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.

Florida, give your child the name that you love.

Change her name to Meadow Emily, call her the double name for a week or so, then phase out Emily. Done.

@rainingallday IDGAF what you - or anyone else thinks of my opinions OR my username. I am entitled to my opinions. So just do one with your snide comments.

So why are you passionately upset at others having opinions different to yours?

Seems like your mind is already made up, and you are just dead set on mocking and deriding anyone who says it's not a great name.

I haven't mocked anyone Infact, I thanked everyone for their opinions including from those who don't like Meadow as a name! I think you need to put your wine down, take 5 minutes away from your keyboard and calm down picturing rainingallday angrily cursing and punching holes in her living room wall

@F1oridasunshine Nice bit of ageism in your posts there hun. wink

I explained in a previous post how I agreed with a pp (and I'm only going by the changing trends if baby name choices) how older generations stuck to traditional names. You can actually google each decade going back 100 years to see how name trends have changed. That's what I did when looking for baby girl names. It's really interesting.

@mirror9 that is really helpful, thankyou.

My name is Emily so obviously love that but Meadow is honestly awful. As mentioned you would not want to put Meadow on a job application. And I agree, babies start to recognise their name by now too.

I love Meadow, and I’m fairly ancient according to my dc😀. Dd1 has a name that was unusual when she was born 21yrs ago and I got comments from (rude) people, including my mother. It’s now always in the top names list unfortunately. Go with what you love.
OP I think it’s fine to change it at that age, the sooner the better really so people aren’t too used to her first name.

All this “you wouldn’t want to put Meadow on a job application” shit is stupid. If I had 200 applications in front of me and 36 were from Emily’s or similar popular names and 1 was from Meadow, I know which I’d read first, the one that sounded original and interesting. I know her parents named her but I’d expect her to be more interesting too.

Sorry not for me, Emily is far better, love traditional names. Working as a supply teacher it never ceases to amaze me the bonkers names some parents come up with just to try and be different.

I myself would name her Emily Meadow but call her Meadow.

However: this is your child and you have the right to name her... Meadow may not be a name I'd choose for my daughter. but it is certainly not offensive. So yes, if you both feel very strongly about it? I'd advise you to change it.

Btw, have you checked the initials? That they don't spell out anything embarrassing?

I think under a year you can change it on the birth certificates

Change it. It seems clear you want to. And if you have more children, don't tell people what your choices are (or if you do, don't pay any attention to what they say).

If she is Meadow Emily, she can choose to use a more traditional name when she's older, if that's what she wants. I think it's pretty, I prefer individual names. I was one of 8 in my year at secondary school with my name, it was so dull.

The idea that a 15 week old can recognise their name is absolute total bollocks, by the way.

She might find that some people don’t take her seriously as an adult. I’d be more likely to interview an Emily than a Meadow when shortlisting cvs. And I can imagine she’ll get fed up of explaining why she’s called Meadow and nodding along when people exclaim what an unusual name it is.

Watch out for Theresa May running through her. Stick with Emily, its a lovely name

When choosing names for DD my question to myself was "Does this name sound right both for a supermodel and a barrister?" I can imagine Meadow Smith the supermodel but not sure I see Meadow Smith the barrister.

I doubt she'd be bullied though, there are so many unusual names around now.

I really like the name!

No it is more of a judge’s name really.

You change have a new birth certificate up to 12 months.

Meadow is awful though and just silly

I personally prefer Emily as a name.
However, she is your baby not mine! So you should change it if you like!
Keeping Emily as a middle name is a good move though - when she gets older she may decide to use that anyway.

Some names are growers as well - I’ve got nieces and nephews that were given names that I was a bit about at first (but would never have been so rude as to say something!) now they’re older the names suit them so much and I can’t imagine them being called anything else.

Have to admit this isn't totally relevant but the weirdest name is a colleague's son: Louis. Because it's pronounced Lewis.

Colleague tells me she gets annoyed that people are always mispronouncing her son's name. I've never had the courage to ask why, if they liked the name Lewis, they didn't just call him Lewis?

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks except you and your partner, some people will like the name others will not. But that is the way for every name! If someone's says they don't like the name just tell them you didn't ask for their opinion. Your family should not have put you in the position by saying they didn't like the name in the first place. Most people associate names with people so in time they will love her name just as they love her, but really it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. If you want to change it go for it, my aunt had her name changed when she was a few months old. So do what makes you happy.

At 15 weeks I don't see the problem, it's not like she will really know her name.
As others have said, you could just start using Meadow, my cousin goes by her middle name, I didn't even know until a year or two ago.
And my daughter goes by a variation of her name, but not the obvious shorted version, we only introduce her with that name and on on any forms I make sure I put her preferred name down, never had any problems.

But if you really want to go by Deed then do it. I think it's a lovely name btw, and not really teasing worthy, especially with all the weird names kids have nowadays!

Meadow is lovely. Follow your heart.

I mean this in the nicest possible way, but if potential bullying is the only reason you didn't choose the name you really wanted, then change it to Meadow now while she's still young. Because kids will always find something to bully about, whether it be a name or a nose or hair or trainers.

It's your choice and if she doesn't like it she can go by Emily if you use that as a middle name.

OP didn't ask for opinions on the name only on changing it.that said I love both. Emily is my name and very comfortable if not unusual. Meadow is pretty but it's your choice and what suits her that counts.
If it feels wrong then change it. You'll regret it for the rest of her life. If you're keeping Emily as her middle name she can revert if she wants to.

Change it op - it’s up to you and your DH, no-one else.

If you decide to have another dc, don’t tell anyone the names you are thinking of until dc is born because then it is a birth announcement - “we have a son/daughter, born at , his/her name is xxxxx. Mum and baby doing well

surely it doesnt matter what the name is . what matters is that you want to change it.
Do it.