I hate my baby's name

[WatchingFriendsOnRepeat]

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...

Please, change your child’s name to the name you love. Don’t listen to anyone else. He is your child.

I have been stuck with a name I dislike all my life. Not chosen by my parents. Do it. You’re the adult and he IS YOUR CHILD.

@TwentyViginti Teddy is short for both Edward and Theodore. Theodore Roosevelt? The Teddy Bear was named after him. He was often known as Teddy Roosevelt x

Ted Teddy can be short for Edward, Edwin or Theodore. Theodore Roosevelt was Teddy Roosevelt (same person)
I like Edwin. Louis and Charlie are both nice.

Teddy or Ted is short for Edward, not Theodore! No!
The original teddy bears were named after Theodore Roosevelt, president of the USA.
Ted has been used as a nickname for Theodore for over a century, maybe more.
www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/storyofteddybear.htm

OP Louis Charles is a lovely name; congratulations on your new baby!

Sorry - cross-posted with others re Teddy.

@TwentyViginti but I do agree Louis Charles Theodore... Teddy would love the idea his name is used for his brother's... thanks for the suggestion - I may use it!!! X

Yeah it’s well accepted that Teddy, as well as being short for other names, is short for Theodore/Theodora...

Louis is a lovely name. Personally I prefer Charles or Charlie. Your choices are to introduce your ds as Charles to everyone or change his name. I understand how you feel. Names are so device. I wouldn’t choose my Dds name again. I also gave her a nickname from birth and the day I heard someone else using it when she was a few months old, I didn’t ever use the name ever again. It was supposed to be just ours.

Louis Charles is good.

Twenty
Teddy is short for Theodore and Edward. Teddy Roosevelt...

@WatchingFriendsOnRepeat
"I always immediately think of cocaine when someone says Charlie!

That was my first thought...
Naming children isn't easy...It is best to Playground ''tease test'' a name ...''Charlie Farnes Barnes'' ''Billy no mates'' ''Artie Fartie'' ''Pooey Louis''..Kids can be horrid.

There was a lovely lad in our class whose Surname was 'Ovenden' and he was called ''Oviduct'' mercilessly :/ The more he reacted, the worse it got. {the other boys called him this, never the girls}

Nearly every name has tease potential...but just avoid the worst ones..
The pronunciation is something to be taken into account too..
Is it ''Lewy'' or ''Louis'' like John Lewis?... Urgh... Also names can date, fast.

I’m very biased as my son is called Charlie and I love it. He suits it and I don’t associate any negative connotations. But I couldn’t ever imagine him being another name as he suits it so I suppose it’s up to you.

My DD was always Sophia before she was born, then when she arrived I had a brain fart and named her after my grandmother (Amy, who I never really liked). I've regretted it ever since and DD hates her name.
That same grandmother also named me, I hate my name too.
Don't let anyone else influence your choice, you'll regret it.
Louis Charles is lovely btw.

I think Louis is a great name. However I wouldn't give him Charlie or Charles as a middle name as it gives permission to others (immediate family by the sounds of it), to call him Charlie- a name that you dont like.
Give him a completely different name and as a pp said, correct your ds if he calls him Charlie.
Hope jabs are ok

@connellwaldron
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.
Spot on....Who hasn't been teased for their name at some point :)

Some daft rhyming pun made upon it, or heaven forbid if a song is released with the name..... That way torment lies.

Best to never respond, or just shrug it off.
I regret very much not giving DS a middle name......

He just has the one {a 'classic' } but I wish I'd called him 'William' for a middle name after his granddads.
I left it 'blank' thinking he could choose his own when older, but he never has.

Louis Charles is perfect.

I can’t believe how rude some people are (in rl and on this thread) about fairly traditional names - I know a Charlie whose name has never held him back, he’s a happy kind clever young man so trust me there are no negative connotations only to small minded people!

Having said that your his mum and it’s your decision and if you prefer something else go for it

*you’re not your!

Definitely change it now if it doesn't sit right, and don't listen to other people's opinion, just go with the name you love. The only thing is, names don't always suit people for life. My DD was a delicate, pretty newborn, like a China doll. I gave her an ultra feminine, cutesy name. People warned me that if she grew up to be a bank manager then no one would take her seriously. She is 15 now, tough as old boots, practical, serious and loves DIY, cars and making flat pack furniture. She does not suit her name, I should have enjoyed the cute name for a year then changed it to Victoria or Alexandra. So yes, change your baby's name - have no regrets!

Definitely change it.

It doesn't matter who on here 'likes' Charlie or Louis or any other name, that isn't the point of the thread.

OP - yes, change your baby's name now while he's so young to one YOU are happy with. It's perfectly fine. To hell with everyone else's opinion.

It will take no time at all for you to stop saying the old name. Use his new one loud and proud and as often as you can to drum everyone else into line :)

It’s nothing to do with small mindedness, don’t be ridiculous.

It’s very normal to have positive or negative associations with names. Doesn’t mean one thinks every single Charlie in the world is horrible, nor that every single Charlotte in the world is absolutely wonderful. Just that one wouldn’t choose a name that brings negative feelings or impressions, so you choose a name that you love and that brings good associative feelings.

It’s actually quite small minded not to be able to understand that people’s experiences or impressions will vary wildly and it will be different from person to person, and that every name that one person loves will likely be disliked by someone else, and that’s okay.

I love both names...funnily enough my eldest is Charlie and my youngest Louie!

I agree with people saying I worry too much about other people's opinions. I probably am. I don't usually but I've been very sensitive the past few months. It was a very difficult pregnancy and I had hyperemesis so bad that I lost 3 stone and was on a drip in hospital virtually every week until he was born; the father left, after trying for this much wanted baby for over a year, for a girl nearly 20yrs younger than me and not heard from him since, despite him living with her 200metres down the road; coronavirus nearly killed me and the baby just before I gave birth via emergency c section and he ended up in NICU for 2 weeks after being born; breastfeeding has been a massive struggle, not just because I still have lasting effects from the virus but also my lack of nutrition throughout the pregnancy meant my milk just hardly came in; now the lockdown is really getting to me because I'm unable to get any physical or emotional help apart from my extremely pushy and opinionated mother who lives next door... I know how to handle her though lol! Luckily I have earplugs and can pretend to be asleep very well! She means well and is a good person though.

it's been difficult to say the least and although I don't think I have PND, I do think I am depressed, exhausted and doubting my own mind, so I am definitely more sensitive than I usually would be!

Doesn't change the fact I still do not like Charlie though. For him. I love the name, just he is not a Charlie. Definitely more Louis... I don't think, in my case, it's a symptom of PND.

I've never heard anyone say, "Cheeky Charlie", in my entire life.

I presume his real name is 'Charles' and hope that Teddy (Ted) is Edward.

Change it if you hate it. But don't discuss your choice with family. Believe me they will find an issue.

My kids names were judged and my ideas were responded with a errr nooo or a lip up and a look of disapproval. You won't please everyone. He's your son!!! You choose.

I like Charlie personally. It was on my list 5 years ago.

If you would be happier with Louis, then change it!

I would say to people that all you've done is change it from Charles Louis (known as Charlie) to Louis Charles (known as Louis). Only 'upside' of Corona is you have longer to register and decide which is better as his first name.

Done. You've just changed the order.