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Original poster

I hate my baby's name

129 replies

WatchingFriendsOnRepeat · 13/05/2020 08:25

I didn't know where to put this post and I need as much advice as possible because I'm so torn!

I'm a single mum to 2 boys - 5yrs old (next month) and 8 weeks.

My eldest was named while I was 19wks pregnant and when he was born he fitted the name perfectly - i never had any doubt of his name and still love it! He is Teddy.

I couldn't find a name I loved during my pregnancy with my youngest, but I did have a list of names I liked. I still like those names but none of them fit. I went in for my planned c section with the name Charlie pretty much on top, but he has never suited it in my mind. I mentioned it to my mum the other day and she sheepishly agreed. We all call him "baby!" My dad keeps calling him Chuck or Chaz... I really hate when people immediately say "cheeky Charlie" when I tell them his name.

My eldest loves the name Charlie and said he will still call him Charlie even if I change it, which is fine. I think if I change it and stick to it anyway, he will eventually forget his original name.

I like Louis. He suits a Louis. My mum isn't too keen but that's partly because she thinks he is a Billy/William. I kind of do too, but my dad is Billy and my 3 siblings and I are extremely screwed up thanks to my dad, who is old and wobbly now but still a mean man and I see him everyday as I live next door to both my parents. I don't want to call him Billy and end up regretting it more than I do Charlie!

The baby's dad is not around at all so I can't ask his opinion. I feel embarrassed that my baby, in my view, has no name!

Did anyone else here have name regret? Did you change it or did the baby just "become" the name?

Please help...

OP posts:
BettyUnderswoob · 13/05/2020 08:56

It’s early days, so change it now. To Louis Charles. You’ll regret it otherwise.
Great names, by the way!

Iwalkinmyclothing · 13/05/2020 08:56

Charlie is a lovely name but op, what does it matter what anyone else thinks? Name your baby a name you like and think is appropriate!

JustinMyJustin · 13/05/2020 08:56

Theodore and Louis go so nicely Beautiful names😊

connellwaldron · 13/05/2020 08:56

Fate has helped you out with not being able to register. Change his name if you are unhappy although I think both names lovely. Sounds like you are quite sensitive to people's comments, be prepared that someone will always say silly things and you'll probably get some craic about Louis too so you will need to try and ignore it.

Roselilly36 · 13/05/2020 08:57

I love the name Charlie.

HappyDinosaur · 13/05/2020 08:57

Much prefer Charlie, Louis seems a bit wet to me, however we all have different tastes and you should name your baby something that you like.

JustinMyJustin · 13/05/2020 08:57

I want another baby now so
I can call him Louis CharlesGrin

nannybeach · 13/05/2020 08:58

I dont like Charlie but then I cant bear to see/hear names shortened Alfie, Charlie, joey, but its up to you, I know there is a fashion at the moment for these very old names. My late DF when being told his oldest grandsons nam, "when he grows up and works in a factory) hes 40, my DS,it will be shorted to ---, assured him neither of these things would happen.These names that end in ie, that might be cute on a baby, I just think of them as an adult. One of my DGKs has already at 9 deseded she doesnt like her name, and has desided a more grown up sounding version she wants to be called.

JustinMyJustin · 13/05/2020 08:59

Yes to what @connellwaldron says about other people’s opinions. You can’t please everyone and it’s your decision what you call your DC!

Elieza · 13/05/2020 08:59

As a pp says, test drive the new name for a few days. Without telling anyone. Talk to yourself as though you’re having a conversation with someone “Louis is fine thanks, arent you Louis”. “My sons name is Louis” etc “Louis (surname)”.

Then if you like it test drive it with your mum for a few days. Until you are sure. Tell family after that. You can always use his current name as his middle name and you can tell your son the story when he is bigger.

If you don’t like your mums choice of name you can always tell her you’ve tried it at home as you did Louis but you’re just not feeling it, but you did try.

Now is the perfect time to change it as he won’t know any better.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 13/05/2020 08:59

I named my 23 year old son Lewis after seeing the name Louis in a newspaper article...i love it and so does he.

canonlydoblue · 13/05/2020 09:01

Definitely change it - we announced our daughters name (only to a select few at first) and would cringe every time someone said it. We changed it and kept her original name as her middle name and it suits her perfectly.

christmastreewithhairyfairy · 13/05/2020 09:03

I didn't gel with DD2s name for a long time, was convinced we'd made the wrong decision and almost went back and changed it. So glad we didn't! I can't see her as anything else now, and she loves her name. The other one we almost went with wouldn't suit her at all.

