Thinking of changing my baby's name at 11 weeks

[pab88]

I know this can be done and people do it but how do I know it is the right decision?

Had a very difficult time choosing DD's name which is Madelyn. Eventually gave up and let husband choose and we registered it. Never was 100% sure it was the right name. Now I find everyone shortens it and I hate the nickname. Stupid and hormonal, this obvious nickname did not strike me in the hospital and in the days after and it was a last minute decision.

I know it sounds horrible but I only had one name I loved and I felt like I couldnt use it because it was our neighbours DD's name, a coworker's name and it is DH's cousin's name (we never see her though). Hannah. This is bloody stupid but as soon as we get DD home and registered the neighbours announce they are moving. Then 2 weeks after that coworker transfers.

Been in tears a lot about this, been thinking about it a lot. It was the only name that we both really liked and agreed on. I think it is a result of overthinking this day in and day out and agonising about it, but now I am not even sure if Hannah is right for her now. I look at DD and think "I could get used to it" but if I go back in time I would have chosen what I wanted and said F everyone else.

DH says he doesn't care, likes both names, just wants me happy

Please tell me someone here has known of someone who changed a babys name? How did you know it was the right choice? I don't want to change it then regret THAT if that makes sense. But I don't want to regret not changing it while I had the chance. So difficult.

As I understand the birth certificate can be updated but it will always show the old name on the bottom and I don't know if I want that.

So so confused and sad, would appreciate your thoughts on this.

Madelyn is far prettier than Hannah imo. Just correct people who call her Maddie

do what feels right.i don't think there should be any blame or shame on changing it so early on.if it feels wrong and she feels like a Hannah then shes Hannah.
itl be a story to tell.hell it might even be a nickname for the future laguhs when or if you tell her.
im just going through in my head my mum comes to me tomorrow and tells me she did this and id be fascinated and interested more than anything and woulnt think anything definitely not lesser of my lovely mum.and would hate for her to have been in aguish like you over it.
both are lovely choices too so its not something you would hold agasint you changing it too.
could you just sit with her and call her both names.
just make sure you know you then wont regret it.both are gorgeous.and remember she isn't the bully that's the whole point she is this wonderful daughter of yours.new innocent.
although Hannah be warned can be changed too.my sister is now known by many as spanner!

Re your dd being angry, my youngest is angry I didn't call her Melissa (never a name we even considered). I told her her middle name was nearly her first name and apparently "that's even worse".she's 7 and very dramatic!

Similar to the poster above- my eldest tells me she doesn't like her name, wants to change it etc etc.

This from a girl who takes an hour to decide which pencil she wants in Smiggle.

If you change it, and your dd says she prefers Madelyn when she's older, just know that a lot of children say it without knowing there was an alternative. Don't ever feel guilty!

Madelyn is just beautiful. Do change it if your heart tells you to but don't be too influenced by the mean girl. The name belongs to your DD now. My little boy was born on my ex's bday. At first I was upset but it's my baby's day now.

My name was changed when I was a month old - definitely the right choice for my DM and me too.
Just start calling her Hannah now, and do the paperwork ASAP. You;ll feel so much better!
The more you trust your gut, the happier you’ll be as a mum, it really is important to know that your choices as her parents are the most important, not anyone else’s.

Hannah is a beautiful name. Your DD will obviously not be affected by the change so go for it.

I have a couple friends who have given their babies names which they modified (ok not changed entirely) but for practical reasons as the prior versions were too much of a mouthful's. It's fine.

Do it OP. If the anxiety doesn’t disappear then rethink it, but there’s no harm in doing it (give yourself a couple of weeks before making it official.) Hannah is beautiful.

Why don't you keep her original name but call her Hannah everyday, her nickname?

I know plenty of people who do not use their BC name but go by another, great compromise?

I changed DD2's middle name and didn't regret it, and she finds the story amusing now. I must say, OP, you had more neighbourly scruples than my ex neighbours, who moved in as a childless couple and then proceeded to pop out two children with the same names as my first two children! I wasn't bothered, they have very popular names, but it was funny.

Go with Hannah if that's what you want, it's a very nice name.

Do what feels right to you.

It is your choice.

No your child will be fine.

as you feel so upset etc could it be you have the baby blues a little bit.

Good luck.

I had name regret almost immediately after naming my now 7 yr old daughter. A member of our extended family used my first choice weeks before us and I couldn't believe it as it wasn't overly common and we'd never discussed our choice.

Needless to say I've never even met that 7 year old and we live in different counties anyway. I still massively regret not sticking with it, or at least changing it whilst she was still tiny, 7 years later. The only thing to take the edge off somewhat, is that I had a baby girl this year and used my original name choice for her.

As for DD1, I squirm slightly when saying her name out and about. It's a perfectly nice, normal name but it just wasn't and still isn't my first choice and she'd have suited something else.

I think you should rename her Hannah, OP! It's a lovely traditional name spelt the traditional way. More importantly it's what your heart wants to call her. Always trust your instinct. Sure, your friends & family may give you funny looks and make comment when you do it, but it'll be forgotten within a few days / weeks and your daughter will always be Hannah.

For what it's worth, I changed my first name aged 16 years. I hated my masculine name throughout my childhood so with my parent's agreement, I changed it to Lucy at 16. It was remarkably easy to do and get used to, for me and others.

Also it’s a palindrome which is very cool.

Haven't read the full thread, but I would really urge you to do this if your strength of feeling is similar to mine. Not changing DS's name from the name that DH loved (from one that I never really liked, but I persuaded myself that it would be OK) is a source of massive regret to me. I literally can't say my son's name without hesitation because I hate the way the word feels when I say it. It hasn't gone in 15 years, so I don't think it will.

Also just to add, either decision will be fine and she won't care at all.

People will shorten anything. I know a Hannah who everyone called 'Hans'. Yeah, like the German man's name. People are weird.

It’s my name and I’ve always loved it - it’s the same forwards as backwards.

Baby is only 11 weeks - of course you can change it x

If you're not happy with the name you've chosen, you love the name Hannah and your DH is happy with either. Then go with the name you love.

When my son was born I wanted to call him a name I'd loved from when I was a child and that's what he's called. It's not an unusual name but I just always wanted my son to be called that name. I would have found it very difficult to get used to any other name for him.

Not entirely sure why you felt you couldn't use the name you like because you knew other people with it.

My DD was talking about potential children's name the other day and said her DP always liked a particular name but his sister had called her child that so that name was no longer available. Of course it's still available.

Unless someone's taken out a copyright on a name anyone is at liberty to use it and for most names there will be hundreds of people with the same name.

Hannah is a lovely name. Go with it otherwise you'll always regret it.

Change it if you love the name Hannah, it's not the end of the world to change a name, especially after 11 weeks. There are going to be far more important things to worry about as a parent in the future! This is small potatoes!

My dd is hannah and and she goes by
Pops
hannahpop
Popsicle
Hannah banana
Hannah Montana

But mostly just by hannah

You could give her the nickname Lynn.

I have a family member whose name was changed at 6 weeks old- the name she has suits her much better than the previous one and no-one ever thinks about her other name (now a middle name).

Take a week or two to consider whether you want to go ahead with Hannah or a different name and then go for it!