Really dislike my child's name

[meandmylounge]

It was chosen in a rush when she was born poorly. My husband loved it and kept calling her it, nothing serious, and I just ran with it when the NICU asked 'does she have a name yet we can write down?'

Anyway, she was registered as that. And she is not too far off school starting age so obviously it cannot be changed fairly

I don't like it because it isn't really an adult's name. It is pretty enough. And it's not awful.

But it is brassy, a lot of people would say!

I just wished I'd given her an adult name that is timeless and classic

My other DC had a classic, timeless name. Suitable for a lawyer

It's Lola. Nothing more annoying than someone not saying what the name actually is! So there you go

I had the same experience with my DDs name. Some reasons I didn’t like it was my other children have names in our own language and hers isn’t and I didn’t spell it how most pronounce it.

I have grown to love it now she is older. It really suits her. DDs name is a similar name to Lola so I get your predicament but hopefully you’ll love it eventually too.

Love the name Lola.

Lola is ok.
To be fair with siblings‘ names like that it does seem (superficially without any analysis) that you e chosen to give your daughter a twee name and your sons serious ones - which if I were then overthinking it would make me think you felt less of her status than the boys, but maybe that’s just me.
Lola is ok. Lolo not 😊. And actually there will be lawyers called Lola. It’s the brother sibling disparity that would throw me off if I met you

I honestly think that times have changed wrt names and professional jobs. There are loads of young, professional adults now with names that would have been unusual 20 years ago, but today are totally normal. And as a society we're so multicultural now that the range of names is enormous so less common names stand out far less. I genuinely don't think for a second that she will be disadvantaged by it.

I think times have really changed around names. I really wouldn't worry. At least she won't be one of the thousands with the same name.

@Reallybadidea I agree with you names evolve and having a job with your name being Lola won't be unusual in 20 odd years.

It makes me think of The Kinks song and Barry Manilow song which would put me off using it myself - but I do really like it as a name.

I haven't read the full thread except your OP but I love the name Lola

I love the name Lola. However if it bothers you how it may be perceived in the adult world or work, maybe officially change it to Laura/Louise, but keep her preferred name as Lola on all paperwork etc.

Not a fan of Dolores. I think Lola is quite nice, but if you do want to change it to a nn, I would go for Elora, Lorraine, Elowen or Leonora.

Op there is a family lawyer in Croydon called Lola. When I saw her name it didn't register as an unusual name for a laywer.

To me is just a normal fairly common name. Lolas imo can become anything.

If it helps I knew an extremely posh Lola when I was a teen. Twenty something privately educated Cambridge or Oxford I forget student. Studying classics. My DD isn't Lola but has a very similar name and no one has ever suggested it as anything unserious.

These days the middle class / posh kids are the ones with 73 piercings & blue hair with names like Chex and Qween - all special identities, so I really would not worry about your name choices!

Lola is quite popular though! It was no. 78 in 2022 with about 650 baby Lola's registered that year.

OP I’m afraid I agree with you!

Lola does sounds like a poodle, or also sounds like “Lolita” and maybe more suited to a party-girl/stripper than a woman to take seriously.

Up to you, maybe you could officially change her name to “Loren/Laura even Lana is not too bad” and she can still be called Lola but it would be her childhoood nickname.

I also agree with other PP that your sons have much more “serious” names and it might be taken as what you expect your sons to become, versus your daughter.

Name change fail?

My daughter's best friend all the way through primary school was a Lola. She was such a lovely girl, so for me it has a really warm and fuzzy connection 💕

I actually do know a Charlie and Lola sib set. I always want to ask whether the parents knew of the book or an unfortunate coincidence but I don't quite dare 🤣

I’m not a massive fan of the name but it’s absolutely fine. It’s a recognised proper name and would suit an adult as well as a child.

Lola is absolutely fine, it got really popular after Charlie & Lola so it’s pretty mainstream now. It has completely moved on from the showgirl/ Lolita associations of yesteryear that 1 or 2 people mentioned. DH has a cousin who named kids Charlie and Lola (ugh!) - not a great move having both in one family imo

Just wanted to say thanks 🙏 for actually sharing the name…nothing worse than a pointless post where the name isn’t specified 😂

Does she walk like a woman and talk like a man yet?

The kinks messed that name up for me 😁

I love Lola! Without reading the rest of the comments, I don't quite understand why your husband's opinion doesn't seem to matter?

The only adult Lola I know is kind, unobtrusively beautiful and has a STEM PhD, so I don't think of it as a "brassy" name at all.

I think it's a really great name, and won't stand out in a negative way no matter what she does as an adult.

I also think the contrast works really well with your DS's names. If she had siblings called Daisy or Rose (lovely though those names are) it would all feel a bit light and twee, but her siblings' very classic names accentuate the coolness.

Leave it be, make peace with her cool name, and if she doesn't like it in the future remind her that she can use a middle name or change it altogether when she's an adult (and that you won't be offended).

I didn't realise it was your name that determined your career choices.

This should be publicised, or perhaps that's it the elite don't want the hoi polloi to know.