Is there anyone who registered one child’s name but calls him another name?

[confusedperson]

I have two DSs. While I am perfectly happy with DS1 name and never had any doubt about it, I am still unsure about DS2 name even though he is 17 months old and it is too late for name change (we already changed DS2 first name on birth certificate one week after original registration ? blame me being hormonal and exhausted).

The thing is that I always had a special name for DS2 which I never really brought to light as I thought it is too specific, but I realised (when it was too late!) that it could have been the right name. I regret now not even putting it on the table for consideration.

I would love to change DS2 meaningless middle name to this special name by deed poll, but not sure if it is worth the hassle. Sometimes I just call him that special name in my mind, and would like to make it sort of a nickname, but that is probably morally wrong (?) and if somebody hears, will not understand what is going on.
I have heard funny stories that people gave one name and then chose to use another name? is it viable?

My uncle, who was named after his father with whom he didn't get along, decided to adopt the name John instead as an adult. It's vaguely similar to his given name (James).

I think at 17 months your ds (and your older DS!) could find it very confusing if you change the name you call him. I think most children 'become' their name very quickly anyway. Unless of course you really are unhappy about his name...?

mopsyflopsy I am ok with his name but it is nothing personal in there, but I would not change it as everyone got used to it. I would like to change his middle name though, which does not have meaning or value to me or DH (DH sort of liked it, but now he does not care).

Changing a middle name doesn't sound like a big deal. If it's important to you, why not. An 18mo won't even notice his middle name has changed.

Changing what he's known as might be more tricky - do you want him to answer to the new name?

I once worked processing official forms, for which birth certificates were required

There are many, many people out there whose names are registered as something entirely other than what they are known by in daily life. More than I would ever have guessed. And few of them really find it a problem.

So I would leave DS2's officially-registered name unchanged, and simply call him the name you want to call him. He's young enough that he and others should get used to it fairly quickly. And people have all sorts of nicknames and diminuitives for their babies that I don't think anyone will think it strange.

My dad chose to go by his middle name in his teens and has been known by that ever since. So change his middle name and he may well decide to use it himself in future! I say go for it.

Oh, you meant proper names? Well, my DD has a very normal, nice name on her birth certificate and that she uses at school, but all the family call her Hobbit, and have done since the day she was born. I thought that at 12 or 13, she'd want to drop it, but so far, she's vehemently told me off for calling her by her real name!

Don't let Hollywood know

Yep, I know - what are they going to do? Prosecute her? I'd like to see them try coming for my DD, they'd have both of us to deal with! :o