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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to change DS's name? He is an Alfie and he is 4

56 replies

sillyworry · 22/02/2009 10:16

The name Alfie seems to be appearing as a negative name at the moment. We loved it at first from Bert's song. It's his middle name anyway his first name is John. We might ask the school to call him John when he is 5 yrs and then slowly we will get used to it and call him that ourselves. Is this a big mistake?

OP posts:
Lulumama · 22/02/2009 11:33

yes sillyworry, it is a silly worry

i don;t think there have been a lot of Madelaines renamed recently

alfie is a sweet name, and i presume it suits your son

i think people will think you are fickle and a bit odd to change your name in reaction to a news story that will be tomorrow's fish and chip paper

unless there is more to it than you are saying

QuantitativeMeasure · 22/02/2009 11:34

If it is in relation to the 13 year old then its ridiculous tbh.

There is a boy called Peter in my sons class, I have never once thought of the Yorkshire Ripper whilst talking to him in the playground.

Thunderduck · 22/02/2009 11:44

There's John Christie

John Wayne Gacy

John Haigh, the acid bath murderer.

All killers named John and I'm sure there's more.

The point is that it's silly to worry about these things as unless one has an extremely unusual name, it's likely that there'll be a negative news story about someone with the same name.

ForeverOptimistic · 22/02/2009 11:50

I think Alfie is a really lovely name. I picture a cute blonde cheeky mischievous loving little boy when I hear the name.

ilovesprouts · 22/02/2009 11:50

no i dont think u need to change it ,its a stupid idea

QuantitativeMeasure · 22/02/2009 11:52

Forever- you are describing my DS- he is an ALfie and just as you described

Gorionine · 22/02/2009 11:55

YAB very very U!

piscesmoon · 22/02/2009 11:56

A mad idea. If he wants to change it later then he can, but it is now his name.

piscesmoon · 22/02/2009 11:57

Alfie, the 13 yr old father, is already old news-the world moves on.

nannyL · 22/02/2009 11:57

I knew a family who had a child named 'James Cornelius'

when he was in year 2 another boy called 'James; joined the class.... the parents were so cross that another child was called "James" that from year 2 his name changed to Cornelius!

Cornelius child is now 15 years old!

lilolilmanchester · 22/02/2009 12:05

Are you for real???? What are you going to change his name to when someone called "John" gets negative press? (and there are far more Johns than Alfies so odds on it will happen) Alfie is your DS's name, I can't imagine what psychological damage you will do him by changing HIS name. It's part of him, part of his identity. Am shocked that you're even thinking about it TBH....

oldraver · 22/02/2009 17:23

I dont understand why you were calling him Alfie in the first place when his first name is John, why not have his first name as Alfie ??

2rebecca · 22/02/2009 19:16

Does he know his first name is John? It might be worth telling him that if he doesn't know andtelling him he could change what he's called to John at any time if he likes. It does seem odd giving your kid one name and then calling him something different though. He's destined for a lifetime of doctors, bank staff, folk at interviews etc calling him John and thinking he's a bit odd when he says he's known as Alfie.

PlumBumMum · 22/02/2009 19:22

Until I read through the therad I was wondering where I had been hiding , couldn't think why Alfie was a negative, most others couldn't, although still can't see it as a negative, maore that he was13

YABU, your ds is 4 you can't change his name now

diedandgonetodevon · 22/02/2009 19:33

Isn't it a bit late to be considering this when he is 4?

madlentileater · 22/02/2009 19:38

Buy him an Alfie and Annie Rose book (Shirley Hughes)
you will love the name again!

nooka · 22/02/2009 19:43

I think four year old would have an opinion on what he likes to be called. What does he think? dd went through a phase when she thought she would like to be called by her middle name. It passed very quickly (she was about six at the time). I think you'd do better to morph into one of the other forms of Alfred, like well, Alfred, or Fred, Al, Freddie than try and attempt a move to John, which sounds utterly different. Or develop a nick name unrelated to his given names.

abbierhodes · 22/02/2009 21:25

You sound mental!

shootfromthehip · 22/02/2009 21:28

Is this a joke? YABVU

lollipopmother · 22/02/2009 21:31

That 13y/o isn't even the father anyway is he?! This tread is a wind up I think, cunningly disguised as an AIBU!

I am scratching my head at the idea that his name is John but you're calling him Alfie, but then I suppose my DD has various nicknames that she gets called so it's not any different really.

LynetteScavo · 22/02/2009 21:31

Alfie seems to be apearing as a negative name at the moment...but it wont' next week.

You can't ask the schol to call him John if you don't.It's hard enough learning everything new when you start school without not recognising your own name.

TheLadyEvenstar · 22/02/2009 21:52

I am glad others asked why you call him alfie if his name is John????

I find that odd,

Pristina · 22/02/2009 22:30

4 is too old for a name change imo. Couldn't you just call him Al or Ali if you've really gone off it?

theyoungvisiter · 22/02/2009 22:34

[whisper] where has the OP gone?

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 22/02/2009 22:34

Troll anyone?