Baby name change

@Nearlyamumoftwo , You can get a baby's birth certificate changed if the baby is younger than 12 months, and it doesn't need declaring on forms.

After 12 months, the name on the BC can't be changed, and will need declaring.

I'd think carefully about this. If you change her name, it might cause a nightmare in the future because she has always been known by another name (think about official documents). Then if she chooses to get married and chooses to change her surname she would have changed her name for a 2nd time. It might make life tricky.

Id change her name in everything but law - no one needs to know her real one. You're even asked to confirm your child's "preferred" name when at school.

Definitely change it if you think it will feel right.

I named my daughter something I/we loved, then realised that everyone in the UK pronounces it in a way I hadn't expected and didn't like. I really don't know why I hadn't realised until then.

I dithered, and felt silly and embarrassed about it, and stupidly asked MN who were really quite cruel about it. I remember someone asking me why I would 'centre myself' in my daughter's name choice

Anyway she is nearly 4, and although I think her name is beautiful, I regret it. There were other factors at play that meant I wasn't strong enough to change it at the time and looking back it just makes me quite sad.

What is the name!!!!!!

What is the name!!!!!!

@Mcoco , that isn't the baby's current name, so isn't the name that sounds like a drug that most of us don't seem to have heard of. There's a link on page 1 to another thread which might enlighten you.

Imagine OP had a DD called Lucy. OP regretted the link with a drug, and she's asking whether to change the name to Lucia, change it to Layla which she loves, or leave it as it is.

(The name isn't Lucy)

Is the name Lina then? If so it's a pretty name and I can't understand why it's English slang. Sorry so confused.

@Sossita , do you regret not naming the baby Layla? Would anything like the current name be a compromise?
Will you stop obsessing about the name after changing it, or will you be worrying about having changed it?
Is the baby's father on board with the name change?

Incidentally op, I had a family member who used a "baby version" of their name until they started school (think Bobby for Robert, or Dickie for Richard). I never got used to the new one, and had to focus really hard when around their school friends, but in the background/family events just continued with the old name, as did several family members. It didn't much matter. And yours will be more similar.

Add the letter A. It will be easier for everyone including the baby, and the result is a nice name.

I think op you have fretted over this enough that you should change it.

I think the easiest is to add an a. If you explain to family, they will follow what you have done, and it doesn't matter so much if they forget to use the new version.

Baby won't honestly notice if its similar.

Change it- everyone will soon adjust even the baby!

I ADORE my dc’s names and so glad they have them. This is your ONLY chance so take it.

I would ignore people telling you not to change it. It’s your child, do whatever the hell you like!
I changed my daughters, it’s ok to simply regret a decision and be the bigger person and do something about it and not let it bother you. It’s simple before 12 months, just an amended birth certificate but after that it’s more difficult on the child in the long run with paperwork.

they will have the new name much longer than the one they’ve got now.

be happy and do whatever makes you happy

I did choose not to change it at all until I read your first update and chose to add a letter. I’m wondering if you should edit your original post to include this info?

Because it's not exactly the first thread the OP has started about it.

@Sossita change it to the name you love.

it'll be a little bit awkward telling people. But that'll only be for a very short period of time.

then it'll all be good. DD with a name you love, just do it.

Baby girl name | Mumsnet

How do you know what the name is?

Got it.

In that case I can see why you want to change it.

Adding an A at the end would be the easiest option but I would only go for that if the pronunciation changes enough away from the word you don’t like, otherwise you still risk the slang word becoming a nickname.

If you’re willing to make a change I’d be tempted to go for a full proper change to the new name of choice.

The name has been registered more than 70 times in 2024 in England & Wales.
The word isn't slang, but it sounds like one, and it's not that bad.
The name is not a standard English one, it's Middle Eastern, and it has a nice meaning.

The name is one where you could add letters at the start or at the end, e.g
(The name isn't Anne but this sort of pattern)
Anne - > Arianne, Marianne, Joanne, Leanne, Anneka, Annelise

So what’s the name?

@Sossita , how many days before the 12 months is up?
Are you having help with your mental health - name regret can be a sign of PND?

I think it really depends. I changed my son's name when he was a baby. The regret ate away at me and I just couldn't see the old name being his name for the rest of his life. It wasn't bad, but it isn't common where I'm from either so I felt like I did him a favour. Yes, it is awkward to explain to people initially, but that is a small thing in a small window of time. It shouldn't stop the correct decision being made. We care too much about what others think.

So you are not English and chose her name, and now realise that her name is a slang word in the English language?