To change their name!

[Chesternut]

My DD is 4 years old and I gave her a name which, I thought, was very original as I hadn't heard another girl called it in about 20 years. Only to find when she started nursery another girl called the same but spelt differently. DD is due to start full time education in September and there will be 2 other girls with the same name so 3 in the class including DD. Now there's another in other DC's class.
Totally hacked off and really upset by this. Maybe an over reaction but in the 1970's I was one of 5 named the same in my class and vowed never to have my DC's live with the same. Now history is being repeated.
AIBU to change my DD's name before September? I love her name but HATE it's so common now.

Can you believe, I am in Australia and this has just made the chat section on the news. I watched the reporters chatting about this very post!

Just use a nickname, if she’s esme, maybe she could be Ez, or mimi or something? Or use her middle name/ a different name as a nickname?

In 30 years of teaching, I had never taught a child called Euan/Ewan. Then, in one class, there were 3, no others in the whole school.

I have similar with my DS. He is Kieran. There are various forms of spelling it including the way we spell it. Not a huge issue to spell it out to people. I try not to mind if someone posts on my Facebook and spell it 'wrong'. Depending on my mood my sometimes facetious answer when someone asks how I spell it is to say 'correctly'.
However I did have the hump with his nursery when he left as despite being there for 4.5 YEARS they spelt his name wrong on his leaving gift (they got a company in and all the children made mugs with their names on). It was presented on his last day and after saying they'd spelt his name wrong all they could say was 'sorry' and offered to re-do it. Bit bloody late by then in my opinion.

I am genuinely sorry that you are upset by this but maybe a bit of perspective and self reflection would help. Ask yourself why you have such an issue with your own name? Perhaps that is what you should devote your energy to. To say you shudder every time you hear your own name is a worry.
As a mother of a child in remission from cancer could I plead with you to be very grateful that your child is well enough to start school? My child only recently returned to school after 2 years absence. Think of parents sitting beside hospital beds all over the world today as their child receives treatment for a life threatening or life limiting illness. And the parents whose child is no longer with them. How they would love to have your worry. Let this go and focus on the positives in your life.

Ps. Your post has made the national newspapers in Ireland. That is where I saw it.

Call her fanny doubt she will meet anyone of her generation or the next who will have that name.

In all seriousness names come and go and that is a beautiful name and will be now part of your dc identity at four years old, you'd be hard pressed to find a name that no other child has.
Is it short for esmeralda? I knew a girl in high school well over ten yrs ago who was calle Esme but shortened from Esmeralda...

Goodness me, you're in need of a large grip. You're 'totally hacked off' by others daring to have the same name as your DD. How precious can you get.

Having the same name as others will not affect your DD in any way whatsoever.

The irony of this thread is now this is in the news around the world you've probably made the name Esmee very popular and in 9 months time thousands of Esmee's will be born!

Some of the popular names of the this generation seems to be; Jack, George, Oscar, Samuel, Max, Ethan, Mason, Finley, Kai, Harry, Charlie, Jaxson. And; Katy, Lilly, Maisy, Betsy, Caitlin, Ella, Emily, Esmee, Olivia, Erin, Sophia, Daisy.

When I was at school it was all; Gary, Christoper, David (Dave), Jonathon, Robert (rob), James, Mark, Anthony, Peter and Claire, Sophie, Michelle, Hannah, Sarah , Emily, Samantha, Katherine, Louise, Hollie, Kelly, Alice, Leanne, Carrie, Charlotte.

Mumsadipshit, I almost guarantee that no one in her class will have that name.

This is beyond ridiculous. I can’t understand the logic of wanting to change a 4 year olds name because someone else has it. Unless you make a name up of course it will happen

Oh please when i was pregnant 16 years ago i had Esme on my list. I like it but it was v of the moment a decade ago.

You cannot change her name now.

Did anyone ever find out the nickname?! I've scrolled but can't find it and can't think of one that's socially unacceptable?!

Having done this for my daughter, here's my advice: Let her decide for herself. My DD hated her name and for over a year asked that we change it. For her 14th birthday we filed the paperwork to change her name to the name she chose for herself. It has been nearly a year now and we have no regrets. She was changing schools that year so we changed it over the summer and she started her new school with her new name. Haven't met another person with her new name yet.

On the other hand my grandson has a name that became common about the time he was given it. He has a nickname derived from his initials that is not common right now. (He's 5.) He likes both names so that works for him.

What was her name @Suburbaniter?

@AhoyDelBoy It was Jade.

I wish to add to my daughters surname, her father has been absent for 9 years when he walked out when she was 2 years old. I don’t know where he is but he does pay £20 into a bank account. He does have parent responsibility as we were married. No birthday/Xmas cards or contact & the amount he puts into an account does not change even on birthdays or Xmas.
I want to add my maiden name on the end of her surname. So when she goes to secondary school, she will have 2 surnames & when 16 then she can decide to change it officially.
But the school has said they can only do this by deed poll (can not afford to go to court, or get a specific issue order) but how can I change her name by deed poll so school records have both names.
Has anyone tried the name change by deed poll lots of companies on internet but not sure who is real (just want her to be known as, then at 16 years she can change it herself, then I can officially go back to my maiden name, only when she can have same name) not worried about passport as I only want to add and not remove her current surname. help!!! Thank you

Sorry I don’t know why my post added into yours