Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to change my babies name?

27 replies

alfiesmadmother · 19/04/2010 14:50

Because it really doesn't sit right and I don't like it any more. And it doesn't suit her. :-(

I love her middle name and fine that's no oprblem to call her that, but she is 6 months old and what do I do tell every operson we have decided to change her name???!!

And she will go through life with doctors calling out her name and her having to correct opeople. But her middle name is so much prettier.

DH agrees with me. But the children say they porefer her first name.

I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
LittleMrsHappy · 19/04/2010 14:52

Its up too you, my known name is a abbreviation of my birth name, when registering with Drs etc.. I always put "otherwise known as" on my forms etc...

The only correspondence I have with my own name is my bank details and passport.

aconfusedmum · 19/04/2010 14:53

what is her name?

Im in south wales and where I live people tend to use their middle names instead of first name, is it possible you could start doing that without changing legally??

I just remembered, my friend also calls her son by his middle name {unless he is in trouble lol}

DinahRod · 19/04/2010 15:00

If you and dh are agreed then change it. She's under a year, so phone wherever you registered her to ask about the process. Let family know the original name never did sit right with you both and she's now called... (will be a talking point for about a week and then ppl will move on) and you'll have the name you both like.

And then write to officialdom (doctors, child benefit, banks etc) to say dd is now known by this name and include the documentary proof, no explanation required.

Go on spill, what's her new name?

Original poster
alfiesmadmother · 19/04/2010 15:04

Ok, her new name is Gracie. We originally called her Rachel Grace.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 19/04/2010 15:06

all of those names are beautiful

I thought you named her Alfie, tbh

Original poster
alfiesmadmother · 19/04/2010 15:09

Oh thankyou! No my son is Alfie! It's just such a big decision to make after 6 months!

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 19/04/2010 15:12

it actually isn't a decision you need to make, tbh

she could be known as Gracie

and when she is older, if she prefers (the slightly more grown-up) Rachel, she could use that too

we do a similar'ish thing with my dd who is now 14

have never changed her name on her birth cert...no need to

Prinpo · 19/04/2010 15:22

I was expecting something awful but Rachel Grace is beautiful. Sorry you feel it's not sitting well with her - could it be because she's still a baby? Rachel does sound like a slightly older name as it's very elegant.

I don't think changing it is an awful thing to do at all and, if you're sure that you want to, then sooner rather than later is best. You just need to be really, really sure.

Personally, I'd leave her as she is but just call her Gracie and tell everyone else to follow suit, but if you definitely feel that you don't want her to be a Rachel then go for it. Bugger what your children think - if it was left to them we'd all have younger kids called Optimus Prime and Peppa Pig. Your daughter, your choice. Others will follow your lead.

emmymama · 19/04/2010 15:24

my dd is called grace/gracie, its a beautiful name so yanbu

DinahRod · 19/04/2010 15:30

Grace/Gracie is lovely.

Imo, yes, change it, otherwise you're often having to explain or fill in forms with a name your dd isn't actually known by, and it's surprising how often you do encounter officialdom, even with children (savings/doctors/school/passports etc). It's much easier too to change it when she's young and she won't remember.

I have a dd with a full name and a less obvious shortening - am angsting at the mo about what to put on her name tapes

AgentZigzag · 19/04/2010 15:31

I agree with the other posters, both names are lovely, and what has it got to do with anyone else what you call her

My DD is known by her 'formal' name at school, and we call her two shortened pet versions at home. She likes it that she has three names, and prefers to separate outside life from her home life.

It's never confused her or anything, and if you think of all the names you call your DC love/chick/poppet/monkey etc their christian name is really only a small part of them as a person.

mayb1day · 19/04/2010 15:37

Both are nice enough names. She's only 6 months old, better to change it now than when she recognises it and will be confused by it.

ChippingIn · 19/04/2010 15:40

DinahRod - put on the name tapes what her friends and the teachers will be calling her.

Alfiesmadmother - it doesn't matter which way you go with this really, either change it (which should be easy enough as she's under a year - as DinahRod said), or leave it and just use her middle name, lots of people do it.

I'd just tell people that you have decided her middle name suits her more so that's how she'll be known from now on. A few people might be a bit or - but really, they'll soon get over it

largeginandtonic · 19/04/2010 15:48

My dd has an entirely different name that we gave her at birth.

She will have her official first name but will always be 'known as' her middle name.

Don't worry about it.

MintHumbug · 19/04/2010 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LouMacca · 19/04/2010 16:29

Rachel & Grace/Gracie are lovely names. You could change her name or just start calling her by her middle name.

I have used my middle name for the last 20 years and everyone knows me by that name. It can be a pain as your passport and medical records have to be in the name on your birth cerfiticate. My DH has booked holidays in my used name forgetting that its not the name on my passport which has caused problems.

I think you should just do what you feel is right and not worry about other peoples opinions.

norksinmywaistband · 19/04/2010 16:33

My DD's middle name is Grace.

I use her first name as do most others and official places.
Her Dad calls her gracie and has only very rarely used her first name.
Odd because he chose her first name

Anyway she is 5 and has no problems in being very sure of who she is, so it is totally possible

ConnorTraceptive · 19/04/2010 16:33

I prefer Rachel tbh. Not necessarily a baby name but very lovely for a little girl and grown woman. There are LOTS of grace's about these days. Rachel is classic and there won't be three others in her school year

pranma · 19/04/2010 16:45

I use the third of my three first names because of silly family things after I was registered/baptised eg from grandma re 1st name'OOoh I knew a xxxxx xxxxxx and she was simple!'
from dad re 2nd name,'we are not calling her that,your brother will think its after him!'
So I was always known as 3rd name which no one could think of an objection to!
I like Rachel and Grace very much.

monkeyfacegrace · 19/04/2010 16:49

Rachel Grace is gorgeous, but Im biased because my dd is Grace . But, we call her Gracie-Grue, so she gets called Grue more often than not. Our ds is called Obs too, so the looks we get when we shout for Grue and Obs is hilarious!

pointydog · 19/04/2010 16:58

you mean you call her by her middle name?

Nothing wrong with continuing to do so. I know a few people who have had that happen to them.

crockydoodle · 19/04/2010 17:52

I have always been called by my middle name and know others like this too, it has never been a problem

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 19/04/2010 17:56

Change it. Just because she will spend her life correcting people and that is no fun.

2rebecca · 19/04/2010 18:11

Rachel and Grace are lovely names. Gracie is fine until you reach secondary school and then sounds a bit cutesie, but by then she'll be choosing what she's called.

StrictlyKatty · 19/04/2010 18:14

I personally prefer Rachel. Gracie sounds quite babyish IMO. Call her Gracie for now, but leave her the option to be the more adult 'Rachel' if and when she wants it.

Swipe left for the next trending thread