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.

Or you could now start calling her Esmerelda…there probably won’t be anyone else with that name 😉

It’s a lovely name, it really doesn’t matter if others have the same name. This obsession with unique names and awful made up spellings is a terrible trend! Little Lucee-Maii probably wishes it was just Lucy etc. I know someone who wants to call their baby Harlow and spell it Harlough 🙄

Someone shouted my younger DD's name once.... they were calling their dog... I was a bit 😩but DD thought it was the best thing the whole world ever!
Mine both have fairly common names and have friends with the same name at school, which they both love.

I spent a long time
regretting my second child’s name as it’s a very rare name. Not a weird or made up name, just rare, especially nowadays, not trendy at all, and spelt in the less usual
way. I even sometimes used to worry it would hinder his access to good universities or jobs, 😂! Also realized only too late that it has now come to be seen as a bit of a lower class name in the country where we live. But. The thing is, I love the name and there are two main reasons we chose the name, one it’s the male version of my mums name and two, it’s related to circumstances around his birth which were special. He loves his name and is a popular and sweet boy, so far seems the name hasn’t hurt him. But I really don’t think having chosen a popular name is a problem! That’s what we have for my daughter, she has a name which suddenly became very popular, and she likes that she often meets others with the same name, it makes her feel “normal” in a good way! And my son likes there’s only one of him (pretty much!) so don’t stress too much. As Juliet say, what’s in a name?

🍪

I have an unusual name. People often misspell it, which doesn't really bother me. But most times when I meet new people, they say, "WHAT a LOVELY name!"

And it's weird. Because they're not complimenting me. They're complimenting my parents and their choice of name. And my Mum is kind of a narcissist. I dunno. I always feel awkward about it.

Also, it's harder to disappear. If you google me, you can find newspaper articles about my past (nothing dramatic or illegal, but still). I dunno. I think maybe better to have a less unusual name so it's not the thing people remember about you.

I think wanting your child to have an unusual name is about your ego, not about the child, honestly. Like you are complimenting yourself on how original you are.

To me that just sounds like, "hallo!". "Hello, Harlow." Hmm.

give her a nickname and hope it sticks

Whereas for me, the people calling their children George, Arlo, Jack, Sophie and Olivia are saying ‘All I want in a name is for it to be beige, in case anyone thinks I think I’m original or have notions.’

My name is very popular. It doesn’t matter and I never think about it. (Esmes are a drop in the ocean compared to my name too I promise you). Esme is a lovely name. My DD knows two (out of many friends and acquaintances).

Yes it’s too late, she’s 2! Imagine how confused she’d be suddenly having a new name

It's really not everywhere. I don't know anyone called Esme.
And so what if there are a couple of children in your area called Esme? A name doesn't have to be unique to be good.

She is too old for you to change it op. My ds is 21 now and I named him Oliver which at the time was not at all popular, especially where we live. The top boys name was Jack.
he has 4 close friends called Jack and all 4 of their surnames start with the same letter too!
it’s not a problem really and your dd will likely be one of only a couple at school.

Ironically my daughter was born 30 years ago. My absolutely amazing Esme loves her name. As a child she was so annoyed that her name wasn’t on any Tatt …funny now that her daughter has another unusual name and not on tatt

What an odd way to think. Most people just name their child a name they like. I assume those who give their child a top ten name do so because they love the name and aren’t worried about popularity.
Your attitude actually backs up the notion that some people look for unusual names in a desperate attempt to appear different. All about your ego, as pp said. I’m not saying this is all unusual names, but that’s certainly what your attitude points to.

Honestly, you'll find this with any name (and I agree with PP that certain names 'cluster' in certain areas, so name rankings aren't necessarily helpful in choosing something unusual). For instance, there are no Sophias, Olivias or Avas in my DS's class which were the most popular when he was born, but have come across several Wrens!

I called my son a name that is not common in kids of his age, let's say Bob. The name is wayyyyy down the list of boy's names (I didn't choose it for that reason, he just looked like a 'Bob' when he popped out). There were THREE at his childminder- Big Bob, Little Bob (my DS) and Tiny Bob as they were always known.

By 2, her name will be part of her identity. Don't change it, especially as you'll be on a total wild goose chase unless you call her something completely random like Spam or Banana.

I thought my sons name was unique until I heard a really chivvy mum yelling it at her unruly kid (it's toby)

Toby? Unique? It's as old as the hills. Yes, it's a nice name but has never been uncommon.

As for Esme, I think it's the Peaky Fucking Blinders effect. Should have gone for Aberama instead.

@Heckythump1 😂. I had the same with DS many years ago. He has a normal human name - so I did not call him Fido or Rover or Snoopy but a woman did shout for her dog in the park and it was Ds's name. It made me giggle because DS was looking round to see who was calling him. But then lots of dogs are called Jack or Ben or Louis or Bertie etc .

Fgs first world problems!
Get a grip

Toby's a lovely name, but certainly not unique.

Esme is a lovely name, and if you previously liked it for 10 years, I can't understand why you want to change it now
She's 2 and knows her name
Fwiw I had " my" boys name chosen years before I actually had him( Callum)
Which immediately became popular... but he loves him name and hasn't met another.. He's 30

I think you intended this comment to be insulting and derogatory to those parents and initially, that’s how I took it. But having read and absorbed it, it’s actually a compliment.

Jog on.

@paranoral it is quite drastic to change your child's name at this point. Esme is lovely. ☺️