Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

regret name one year on

150 replies

bewellnell · 04/04/2014 11:26

I'm going to totally out myself here as it's an unusual name but oh well!

We called our daughter Nola Matilda. When she was born it was a choice between Orla or Nola and OH preferred Nola, he went home from hospital and told his mum who then announced on facebook that her name was Nola..I just went with it, at the time I really liked it.

Another name which I LOVED was Tabitha but a few people put me off by the old "it's a cats name how awful" comments.

I have recently found out my mum and aunt dislike the name Nola and wished I called her Tabitha. I am now wishing I had called her Orla Tabitha. Or at least Orla as a first name. I think about this every day....what to do?! OH says he likes all the names and doesn't care.

It would be really weird to change it now when she is nearly a year old, right?!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

googietheegg · 05/04/2014 09:00

I think you feel like this because the situation was taken out of your hands; mil posting on FB stopped it being your choice, your announcement. Try taking that bit (nearly impossible I know) out of it and see how you feel.

Original poster

bewellnell · 05/04/2014 09:02

We applied for name change yesterday, it wont be 'official' til me and OH sign it though. The plan was that as she would be Tabitha Nola, people could still call her Nola if they wanted to. OH literally doesn't care either way but said he would probably go on calling her Nola as it's what he is used to. Not sure if I will sign it now, shocked at the positive reactions to Nola, wish it was like that in RL.

OP posts:

BeeInYourBonnet · 05/04/2014 09:02

Sorry to be unhelpful, but I think its a bit mean and confusing to change a child's name when they already know its their name.

But then I don't even like it when people change a pets name, or when babies are 6wo before they have a name.

Everyone deserves a name which is theirs from birth.

Original poster

bewellnell · 05/04/2014 09:05

yes bee i see what you mean, she doesn't seem to recognise Nola as her name, but she must do!

OP posts:

OneMoreThenNoMore · 05/04/2014 09:06

I like Nola Tabitha Matilda.

With Tabitha Nola Matilda, Nola seems to get lost between the two longer names. Sorry, not very helpful as it's not the order you've gone for.

WeAreDetective · 05/04/2014 09:07

I think you need to stop worrying about what other people think. You literally cannot please everyone. This is her name and giving her two first names that people can choose from seems a bit silly to me.

Personally I would stick with Nola if I were you and save Tabitha for any other dd you have.

Love the idea of Nollie!

blackandwhiteandredallover · 05/04/2014 09:09

To be honest I think you both need to decide, it would be so confusing, both for her and other people, if you and DH call her different names!

You say you liked Nola when she was born, so why change now? Is it just because of people's reactions in RL? Have the courage of your convictions!

Original poster

bewellnell · 05/04/2014 09:12

It's the fact my mum and aunt dont like Nola that bothers me, they are a major part of our lives. But you're right I can't please everyone.

OP posts:

blackandwhiteandredallover · 05/04/2014 09:15

Fwiw my MIL hated both my DDs' names. Meh. What does it matter, she loves them. Do you judge your friends on their names? It is just a word to identify your beautiful daughter that's all. A rose by any other name etc etc....

upupupandaway · 05/04/2014 09:15

Never heard Nola before but I love it. A lot of people are known by their middle names. Don't worry about whether your Mom, Auntie or next door neighbour like the name, it's your choice.

Forago · 05/04/2014 09:21

I think Nola is nicer than Tabitha, sorry!

does it matter what your mum and aunt think? they'll get used to it!

17leftfeet · 05/04/2014 09:23

Your mum had her turn at naming children when she named you

It's yours and your dh's turn now, she does not get a say

AlpacaYourThings · 05/04/2014 09:23

Sorry, I don't like Nola. I think Tabitha, Matilda and Orla are far nicer names.

I would change her name if I were in your position.

Original poster

bewellnell · 05/04/2014 09:25

haha thank you for your advice everyone. I won't be having any more children so can't save Tabitha for the next one. I think I will go with Nola Tabitha Matilda as suggested. Just have to have Tabitha in there somewhere!!!

OP posts:

just1moretime · 05/04/2014 09:32

I don't love Nola tbh, I like Tabitha more BUT did your mother and aunt say to your face that they didn't like Nola or did you just find out because they told someone else? Would they be mortified if they thought you had changed her name just because of them?? She's your child. We chickened out of calling our DS1 an unusual name so he has quite a 'safe' name that 3 other kids in his school year has. We were a bit braver with DS2 and now I kind of regret not going with the unusual name, because DS2 has a fab cool name (despite lots of urgh! I hate that! before he was born!) and DS 1 has a slightly dull name!

hollyisalovelyname · 05/04/2014 09:32

I thought Nola was short for Fionola /
I don't like Tabitha , it reminds me of a tabby cat.

Original poster

bewellnell · 05/04/2014 10:02

I LOVE the name Tabitha and always did, and would have gone for it if it weren't for MIL going all dramatic over it being a cats name. We went for Nola after that. I like both but have serious pangs over Tabitha - then when I told my aunt and mum they came out and said they loved Tabitha and disliked Nola.

Thus, my confusion.

OP posts:

Original poster

bewellnell · 05/04/2014 10:03

I don't have a problem with it being a cats name, I like cats.

OP posts:

Original poster

bewellnell · 05/04/2014 10:04

OH is now saying he thinks Nola is a beautiful name but does also like Tabitha, but will continue to call her Nola either way. I think I should add it in the middle rather than replacing the first name and shoving Nola aside to the middle?

OP posts:

polkadotdelight · 05/04/2014 10:07

I think Nola is lovely and have added it to my list (16+3 today!).

littlemrschatterbox · 05/04/2014 10:10

I really like Nola. Tabitha makes me think of a cat.

BitOutOfPractice · 05/04/2014 10:12

In my opinion it would be odd to change it. I think after a year, she has become that name iykwim and the name has become her. It's part of her identity and not really up to you or change on a whim because you don't like it. Especially when you don't even seem 100% convince of the new name anyway.

And btw I like nola much more than tabitha anyway!

OwlCapone · 05/04/2014 10:13

I think at 7 months they recognise their own names?

They may recognise it as a sound that's made regularly but there is no way the recognise the concept of a name and no way they would remember being called something else should you change it.

Choose whichever name you prefer and stick with it. Everyone really needs to call her the same thing though.

HoneyandRum · 05/04/2014 10:13

Tabitha is beautiful OP go with what you love don't listen to everyone here and in RL.

I knew a family in the 80s that changed one of their DDS names from Sharon to Rebecca, I can't remember how old she was when they did this but she was at least a year.

OwlCapone · 05/04/2014 10:14

I have no idea why people think of tabitha as a cat's name. I've never met a cat called Tabitha.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Swipe left for the next trending thread