To change DS's Name?

[BlooBelle]

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?

He could always tell people his name is Richard but he is known as Rocky, but I can think of a lot worse names than Rocky.

Agree it isn't a great name IMO, but you can easily change it 'unofficially'.

You could ask his school to call him Rick, Rock, Ricky or Roddy (or even something totally different) and they'll comply - My DCs have a mouthful of a surname so the school has simplified it at our request.

If you do that then it's only 'official' in terms of passport, etc. He can then change it himself if he wants when he's older.

This whole: "What would future employers think" is such tosh!

Come on, who thinks like that? Poor kid, is he already destined to becoming an office employee? He could be independent/freelance, or be an employer instead of an employee, or a footballer (any name goes) a rock star or actor (choose your own stage name) or a SAHP, or....

Also, the other names on the employer's pile will be Sharleene, Neveah, Peaches, Tarquin Thor and Storm. He will really not stand out

Rocky is a fab name! Not really that unusual either imo, I wouldn't even have raised an eyebrow.

i love his name

i think you just have the wobbles

fab fab fab

My mothers name on her birth certificate is Margaret Mary Patricia. She has always and forever been known as Pat. People can call themselves whatever they like as long as it is not being used for fraud purposes. So for CVs and the like if your DS was conventionally known as William instead of Rocky he is not obliged to use Rocky.

And you are thinking about changing his name after reading an AIBU thread, seriously? Half the posts on AIBU are bonkers - don't let that influence you. He is 4, that's his name, it's a great name.

Thanks guys, I realise it's not to everyone's tastes but what name is? My main concern was that we had in some way hindered him but I guess he could always use his middle name on any applications for more 'formal' jobs - if that's what career path he chooses to take of course!

I think it's memorable in a good way! I wouldn't change it

valiumredhead - Well I had been thinking about it for about 18 months, I think the thread kind of confirmed my fears..

Don't give it another though OP, honestly, it's a great name.

Could you change it by deedpoll to Rock and use Rocky as a nickname?

Rock is an unusual but traditional name. There is an extremely eminent QC and head of chambers with the first name Rock so it didn't hold him back!

I like it :)

OP you're over-thinking this. It's not a problem at all, especially because he has a more conventional middle name to use if he should need it.

For e.g., on his CV he could write "R. William Belle". I'm a scientist, and a lot of people have official publication names written like this.

My DD invited a Rocky and a Rocco to her birthday party, names are fine if he want to he can change it later .... by the time the boys are in secondary they will have made nicknames up for each other anyway ;)

Oh I missed his name.

Rocky is a fine name. Theres much more bonkers ones in baby names.

I like the idea of his name being Richard. I think Rocky is a plausible nn for that.

Or what about Brock? It's Old English/ Celtic meaning badger apparently (according to Think Baby Names) and I quite like it.

Rocky is a good name.

If you don't make an issue of it, he'll grow into his name and have confidence with it.

If you make a big deal about it he'll grow to be self conscious with it.

I love it - I loved Rock hudson so I would maybe just call him rock??

I think its great to have a stand out name, he won't be forgotton in years to come and as another poster said it may lead him to be famous etc - how about Orlando Bloom, I wonder if his parents wobbled!

I knew a Rocky back in the very early 80s ...he was in his 20s too...it's not going to slow down DSs chances in life....my DD has an unusal and rather glam name...I've met a few of them now she is 7 but I DID go through a fearful phase after we'd named her...and its only recent;y gone. Stick with Rocky. It's who he is!

I have a friend called Roc. I have no idea if it is short for anything. Your son has a great name. Ds has a friend called Romeo, when the Beckhams named their son that I thought it was awful but ds's friend suits it beautifully and no doubt the Beckham's son does as well.
My mother and all her sisters do not use their given names.
I often regret ds's name ( post birth hormones and husband pressure) but don't bat an eye when I call someone else the same name. I have probably shouted it one time too often!
Now if you had called your darling little boy Astala......... (Astala Vista, Ass....)

I like it and honestly, in 15 years time when he's going for jobs it's going to be very, very normal. I have a particular friend who has moved to a particular town and I can't spell any of her friends' kids' names. Rocky is pretty normal.

I rather like it. People won't forget a name like that, will they? Could work to his advantage rather than otherwise. Though it is a bit of a hostage of fortune - if he turns out to be a bit of a wimp, Rocky will have all the wrong connotations.

"DS has been asking me to call him William all week"

My DD insisted that she was a boy called James, for nearly two years between the ages of 4 & 6, so don't be overly concerned about the 'William' thing.

I know a few Rocky's, some of them aren't from the UK, but they all do different things, including owning their own bar.

I knowlots of men fromTurkey, who use that name, so in some places it won't be given a second glance. These days you don't know what country that you could end up being resident in.

I insisted people called me 'x' for a good few years