Wanting to change DD's first name WIBU

[F1oridasunshine]

I've NC as this could be potentially outing if we go ahead with it.

Before DD was born me and DP had 2 names; Emily and Meadow. Meadow was by far our preferred name.

We were ridiculed for liking Meadow and told DD could get bullied so called DD Emily despite having reservations.

Although we like the name Emily, it is quite common. We did want something slightly different from a tradition name but thought the name would've grown on us by now but it hasn't and we both feel really disappointed we never stuck with our first choice.

We have discussed changing her name by deedpole to Meadow keeping Emily as a middle name.

Can I ask opinions on this? Are we being silly for considering this or should we just accept our choice and stick with Emily. I really want to change it but DP is worried about it now we have told friends and family her name.

So WWBU to change it?

DD is 15 wks old.

You originally said you were calling your DD Meadow because it was 'less common' but in your responses you repeatedly point out how common her name will be in her generation.

So I'm confused. Which is it?

Suspect you want your child to have the name Meadow so that when you call it out at soft play people will think you're SO original and immediately regret their own Emilys and Olivias.

I know I’m late to the party here but I’ll add my thoughts.

I actually like Meadow, although I’d go with Willow or Poppy or Daisy or something, even Flora or Clover, but I do know once you’ve got your heart set on a name what it’s like.

My parents gave me a very unique name. I don’t like it, because no one can say it, but that’s by the by.

Several years ago now (so I can laugh about it, although believe me it wasn’t funny at the time) I was accused of something very serious at work, and I was eventually exonerated of all charges, nothing to see here whatsoever.

It wasn’t a criminal offence by the way but had it gone to a professional conduct hearing my name would have been all over the press. And with a name like mine, it would be very hard to move on from.

I know that’s stupid but I bet my parents didn’t think of that. You have no privacy with a very unique name. If I was Catherine Jones or Anna Newman it would have been possible to move on.

Rohan pre- LOTR is the outdoor clothing company. So MUCH worse, really.

Yes, just call her Meadow, and leave her legal name as it is. Meadow would be a speia family name which she can either use, or not, depending on circumstances.

I had special family name and of course all family friends used it, and some other people whom I invited to use it. God forbid I'd have had to use it at work! Awful thought

Glad you and your DP have reached an agreement you're both happy with, OP.

FWIW I honestly don't understand this obsession with picturing names on solicitors and high court judges and MPs. Of course there'll never be a solicitor called Meadow if everyone is so hidebound and conventional they stick to top 10 names for evermore. There were 46 Meadows registered in England and Wales in 2011, more than Cecily, Claire, Miranda, so-beloved-of-MN Romilly and other names that would make the MN approved list as being 'proper' names, and I imagine it's only become more popular as more people start to become aware of it as a name.

Condoleeza isn't exactly a conventional name but it didn't hold back Ms Rice.

I recruit regularly in my role and I honestly couldn't give a toss what a candidate is called, I only care whether they can do the job. Our application form sifting is done with names, sex and d.o.b. removed anyway to minimise exactly the sort of prejudice and bias some people on this thread have displayed.

@ridusofyourstupidity

I’d rather meet a professional with the name ‘Meadow’ rather than another one called ‘Laura’, ‘Sophie’ or ‘Emma’.

What a strange comment. Why?

I hate to say this, but that comment, makes you come across as just as judgemental, as the people you're deriding for slagging off unusual names.

As I said, my (unusual) name was mocked. And I genuinely believe that people with unusual/wacky names will be taken less seriously (especially) in more professional careers. A name that is cute as a baby/toddler/infant, will not necessarily be cute on a grown woman in her 20s to 50s, especially in a professional environment...

JMO.

I honestly didn’t mean to come off like that. I wouldn’t consider myself judgey.

I meant it in the sense that it would be lovely to meet someone with a name I don’t hear often after hearing more commonly used names so often. No reflection on the person at all.

OP, the whole point of middle names is that you can stick a bonkers one in, and it doesn't matter. I did this rather than call DC3 Boodle Glad you and DH have found a happy compromise.

"Meadow! What a ghastly name! Back in my day girls were called Charlotte and boys were called Jonathon!" 😁😂
I like Meadow OP and I hope you can change it without hassle.

You originally said you were calling your DD Meadow because it was 'less common' but in your responses you repeatedly point out how common her name will be in her generation.

So I'm confused. Which is it?

I didn't. I originally said we wanted to call her Meadow because we loved the name, but that something my DM said about it spoiled it a little for us.
The conversation about possibly changing her name arose in soft play after DP heard a few parents calling 'Emily'. It made him think about how he originally wanted to call her Meadow and how he felt the name Emily just hadn't grown on him as he thought it might have.

Suspect you want your child to have the name Meadow so that when you call it out at soft play people will think you're SO original and immediately regret their own Emilys and Olivias.

You suspect wrong 😊 We just loved the name. If it was a traditional name we both loved so much which every little girl at soft play had then she would've had the same name as them. I do like some unusual names, but because I think some of them are pretty, not because it there's a chance no one in the world would dare choose it.

I also would've called one of my DD's Olivia, but my niece has that name

FWIW I honestly don't understand this obsession with picturing names on solicitors and high court judges and MPs. Of course there'll never be a solicitor called Meadow if everyone is so hidebound and conventional they stick to top 10 names for evermore.

Meadow from the Sopranos went to law school and was training to be a solicitor. She chose that over medical school

There were 46 Meadows registered in England and Wales in 2011, more than Cecily, Claire, Miranda, so-beloved-of-MN Romilly and other names that would make the MN approved list as being 'proper' names, and I imagine it's only become more popular as more people start to become aware of it as a name.

That's really interesting.

I recruit regularly in my role and I honestly couldn't give a toss what a candidate is called, I only care whether they can do the job. Our application form sifting is done with names, sex and d.o.b. removed anyway to minimise exactly the sort of prejudice and bias some people on this thread have displayed.

This ^ is clearly what should be done. It is sad that there are clearly quite a lot of people out there who discriminate people because of a name their parent's gave them.

I think its sad that people would actually discount a 'Meadow' from a traditional career just due to her name.

Congrats on your baby girl!

Meadow Emily really, really doesn't go.
Emily Meadow suits far better.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread, all your opinions really helped us make our decision to add Meadow as a middle name.

Seeing the direction the thread took off in I wish I added the vote button for those in favour and against Meadow as a name 😂

Emily Meadow is a lovely name, OP. Congratulations on having her

Its a lovely middle name, and this way you can use it whenever you want, but don’t have to. best of both worlds!