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.

I have 3 children and don’t know any Esme’s, at school, nursery or baby groups. I really don’t think it’s that popular in an overdone way. Yeah there will be pockets where it’s used more, but it’s not like it would have been calling your children Chloe or Jessica in the 90’s, or Becky or Laura in the 80’s, where there would have been 3 in a class.
To put it into perspective for you, Chloe was used 9682 times in 1996, that’s 1.5% of babies. In just one year. Whereas Esme was used 1013 times in 2022 (the last time the stats came out). That’s only 0.16% of babies. It’s really nothing. Even the top 10 names now are no where near as popular as names used to be. At one point 4% of babies born were called David. You just don’t get that now.
I think we have a fear of giving our child an overly common name now days as a lot of us experienced being several of one in a class. But even with the most popular name now you’re not very likely to get it. There are something like 16,000 primary schools in England (not sure where your based, but as an example), so only 1000 of those will have an Esme in each year.
Even if you change it, any name could suddenly get popular quickly. Esme is a beautiful name, and you chose it for a reason. And most importantly it’s your child’s name now, stick with it.

Start calling her Essie and see if it catches on 😂

It is a very popular name, same as Olivia, Imogen, Isla etc. But all these names are popular because they're nice, uncontroversial names that a lot of people like 🤷‍♀️ no one is going to give your daughter an odd look for bring called Esmé the same way they might do if you'd named her Axolotl, Breighdynleigh, Bertha or Gertrude. No disrespect to anyone called Bertha or Gertrude, but I think we can all accept they aren't the nicest sounding names on the planet for a little girl

Both of mine have top 20 boys’ names - I couldn’t care less if other kids have those names. We picked the names we liked -,simple as that!

Snobbery certainly isn’t at the root of all parents seeking ‘unique’ names. Rather the reverse in some cases.

You could change it after two weeks perhaps. Not two years.

Add a silent z at the end and change the pronunciation to “Tabitha”?

Esméz, known as Tabitha. There. She’ll be the only one now.

THIS. I gave my children run of the mill names for this exact reason.

I had a friend who's name was changed at around that age and she's fine with it. I did think her mum was strange when I found out.
But her name suits her and she's never mentioned having any problem with identity!
A 2 year old will get over it. Same way if one day they're 2 and the next they're 3! - Not the same I know but at that age they'll accept most things.
But don't change it just because it's popular!

One of my (now grown) kids has a quite unusual name and I was thrilled when I came across another. Interesting how different people can be.

of course it’s too late what a stupid thing to ask. She’s 2 ffs

You'd be surprised how names 'cluster' each other both within familys (Ollie & alfie ect) & social classes (Catherine & phillip ect.)

So it's very likely that those '1 in 3000' kids actually do mostly if not all live/socialise/study within reasonable distance of each other & will meet or interact with each other at some point.

As for the name itself - yes its too late to change it but most kids go through a stage of hating their names anyway so you might later have a chance

Jeez…. Get a reality check. Someone else has the same name as your kid… what a shocker.

Why would you want to change if because of that? Did you particularly want a unique name?

I have a Henry, was very aware it was popular but it was my favourite name so I didn’t care! In fact anytime I meet another Henry I quite enjoy it! If you like the name let it go.

I don't know any children sharing your child's name.
My name was popular when I was at school. There was always at least one other in my circle of friends. We all survived just fine.
I don't think you need to worry.

Yes, it’s too late to change it. The only time I’ve heard of anyone changing it was within a few weeks.

Esme is a fine name, it’s not one I would’ve chosen but at least it’s a proper name and it’s not difficult to spell.

Back in my day it was normal to share names with others in your class. It's too late but it's a beautiful name.

Far too late to change it - and completely unnecessary. Loads of children’s names will have been called out around you but you’re fine-tuned to Esme because it’s your DD’s name. That’s why it sounds like you’re hearing it a lot.

Forget it x

I have never met an esme 8.in all my 62 years. Why are there loads of them now?

Yep it’s far too late to change it. Esme is a gorgeous name 🥰

its not too late, at 2 they'll soon start answering to the new name. Especially if you transition esme kate a hundred times a day, then just Kate.

However, I don't think it'll make you happy. Unless you call her something completely random there's always going to someone with the same name.

my name is a known name, but not common. One year when I was about 6, there were several of us in one year!

I've never had another one in my year at school.

when I was early 20's there was another patient at my Drs with the same FULL name - yep first middle surname. It was only discovered when 'my' prescription was for her medication !

it really really doesn't matter

Did you honestly believe you were being really original?!

It’s a lovely name so bound to be popular. I’d leave it as is but if something else comes to mind give it her as a nickname. When she’s older she can choose. Lots of people go by different names to their given names.

As soon as you choose a name you start to notice it everywhere. When I named my DD there was one person (an actress) I could think of that had the same name so I thought I was being original. Within a year I was surrounded by children with the same name whose parents probably thought they were being original too!

My DD (now 22) had three girls called Esme in her year at school so you weren’t the first to choose it and you won’t be the last (and it’s a lovely name). I think right now the only way to be truly original is to go for names popular at the turn of the 20th Century and the inter-war years: Ethel, Beryl, Sheila, Carol, Janice, Maureen, Doris, Linda, Pauline, Muriel, Agnes, Lesley, Doreen for example. Alternatively names that were popular in the 1960s such as Sharon, Julie, Kim, Tracey, Karen - take your pick!