original first name.

Lots of fighting, tears and stress and we ended up going with the name that was orginally middle name. I loved it for about 10 days, felt good about it, compliments came pouring in. And then almost overnight, I feel sick with regret about it. I find it awkward using such a long name when my son is a 1 syllable name. I don’t like hearing people say it, I cringe a bit when I say it. And I can’t shake the overwhelming feeling we’ve done the wrong thing for our child - giving an unusual, fiddly name rather than a common, short snappy name.

Has anyone felt this level of regret and then gone on to love DC name? Did anyone start with the name feeling wrong but now wouldn’t have it any other way? It’s consuming me…

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Purplecatshopaholic · 12/02/2025 20:18

EzWin2 · 12/02/2025 19:36

Max and Raphael is a gorgeous set! Leo is nice but very overdone I much prefer Raphael x

Totally this. Gorgeous names that go great together. You can easily shorten Raphael at some future point too. I’d relax and enjoy your lovely children op.

OSU · 12/02/2025 20:03

Fab names and Raphael is easily and nicely shortened to Raph

EzWin2 · 12/02/2025 19:36

Max and Raphael is a gorgeous set! Leo is nice but very overdone I much prefer Raphael x

Feliciacat · 12/02/2025 19:04

Belen82 · 12/02/2025 18:58

Happy to share the name. We had Leo Raphael lined up as the name, brother is Max. I was concerned Leo was too saturated / boring and convinced my husband of Raphael, but on second thought found Raphael too long, fiddly and not keen on nicknames. My husband however was completely off Leo and as Raphael was the only other name we once both liked to settled for that :( so now we have Max & Raphael.

Despite receiving overwhelming positive feedback, it now feels so wrong and I can’t let go of how perfect Leo was …

Max and Leo sound plain together. Max and Raphael sounds good. Is Max short for Maxwell or anything?

I think if you’d had two short names together or two long names together then it would have sounded too matchy matchy. I think one boy having a short name and one having a long name gives them very separate identities as the names are completely different.

Belen82 · 12/02/2025 19:00

@romdowa would love to know the name if happy to share!

OP posts:
Belen82 · 12/02/2025 18:58

Happy to share the name. We had Leo Raphael lined up as the name, brother is Max. I was concerned Leo was too saturated / boring and convinced my husband of Raphael, but on second thought found Raphael too long, fiddly and not keen on nicknames. My husband however was completely off Leo and as Raphael was the only other name we once both liked to settled for that :( so now we have Max & Raphael.

Despite receiving overwhelming positive feedback, it now feels so wrong and I can’t let go of how perfect Leo was …

OP posts:
romdowa · 12/02/2025 18:45

Belen82 · 12/02/2025 18:23

Thanks @romdowa , how long did it take for you to feel good about it again? Was it a common or uncommon name?

I think it was a couple of weeks until the initial panic subsided but it wasn't for a few months that I felt confident in his name. It's an uncommon name. But not unheard of

CatamaranViper · 12/02/2025 18:29

Just remember, your child might decide to use a middle name as a first name, or find a fun nickname to use if they really don't like it.

CatamaranViper · 12/02/2025 18:28

I didn't (and still don't really) like DSs name and he's 8! But he loves it so that's fine with me.
I've asked him in the past if he likes his name, if he could change it, would he? (all done in a light-hearted, conversational way) and he said absolutely not, loves his name.
It's long, old fashioned, and a bit of a mouthful, but hey, it's not my name!

RainJacket · 12/02/2025 18:28

He can always decide to go by his middle name if he chooses.

OSU · 12/02/2025 18:25

Remember right now you might be feeling a bit more emotional than normal and also try very hard to think of him as an adult, teen etc.

What's the name? Would love to know. Congrats

Belen82 · 12/02/2025 18:23

Thanks @romdowa , how long did it take for you to feel good about it again? Was it a common or uncommon name?

OP posts:
romdowa · 12/02/2025 18:22

I loved my sons name during pregnancy but like you about 10 /12 days post partum I had a complete panic that we'd picked wrong and that it didn't suit him. He's 3 now and it's completely him and suits him to the ground. I think it was just hormones and stress around the whole becoming a mom and naming a human forever but it went away again after a little bit

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