DS is 2 1/2 and I want to change his name, I hate his current one.

[PurplePuffin]

DS is 2 1/2, rather old to be thinking of changing his name. However, we have had some negative comments on it and at first, I thought, hey ho, but now, too many people dislike it and as much as we liked it at first, we both hate it now, but DS does know his name, just wondering if it's a terrible idea? Thanks.

The OP says they both hate the name now. So I think it's kind of best to accept that, and move forward, and it isn't too late to change it, but it will be if left much longer as he will be far more aware of it.

It's a nice name. Reminds me of the actor Kyle McLaughlin

Sorry: MacLachlan

Here he is

Actually changing it is a tough one at that age I think.

Here's an idea - potentially wacky but bear with me (ha!) no pun intended - that will make sense if you read on...

Bear Grylls wasn't named 'Bear' - it's a cute nickname that he got as a kid and has stuck.

My DS has a nickname that my DD gave him when he was born, not remotely linked to his actual name, and we quite often call him by that name or refer to him as that name in conversation, and he is fine with it being interchangeable with his real name. It doesn't confuse him, as it's not a real name. Just a word that suits him! He's 6 now, and it still works.

My BIL goes entirely by another name socially (not remotely close to his real name) that he was always called as a kid, but retained his real name for paperwork purposes.

I'm not suggesting you call you son Bear! And it might take a while for it to stick, but if you're worried about actually changing his name over night and any anxiety that might cause, maybe a nickname would slowly take over? By the time he reaches school he would be used to it/introduce himself by it.

Maybe 'evolve' his name. So Kyle becomes Ky, becomes Kite, in a silly cute fun way! Becomes Kit ... Probably not the best example, but you can see where some people who 'go by' a different name sometimes have a path back to their real name in that way.

I'm babbling, sorry. My DD has an unusual name and I had a few wobbles over it, so I empathise.

I know, it's an odd suggestion though, so feel free to ignore me!

Ugh Kyle. Were you watching daytime telly at the time?

I jest.

How about shortening to KAI. Less chavvy I suppose or use his middle name. Just call him both names for a while then drop the Kyle later.

I don't think you can change his name. How on earth could you make him understand that at 2.5? He'd be likely to think it was somehow his 'fault' and could be damaging. Kyle Alexander is not an awful name. Who on earth are these people who have told you it is awful and why on earth are you listening to them?

Don't change his name. Leave him to change it when he's older, if he wants to.

Kai is just as 'chavvy', or not, as Kyle.

Let him have the name you gave him. He answers to it, he thinks it is 'him'.

Please don't confuse him. Your prejudice against the name will fade.

I'm not going to lie to you and say that Kyle is lovely. I second what oncemore said, try to work a useable nickname out.

Actually, I do like the name Kyle, and you see quite a few Kyles in the 18-26 yr old range as it was quite popular at one time. It doesn't have the 'JK' connotation here, though. The only 'connections' here would be Kyle McLachlan or Chris Kyle (American Sniper).

The two Kyles I know personally are very lovely young men.

Kyle is lovely! It's a Scottish name.

If it helps, did you know that a 'Kyle' is the name for a kind-of peninsula, usually in some beautiful Scottish wilderness? Makes it rather dramatic and romantic!

I don't really understand people going on about Jeremy Kyle (no I'm not a fan either). In that case, it's obviously his surname so a completely different thing.

Kyle is a recognised name (Scottish, like pps said) and Kyle Alexander flows nicely. Not 'chavvy' at all.

I don't mind the name Kyle at all.

I would add the name Evan though to his full name, as a PP suggested.

Thus: Evan Kyle Alexander.

Then call him Evan Kyle for a bit and see how it evolves, whether you prefer to drop the Kyle or keep both or whatever.

The are several issues here.

The people who have called his name chavvy to your face are not nice people and if anyone says it again then try the old MN chestnut 'Did you mean to be so rude?' and distance yourself from them.

I get that your taste might have changed but Kyle Alexander is a perfectly sensible and reasonable name to give a child and I think you have to stick with it for your DS's sake although evolving into a NN or moving to using his middle name is also fine. Personally I don't there is anything to choose between Kyle and Evan (they are similar kinds of names) so I don't think your taste has really changed much, you've just been upset by the nasty people.

I'm going to ask do you think you might be a little bit depressed that these negative comments have had such a bad effect on you? Maybe not if your OH agrees but it's something to consider, I did go off DD1's (gorgeous, universally loved) name when she was a baby because a few people pronounced it wrong and I think in hindsight it was just a touch of PND (I know of a couple of people who had serious PND that wasn't picked up until their child was much older and so I may be more sensitive to this possibility that normal so ignore if not).

Do people actually tell you they don't like it? Very rude. Its fine and its not far to change it now.

My name was changed when I was 4. So was my twin sisters. We just woke up one day and were told that from now on, we were going to be called XXXX and YYYY. I didn't really give a stuff. And I thought my original name was boring, so it had no negative effect at all.

But I LOVE the idea of Sandy. I'd love Sandy for my new baby but the odds are that it's going to be a red-head, and there's only so much you can heap on a kid.

Basically, I say change it if its bothering you. Your son probably won't care!

Also, being someone who did get their name changed as a little kid, I'd say make the change in one big jump. Blurring it from one form to another over several steps just adds to the confusion and makes the process never-ending for a 2.5 year old.

I suggest you start calling him Kyle-Alexander, so he gets used to it, and then eventually drop the Kyle.

Alexander is lovely, Kyle is a name I really really dislike, sorry.

Although the 'My Kyle' to 'Michael' is a pretty good idea too!

My Aunty changed my cousins name (well started using his middle name) when he was 3 and 4 and it didn't cause him any upset and the only people that struggled for a while were the adults like my gran and mum! A little girl in my reception class also changed her name over the summer and it confused the children for maybe a day or 2 but now we all call her her new name.

Dh chose our dd name (i was certain she was a boy- I picked boys names he picked girls).
I really don't like it in any form. She on the other hand loves it.... I just call her mouse

I did get to name the twins though both boys dh isn't keen on either name and calls them a nickname.

I don't know any kyles its a good strong name and there won't be many at school. unlike my Alex who was one of 5 in his class