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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I am regretting my 3 year old son’s name

251 replies

Tealbutterfly · 09/07/2021 08:08

I really wish we hadn’t called him what we have. I always liked the name, since I was young.
But now it’s become hugely popular and it’s lost its “charm” in my opinion, the charm I saw in it when I was younger.
He’s 3 years old, so we can’t change it.
I’m upset that it has a bit of a reputation now, when before it was a more unusual name to hear.

What do you do if you feel like this? I guess I’ve just got to suck it up really! As we can hardly change it at this stage in his life.

OP posts:
Rainallnight · 09/07/2021 08:10

I feel like this and my DS is 3 too. I didn’t have a long standing association with the name, it was DP’s choice and and I felt a bit ambivalent. My dad had just died and I didn’t have it in me to come up with a better alternative or to have a debate about it. Now I don’t like it and don’t like the connotations.

BUT DS is growing into a fantastic little character and I think he’ll just make it his own.

And as you say, can’t do anything now anyway!

Romanoff · 09/07/2021 08:10

Are you going to to share the name?

Purley out if my own nosiness. There's not much you can do.

There's always a chance this can happen. But if you used it before it was popular, he will be a bit older than most of the others.

You just have to accept it is what it is.

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 09/07/2021 08:11

Yep, suck it up
Could you cultivate a nickname?

What is the name?

I don't get the going off a name because it is popular. It is popular because it is nice.

Original poster
Tealbutterfly · 09/07/2021 08:13

His name is Archie.
I always liked the name when watching Monarch of the Glen as a teenager. My mum used to like watching Hornblower (the historical nautical drama series) and there was an Archie in that too. I thought it was unusual and liked how it sounded.
It’s also a Scottish name and both me and my DP have Scottish ancestry/family connections.

OP posts:
FriedasCarLoad · 09/07/2021 08:14

I really sympathize.

Good suggestion from Antique about cultivating a nickname. I have plenty friends who rarely use their first name, some not even in formal work situations.

Flowerlane · 09/07/2021 08:15

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do, most names will all be popular at one time so there is no point changing it even if you could.

When I picked my sons name it was uncommon it’s not usual just was not that common, now over the last couple of years it’s really climbed the ranks and gets mentioned a lot on name board suggestions.

I picked the name because I loved it since I was 14 years old! He has made the name his own and suits it perfectly, he is nearly 12. I couldn’t imagine him as anything else.

Just remember why you picked the name, because you loved it, don’t let nothing take that away from you. It’s his name. Smile

DinosaurDiana · 09/07/2021 08:16

I love Archie.
You need to suck it up and never say it to anyone.
Is there a nickname you can call him ?

toffeebutterpopcorn · 09/07/2021 08:16

You can change it. I worked for a place that had a nursery and one day a mum announced that her son was no longer X but Y (not a middle name or pet name) - a variation on his name. So I assume it was ‘legal’?

FindingMeno · 09/07/2021 08:16

I would cultivate a nickname as suggested if you feel like this.

Palavah · 09/07/2021 08:17

It's still a really nice name, you still have your positive associations with it. The fact it's become popular doesn't need to change that.

I thought you were going to say something that has acquired negative connotations, like Boris or similar!

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 09/07/2021 08:24

This happens to a lot of people. We think we are being original then by the time our child is school age the name trends are really apparent! I have a friend who chose Harrison thinking it would unusual... we know 3 all the same age. There are lots of boys named Alfie, Joshua, Archie, Freddie atm.

I thought my daughter's name would be rare, but actually we've met a couple since so we are right there in the trend with everyone else Grin

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 09/07/2021 08:25

Oh and it's a lovely name.

If it really bothers you does he have a middle name you could perhaps alternate with as a nickname?

Brokenrecord3006 · 09/07/2021 08:25

That's a lovely name, I'd say it's quite unusual. I've not come across a single other person called Archie. Maybe over time you'll grow to love it again?

IcedSpice · 09/07/2021 08:28

It was originally a shortened form of Archibald but is now often used as a name on its own. It was the 18th most-popular boy's name in England and Wales in 2017, with 2,803 baby boys called Archie that year, and has been in the top 50 consistently since 2003.

