Wanting to change DD2s name as no one else seems to likely

[TeddyBares]

I hate posting this, DD2 is 8 weeks old, she’s perfect but I’m super sleep deprived so probably extra sensitive.
DD1 is 2 when she was born everyone complimented her name, and even know still do.
DD2 gets a mix of aw lovely to just down right to “oh like the fabric softener (more so over text than in person)” it’s making me really sad. Today we went out for lunch and the waitress asked their names told her and she went gosh that’s a gorgeous name in reference to DD1s but nothing about DD2s.
Im thinking we should just change it? I live her name and always imagined having a little girl with the name but wouldn’t want her to feel like her name is ugly or hate her name (I don’t like my name and get some annoying comments so wouldn’t want that). DH thinks I’m being silly and we live her name so that’s all that matters.
AIBU wanting to change it?
Her name is Leonora as I know people will be curious.

Leonora is a beautiful name!

Leonora is a beautiful name, with lots of NN options, as is Annabel. You have great taste.

It's new friends you need, not a new name for your child.

Leonora is as as equally as gorgeous as Annabelle.

Leo and Nora are really cute nickname options too (just like Anna and Belle for your other DD). 😊

I thought exactly the same!

Unless there's a fabric softener that I'm not aware of which is called Leonora, I would never link it to Lenor.

I think it's a gorgeous name, and I wonder if people are just less complimentary because it's the second child - sadly there's generally less excitement about a second child and in person they may not want the older child to be upset by giving lots of attention and compliments to their new little sister.

I made the Lenor connection even before you wrote ‘Leonora’. Not sure why you should change it though, Leonora isn’t the name of the fabric softener 🤷‍♀️ The problem lies with ignorant people, not you. Keep the name.

@Spomsored Leon-ora is the correct way; I think Li-ora sounds a bit 'harsh' on the ear!

I would think the opposite. Don’t really like Annabelle as it’s a run of the mill safe name and personally I don’t like them much, but Leonora is better. It’s got lots of shortening opportunities should you / wish too.
they are your kids who cares what anyone else thinks.

Annabelle is a beautiful name and recognisable as a name most people will be familiar with even if it’s reasonably unusual and is typically considered quite pretty.

Leonora is a bit more unusual so perhaps one people don’t feel such an instant affinity with. It is also slightly ‘harsher’ so might be more of a love it/don’t like it type of name.
Personally I think it’s lovely- unusual and strong.

Trends and fashions change. I once met an elderly lady many years ago who had called her daughter Tracey when it was practically unheard of and she said everyone had complimented her on it being so pretty and so unusual and she loved it. Fast forward to the 80s and it became a name to mock and tease.

You won’t win! Yes Annabel might be more popular but your Leonora will make her name her own and might end up being grateful for a name that remains more unusual - I have a feeling Annabel is going to get very popular.

Leonora is a lovely name and in my opinion nicer than Annabel

Leonora is beautiful. It was on my list but both mine were boys!

I'd personally not change it. Or see how you feel for several more weeks yet.

I love the name Leonora. Beautiful! I like unusual names.

I have 2 DDs also. My first is called something very similar in format to Annabelle, very 'safe', some might say overly popular at the time (she's 14 now) but I loved it and still do.

With DD2 I called her something a bit more unusual but an established name (as opposed to a made up name, if you know what I mean), and have never come across another, other than a couple of well known celebs. I think when people hear it, esp when she was a baby, they're initially a bit 'oh!' Not taken aback as such but it perhaps seems a very glamorous and adult name for a baby/young girl. That said, my dd2 is feisty and very direct, quick witted etc and is absolutely growing into that name with gusto.

I think the pairing of Annabelle and Leonora is absolutely divine. Leonora is such a beautiful name. Stick with it please!!!

Leonora is beautiful. I think you’re misreading people’s initial reaction face to face because it is a really unusual name and they’re processing it. I also (to cut the people you know some slack) think the comments you’ve had about the fabric softener are mostly by text because they’re cottoning onto the most familiar word they see in the text - it sounds nothing like lenor when said out loud.

if you’re really uncomfortable with it then now is a good time to change it but I really don’t think you need to.

My daughter's best friend is a Leonora, everyone calls her Leni.

I love the name, although it is true some people pronounce it Lenora rather than the proper pronounciation.

I immediately thought of "Comfort" and wondered if you had named them Comfort and Joy.....!

Ignore other people's responses, everyone has different opinions. Leonora is a well known name to me, just less common nowadays I guess. Both names are lovely. It is nice not to have the latest fashionable name as then you don't spend your life evoking your surname to distinguish you from all the others at school, work etc. Loads of my female contacts are called Jenny or a variation of that name!

YABU unreasonable, both of your daughter's names are lovely and classy, classic but not overused, unusual but not ridiculous, and not faddy or trendy.

You're being sensitive and seeing things that aren't there. It could be total coincidence that people happened to compliment your older daughter's name, and as previous posters said, it could just be because she's old enough to appreciate the compliments.

It’s a variant of Helen, as is Eleanore and many other names. IMHO it’s one of the best variations of the name - it’s beautiful! And Leanora sounds nothing like Lenore, it has two more syllables, for a start!

It's a beautiful name. I once knew a French girl called Leonora. Don't change it.

FWIW it’s worth i actually think India is a really beautiful name too! I don’t connect it with colonialism. I think of someone who had a very romantic and beautiful trip to India before having children then named their child with the love they had for that trip.

I love Leonora! Weirdly, I’m reading a book now with a Leonora who goes by Leni, I had been thinking what a lovely name it was!

Love Leonora, please don't change it because of others.
If you love it then keep it

Don’t change it! It’s a lovely name and I prefer it to Annabel. There’ll always be some daft people around. I called one of my DDs a perfectly normal name and my neighbour misheard it as the name of a cake! Ridiculous!

Because Leonora isn’t as common as some names, just concentrate on enunciating it clearly to new people and repeat it. Most probably some people aren’t catching it the first time.

The reason why the waitress said Annabel was a lovely name was due to the age of your first DD. Quite often people will say that to/about an older child but ignore a baby.

Put all this out of your mind and focus on getting some sleep xx

It's a beautiful name, don't change it!

The first few weeks with 1 is hard enough but having a second who is still so very young is super hard.

Be kind to yourself!!

I very much think this is a sleep deprivation issue, Leonora is a beautiful name.

Leonora is a gorgeous name OP, I wouldn't change it. Congratulations on your baby