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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To change DS's Name?

145 replies

BlooBelle · 16/06/2012 12:28

DS is 4. He has an unusual name which in hindsight I may not have given the go ahead...

DH loved the name and after having difficulty deciding on one I felt it would be better to give DS a name that meant a lot to DH rather than a 'compromise' name - plus I quite liked the name at the time!

I have been regretting his name for a while (feel really awful about this on many levels) and sfter reading a recent thread on AIBU I am seriously considering asking DH is we can change DS's first name on his birth certificate... We can keep his current name as a middle name but just him a more conventional first name... AIBU?

OP posts:
takingiteasy · 16/06/2012 12:33

Dying to know what the name is! I think at 4 it would be difficult to explain it to him.

nizlopi · 16/06/2012 12:33

At age 4 you won't be able to change his name on his birth certificate, its an historical document which shows your intentions at the time of his birth. You could change his name by Deed Poll, but I dunno. At age 4, I would say don't bother. At this point, he knows what his name is, and changing it is just going to be confusing to him. If when he's older he wants to change his own name, then he can, its his call. Changing it yourself now for your own reasons is just selfish, to be honest. Sorry.

Petsinmypudenda · 16/06/2012 12:34

Do your son and husband not get a say?

WithACherryOnTop · 16/06/2012 12:34

He's too old to have his name changed now. It belongs to him now,and he's the only person who should be allowed to change it,when he's older,if he wishes to do so.

maddening · 16/06/2012 12:35

are you allowed to? When we registered ds the lady impressed on us that we could not change it unless we got married (we are living over the brush :-))

At 4 I would think it might be too late.

ReportMeNow · 16/06/2012 12:37

I regret the name dd has for a variety of reasons. Hormones have a lot to answer for! I know now of course what I should have called her. However, it is 'her' name now.

Why do you feel awful about the name?

squeakytoy · 16/06/2012 12:38

You cant change it .. he is 4, it is the name everyone knows him by and the name he knows too!!

Original poster
BlooBelle · 16/06/2012 12:40

Yes of course DH and DS will get a say! DS has been asking me to call him William all week....

The thing that worries me is whether he will be at a real disadvantage as an adult applying for jobs - yes I realise full well this should have been considered at the time and it was, but I think we were a bit more naive at the time.

OP posts:
WithACherryOnTop · 16/06/2012 12:42

He can change it when he's older if he wishes,if he feels that it would put him at a disadvantage,but I don't think it'd be right for you to make that decision for him.It's not yours to make now.

ladyintheradiator · 16/06/2012 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WithACherryOnTop · 16/06/2012 12:43

I really want to know what the name is now too.

squeakytoy · 16/06/2012 12:44

Surely he can change it to something he likes on his CV anyway... come on, you have to tell us what the name is!

Original poster
BlooBelle · 16/06/2012 12:45

His name is Rocky Smile

OP posts:
Petsinmypudenda · 16/06/2012 12:46

Me my eldest wanted to be known as sir swanky pants for a full months. It should be his choice when he is an adult.

ChaoticismyLife · 16/06/2012 12:46

I came on to say it was too late to change it now but instead ended up making this face Shock

Is this a wind up?

Original poster
BlooBelle · 16/06/2012 12:46

He does have a more conventional middle name though

OP posts:
takingiteasy · 16/06/2012 12:47

That's an awesome name! I love it!

Original poster
BlooBelle · 16/06/2012 12:47

No, that is really his name

OP posts:
WithACherryOnTop · 16/06/2012 12:48

What makes you think it's a windup?

Original poster
BlooBelle · 16/06/2012 12:49

takingiteasy - Thank you! Most people do really like it (or so they say) but whether future prospective employers will judge him solely based on his name worries me!

OP posts:
Noqontrol · 16/06/2012 12:49

What's his middle name?

WithACherryOnTop · 16/06/2012 12:49

I was expecting something much worse.

I don't like Rocky,but I don't think it's so bad that he can't live with it. I think he can certainly live with it until he's old enough to decide for himself. No need to change it now.

Magneto · 16/06/2012 12:50

I don't really know what I'd do tbh. As a child I really wanted to change my name because it was very unusual for my generation (think along the lines of Sapphire/Emerald) but not for my grandparents generation. I can imagine that the same will likely happen to many contemporary names in the future.

I think if he wants to be called something else such as William then go along with it but don't change anything officially. I Insisted everyone called me Dorothy when I was 3 but I'm glad my mum didn't change my name to that.

skateboarder · 16/06/2012 12:50

I think you should ask your ds and if he prefers his middle name and wants to, you could start using that. However, it will be a permanent change and no reverting back imo. You have had lots of time to think about the implications already.
If he is at school, I wouldnt bother.

NewDog · 16/06/2012 12:50

Could he not just be known by his middle name?

I don't think it's the worst name I've ever heard - does it "suit" him? Suppose people could mistake it for a nickname as he gets older.

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