Not really unusual though, and pretty popular

There was something you liked about it 3 years ago, try and remember what that was. If not, nickname!

M0rT · 09/07/2021 08:30

It's a lovely name, I used to watch Monarch of the Glen too Smile
It's popularity just shows you are ahead of the curve and I don't know of any poor connotations with it.
I have a name that is really really popular for my age group .
My DM knew no-one with the name when I was born, but I have never been the only one in a class/work even friendship groups I often get my full name to differentiate.
It's not a problem, everyone can pronounce and spell it and sometimes it worked to my advantage in school if called to read and the other one thought they meant her Grin

Neighneigh · 09/07/2021 08:31

It's a lovely name, promise (I'm a Monarch of the Glen fan too!). And just like your feelings about it have changed over the years, they may well change again in the future - imagine when he starts school and is in an assembly and they read out his name and you're super proud. I know it's hard at the moment but feelings - and children!- change and grow over time so you might find that you come to like it again.

As for it being a popular name, like I always say to my eldest, I don't care what everyone else is doing, I care what you're doing. So if you originally liked it, try and remember why. It's honestly a lovely name.

CoralSparkles · 09/07/2021 08:32

@Tealbutterfly I thought it was unusual and liked how it sounded.

Archie has never been an “unusual” name. There’s a boy called Archie in pretty much every class at my primary school, from Nursery up to Y6.

ETgo · 09/07/2021 08:32

I felt like that with my eldest when he started school - his name is Connor and wasn't hugely popular in general at the time - he started year R in a one class intake school with two other Connor's!! He spent the full 7 years of primary school known as Connor P 😂

Ultimately though it didn't take away how much i liked the name and i think you just need to remember your reasons for liking the name remain the same regardless of how popular the name is 🙂

dottiedodah · 09/07/2021 08:37

I think many people choose a name and in good faith ,later on a famous person chooses said name and it takes on a new meaning! Archie is a lovely name though ,and I think there are lots and lots of little (and bigger boys with the same name).He will take on his own version of that name and still be your lovely boy . Try not to worry ,as time goes on and H and M make US their permeant home we will not hear as much from them and it will seem less of an issue TBH.

Lovestonap · 09/07/2021 08:37

It's a perfectly fine name, but certainly not unusual. I was going to name my son Archie but then a friend named their baby it, and that was nearly 12 years ago! If I wanted to be unusual I should have gone for something like Gary or Craig Grin I'm sure the 80s names are due a revival soon!

user1493494961 · 09/07/2021 08:37

There's nothing wrong with Archie, it's a really nice name. I only know of two, one of whom is 16.

Whinge · 09/07/2021 08:37

@Brokenrecord3006

That's a lovely name, I'd say it's quite unusual. I've not come across a single other person called Archie. Maybe over time you'll grow to love it again?
Really? Shock

I'm very surprised by this. Like other posters i've found there's at least one in every year group in school, and has been for some time now.

OP, it's a popular name for a reason, lots of people including you really like it. Ignore how popular it is, and focus on what makes your Archie special and unique.

hapagirl · 09/07/2021 08:38

Aww. But you gave it to him with good intentions, it’s still a nice name. I did the same. DH is Scottish and our DD has a lovely Scottish girl’s name. I knew no one else with that name, thought it was so original. Then we moved to Scotland where it is currently the top baby girl’s name. 😳. But I figure it’s there because it’s a lovely name and it’s her (along with thousands of other girls and female dogs 😂)

zafferana · 09/07/2021 08:41

I don't think it has 'a reputation'. I mean, sure, people will think of Meghan and Harry when they hear the name and that's not great, but your DS is older than their DS.

I met a DM on holiday once who had a DD called Harper, who was older than Harper Beckham. She also found it sad that the name they'd chosen had kind of been hijacked and when people heard it they immediately thought of Posh and David.

All of you saying 'find a nickame', what nickname would you come up with for Archie? It's already a nickname for Archibald ...

HomerSimpsonsDonut · 09/07/2021 08:45

Just remember why you picked the name, because you loved it, don’t let nothing take that away from you. It’s his name.

I agree. OP just always keep in mind the reasons you chose his name and what it means to you. You didn't name him Archie because it was a popular name, you had your own personal reasons.