FWIW I prefer Charlie to Louis. And certainly don't listen to your mother!

NB a friend has a DS Charlie and people have commented to him (the dad, not the son!) about the drug connotation... but only because the dad was a huge fan of Charlie back in the day Wink ... otherwise I'd just ignore that. Whatever name you choose someone will find something negative to think or say about it.

Tailsoftheunexpected · 13/05/2020 09:03

Change it OP. It’s going to be even easier to do than it would usually
due to the delay in registering births so do it. You are his mum. You aren’t happy with the name you originally chose for him. He’s tiny so it will make no difference to him and I would ignore the rest of the family’s protests. Louis is a lovely name and for you it feels right. Do it. And congratulations on your new little boy .

NearlyGranny · 13/05/2020 09:04

Ignore what family members say - they get to name their own babies, not yours. Likewise your older child - you wouldn't let a 4yo choose his own bedtime, let alone a name his brother will carry for life!

You are the parent: this is 100% your call, your prerogative, your responsibility. I like both hames, but it isn't about what I like. Prince Louis will make it much easier for people to pronounce the name in your preferred way, too.

Go for it and don't be deflected by what anybody else says.

Zaphodsotherhead · 13/05/2020 09:08

I like both Louis and Charlie and know representatives of both names, both lovely lads.

Mind you, I like William too, it's one of my sons' names. And he has never ever in his life been called 'Billy'. I think it's an old nick name now, and children called Billy tend to have been named Billy from the get go. William has always been Will in our family.

You call your boy whatever you want. Don't let someone else guilt you into a name (my mum wanted my eldest boy to be called either Arnold or Bert... Not on my watch!)

NearlyGranny · 13/05/2020 09:08

I'm still getting used to my own nearly 8 wk old DGS's name, on which I had zero input. The only acceptable thing for family and friends to say is, "Whatever you choose will be perfect!"

loutypips · 13/05/2020 09:14

I get the cheeky Charlie thing. My uncle was called Charlie and he lived up to his name! I'd do as others have suggested and use it as a middle name! And Theodore is a lovely name too! I like names that can have multiple nicknames, mine is like that and I have my work name, my family name and my friends name.

Spirali · 13/05/2020 09:14

I’ve often noticed on these types of threads that someone will say that baby name retreat can be a sign of PND. Not sure if anyone has mentioned that yet but I figured it was worth bringing up incase...

FWIW I love both Charlie and Louis 🙂

Imstillskanking · 13/05/2020 09:17

If you don't have a BC yet then I wouldn't worry at all, just change it if you want to.

Also, your OP focuses an awful lot on what other people think about your baby's name - mostly your mum. Totally irrelevant. This is your baby. You name him. Don't ask other people's opinion, and if they offer it to you, take it with a polite smile and a pinch of salt. Names are personal and no one likes and dislikes all of the same names. Just go with what you think is right.

Ninkanink · 13/05/2020 09:23

I like Louis much better. Yes, I agree, use it yourself for about a week first just to be sure you’re happy with it, and then go ahead and tell everyone. And don’t pay any attention to what anyone else says!

I would also bring your son round to the fact that his brother’s name is going to be Louis and he will need to call him that too. If you change it you need to change it decisively and you should also be able to tell your child to change what he calls him - it’s not your child’s place to dictate to you. Maybe suggest he calls him Louis Charlie if he wants to (until he gets lazy and just calls him Louis for short). 😉

McT123 · 13/05/2020 09:26

My DS was Marcus for a week but we hated it so changed it. Change it!

TwentyViginti · 13/05/2020 09:27

Teddy or Ted is short for Edward, not Theodore!. Louis Charles goes together well. Louis Charles Theodore sounds very grand!

Grandmi · 13/05/2020 09:29

A friend of mine changed the names of her twins when they were 6 months old and has never regretted it....just do it .X

Thehop · 13/05/2020 09:33

Good luck today, I think jabs are harder for us than them! X

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