Name regret...

I like the name Isaac and Zack. My great grandfather was an Isaac. It's a fine name.

I don't like Bobby type names... it's not a real name.

It's quite easy to change the name before 1 year so do it, sooner rather than later. Perhaps keep Isaac as a middle name.

I know a boy called Frankie and it suits him. He's a rough and tumble cheery kid.

What about Rufus, is that the right vibe? It seems sort of wild and outdoorsy. It means redheaded though (if the meaning matters to you and he isn't!)

My boy is a 30 week premie and we wanted a strong name to show his fighting spirit….. Reuben Bobby! I still smile when I say his name. Good luck with the name change xx

I think Isaac is the nicest of the names you list, but it’s your choice in the end.

Can you call him Frankie for a week or so and see how that feels before deciding? Would probably put Frank on the birth certificate and call him Frankie as a nn.

Remy and Bobby feel too casual to be full names, but you could call them Jeremy or Robert officially and use as nn.

You’ve been through a lot and needed to rush this choice so it’s not a surprise that you feel bad about it. I would try out the other options before making a permanent change though.

I have 22mo Frank, but I have never once called him that because I just don’t think of it as his name

He is (and will always be) Frankie to me. Most people do call him Frankie, and he doesn’t actually respond to Frank anyway. If I hear anyone refer to him as ‘Frank’, I find it really jarring, even though that’s the name I chose! He just seems far too little to be a Frank, but I put it on his birth certificate so he can choose whether he wants to remain a Frankie, or revert to Frank when he’s grown into it. He is definitely a bruiser, though

FWIW, I think Isaac is a bloody gorgeous name!

Why not keep Isaac as a middle name-you must have liked it in some way? Or do you already have a middle, that's one of the ones you've said? If so, just call him that. You can change if you want, but just a word of advice, there are a lot of Isaacs so I'd be wary of saying to people you decided you didn't like it. Not saying you would say it that bluntly in person.
Not my kids, btw! But a lot of kids in their school are called it.

Adore the name Isaac, it was on our shortlist of 3!

I prefer it to the other names listed and Zac sounds far more 'bruiser' than the other names you mention.

What I love about the name Isaac is the way it look (I like the straight lines of it, and the double 'a'). I would picture a teen and young adult Isaac as being handsome and cool; an older man as sophisticated. I think the fact that he can decide to be Zac if he gets into some cool sports or hobbies is also a bonus.

I am sorry if this doesn't help but I hope it does!

I think it's 100% the trauma. I had a premature baby and knew from week 20 that he would be early, but I still took months to adjust, and you have had much more of a shock. My premie was so much less alert than my full term baby that it took me much longer to consider him as a full person and I didn't use his name for months, whereas my daughter showed more personality from the start. For a long time I had the feeling that he wasn't supposed to have been born alive and that he wasn't properly there (he had a 95% risk of stillbirth). This stopped when he started being a bit cheeky around 6 months. Isaac is a very nice name, but doesn't have a natural nickname, perhaps that's also a factor.

Unfortunately for people my age Remy brings to mind 'remmer' which is a (terrible) insult we used as kids.
Also the Rem/rim connotation.
I would definitely avoid.

Alyssa and Isaac are beautiful together 😍

Remy is a girls’ name. The others are awful. Isaac is lovely.

What does your partner think?

Re Remy, Frankie, Bobby - they’re nice enough names but not at all rough and tumble, they’re gentle, soft and effeminate (which is why they are also commonly used for girls!).

Isaac/Zac is a more bruiser/rough and tumble name than any of those three so it’s a bit odd that this is your logic for wanting a new name (and totally fine if it is) and then I’m not sure your shortlist suits this.

I know three Remys: an adult, child and toddler. All boys. I would have never associated it as a girls name.

I tend to find kids grow into their name and own it in a way that makes it theirs.

My son is named after his great grandfathers. It didn't really feel like his name until he started school but is totally right for him now.

For what its worth, Isaac feels pretty adaptable as a name. I could imagine Isaac being a lawyer, or a doctor, or a footballer, or a teacher, or a gardener, or a slightly dodgy used car salesman. He will become his own identity and his name will fit that because its him- whatever name you choose!

I know this wasn’t the question but I absolutely love the name Isaac. It would have been my daughter’s name if she were a boy.

Out of curiosity what is your age?
Because I have never heard that insult nor have any clue what it means.
Also what's the Rem/Rim thing? Rim what?

FWIW I love Isaac and the shortening to Zac/Zaccy, but if you feel like you don't love it, definitely change it now. I prefer Frank to Remy, but actually Remy Frank has a really nice ring to it! Please let us all know what you decide!

Remy is the unisex/female version of Rémy. It's a mans name in France (with the accent) but usually a girls name in the English speaking world. It's also means rower or oarsman, which is a little random!

You seem a little fixed on the 'bruiser' idea, is that because emotionally you think he needs a 'tough' name after seeing him so vulnerable? It's seems like he's (and you) have had a difficult start to his young life and you're focused on him being 'tough'. Perhaps just let it sit for a while and come back to it? You don't have to make decisions now.

I think Isaac is a lovely name, but even if you don't think it's right in a few months you can still change it x

I've grown to love the name Frankie for a boy. It's my grandson's name ❤️. Or, as we also call him, our "Frank the tank"! He has grown to absolutely suit it, and he loves it too!

Why don't you just unofficially change his name at home for the next few days, and see if you feel more comfortable with it?

Are you doing ok otherwise? Do you feel bonded with him? The NICU journey can be very traumatic

Not meaning to add to your dilemma but isn't Remy the name of the rat in the film Ratatouille?

In my area in the late 80s & 90s a Rem or Remmer was slang for remedial (not proud of that!) And Rim/Rimmer has rim job connotations

I have never heard that insult and as "remedial" isn't used these days I don't think that would be an issue for a 21st century child.
The rem/rim is bizarre.
Why would you hear one word and think of a completely unrelated different word 🤷

Because it sounds very similar?
Unfortunately I know a child who is gets bullied with Rim job Rem at school.