To regret my child's name..

[paranoral]

I couldn't think what to call her.
We settled on Esmé.. I had liked it for about 10 years.

I've been out twice this Easter and heard "Esmé" been shouted by other mums.
It's everywhere. She's 2.. is it too late to change now? I really regret it.

Yes it's too late, your daughters name is her identity.

There was 3 other children with the same name as my child playing a match on Sunday

It thought it was hilarious

Fwiw, I do like the name Esme. I considered the name for my daughter but knew 2 Esme's already so went with a different name.
Similarly to you, I wanted to go for something unusual

You are being incredibly precious to 'regret' the fact that you have chosen a name for your child that other people also like. Clearly, you think it's a nice name. Why do you think other parents wouldn't also think it's a nice name, for the same reasons you did?!

The fact that you've liked it 'for about ten years' is meaningless. There are plenty of Esmes who pre-date the time you started liking the name.

You cannot possibly expect to gatekeep a name. Ridiculous.

Of course it’s too late, she’s a child not a doll.

We named my DS something that at the time was a nice but not overly popular name. About five years later it became very popular and now there are lots of them. There is nothing you can do about it - what if you changed her name (which it's too late to do anyway), but then that becomes popular in a few years time? It really doesn't matter if other children share her name.

Lots of Esmes where I am too, someone said it got popular after the Twilight films, although they were a long time ago so probably not an influence anymore! It's a beautiful name.

what if you changed her name (which it's too late to do anyway), but then that becomes popular in a few years time?

Really good point actually.

And how exactly do you plan on telling her she has a new name. What happens when you hear people using her new name will you change it again?

How often will you keep changing her name?!

I chose my kids’ names because I liked them. I cringe at people who are desperate that their child is the only one with that name. It’s so ridiculously self-absorbed.

Though I will go against the grain and say I don’t think it’s too late to change it if you really want. It will be confusing for Esme for a while but Tumble-Hairdryer-Volcano-Blue (or whatever yooonique name you choose)will get used to it I am sure and grow into her new name. Until someone else steals it..

My son's name was in the top 20 at the time, so not unheard of but not unpopular. I've heard it a few times in parks and the lads called it were all hilariously mischievous and none stop just like my son. Makes me feel like those with his name are destined to be cheeky 🤣. My daughters was in the top 5 and I've yet to hear it called in the park and she's the only one in her first school called it. I wouldn't change your daughter's name, when she's old enough then she can if wants to. It would be weird calling your child a completely different name.

I love it when other boys have the same name as my son!

Your daughter as a beautiful name

No need to feel that you should change it at all.

"Esmé is a very popular and beautiful name"

Well, if you think one in 3000 every year is "very popular"......

Yes she's 2. Get over it or you're going to screw with her head. Get a pet

Look you cannot choose a name and expect to never come across another child with that name.

Also you think you are choosing an unusual or old fashioned pretty name and you're the first to think about it but names come in and out of fashion.

I love the name Esmé and would have chosen it for our eldest DD who is now 16 but DH hated it.

I chose an unusual and old fashioned name for DD2 and when she was born the midwife asked what we were naming her then said 'oh I've not heard this name for years and two girls tonight have been born and named this'. So ours and another. In the same labour ward! Go figure.

So unless you're literally making up a completely new name from random scattered letters this is how it is.

The thing is, you never know what name will be totally unique. I once met a little girl called Olivia Fay whose mum had decided actually Olivia was too popular so started using her middle name of Fay. Started school and happened to have another Fay in her class. I've never heard of another child called Fay since and that was about 12 years ago yet two happened to end up in the same class and for all I know went all the way through school together.

I'd not heard the name Judy for years but when I had my daughter, at the very first baby group I went to there were two babies born weeks apart both called Judy.

So you just never know. You could have it changed to something you think is very unusual and yet when you take her to school she might be sat next to someone with the same name.

You love the name and gave it to your daughter because you love it. It's hers now. I would keep it as it is.

This happened to me.

I won't disclose my DD's name but it was rare to me when she was born and 2-3 years later it was gaining popularity etc

The thing is if you love the name, you love the name and that's it. Snobbery is at the root of so many people seeking something original
& imo there is no such thing.

Go with what you love. I still love my daughter's name and so does she.

And I didn't need to call her Apple.

Well, the only people to adopt my name now are burlesque and drag queens!

I know an Esme (pronounced Esmee), it’s definitely become/becoming quite popular but yes it’s far too late to change your dd’s.

I really don’t think you can change it but I feel for you…I really wish I’d called my lottle
girl Polly and she looks just like a Polly too!

You’ll get over it, I’m sure. I think it’s a beautiful name.

It's not too late to change it. I changed mine at 4, and I had a friend at primary school who changed theirs at 10. Took me a couple of weeks to get used to their new name but I barely remember their old name now.

However, changing your child's name that you previously loved just because other children have the same name is stupid and not worth the hassle.

It's too late in my opinion but it's a beautiful name and still not one I hear in the playground where I live.

It would be incredibly selfish to change the name because you want to be so special with a completely unique name.

Your child is 2, she knows her name.

I'm absolutely floored you are even considering this, it shows such terrible judgement.

Well obviously you don’t have to get our permission/approval to change it, but as other people have said, what would you change it to?

Anything truely unique is likely to be a bit ‘marmity’ so you/she will have to justify it to rude folks; and it’s likely to be hard to spell if really unique, so you/she will be forever spelling it to people; and you’ll spend years explaining to people you know now why you changed it; and what if your daughter grows up and prefers Esme to what you choose next?

I’d wait to see how she likes her name, and if she doesn’t and you want to let her change it, she can pick herself a new one.

FWIW I think it’s lovely and have never met any at school, work or through my son’s school.

You could call her May, Es or Essie but I do prefer Esme.