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Baby names

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

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Original poster

I don't love my baby's name

40 replies

Scraggyspanner · 05/05/2016 20:46

I spent my pregnancy expecting I was having a boy for no real reason, we didn't find out. We had an amazing boy's name ready and waiting but had really struggled to strongly consider a girl's name.
Then, my baby girl arrived.
In the adrenalin filled hours post birth I said to my husband 'what shall we call her' and he said 'Hattie' (a name that had been briefly thrown around in our very minimal girls names discussion. And I agreed.
But I don't love it. I think I struggle that it's not a 'proper' name, that people will always assume she is Harriet, which she isn't.
I'm not sure I could deal with the embarrassment (and confusion of my 2 year old) of changing it and nor do I really know what I would change it to.

I'm not sure what I'm asking really, has anyone realised they don't love their chosen name? Did you come to terms with it/change it?

OP posts:

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123rd · 05/05/2016 20:49

How old is she? I would change it... A few days of confusion or a life time of you thinking how it doesn't suit her. Congrats by the way!!!

CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 05/05/2016 20:51

I've not been in your situation but why not just change her birth certificate to Harriet? You don't need to tell anyone now but when she gets older it would give her the option to use the full version or to stick with Hattie as a nickname.

At two she will know her name so I agree you can't change it to something completely different.

julfin · 05/05/2016 20:52

How old is she now?
Do you have another name in mind?

I don't think you should feel bad about changing her name. (And, not that it's anyone else's business other than yours and DH's, but if anyone does ask why, I'm sure they'll understand if you tell them that you simply changed your minds / it didn't suit her.)

I do think it's best to change it sooner rather than later though, not least for the sake of your other DC.

CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 05/05/2016 20:53

Oh wait... Is Hattie the two year old or are you talking about a brand new baby and the two year old is her sibling?

FutureGadgetsLab · 05/05/2016 20:53

Hattie is a lovely name. As someone else said why not just change her full name to Harriet?

ClubTropicanaDrinks · 05/05/2016 20:53

I don't think it's worth changing it unless you have a name you DO love.

FWIW I think Hattie is a lovely name.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 05/05/2016 20:54

Change it to Harriet.

Then she can be Hattie, Harri, Ettie, Etta

Or whoever she wants to be.

123rd · 05/05/2016 20:54

I think Hattie is a newborn and they have a 2 yo....

julfin · 05/05/2016 20:54

Just to clarify: when you refer to your 2 year old, do you mean an older sibling of the baby? (ie two years haven't passed before you've decided to reconsider the baby's name?)

Original poster

Scraggyspanner · 05/05/2016 20:55

Ah sorry I realise it wasn't very clear. She's 4 months and my son is the 2 year old.

I guess my issue with Harriet is that I wouldn't choose it as a name, I don't love the nickname Harry and by just changing it on her birth certificate she would then be registered in official capacities, passport, school, driving license etc in a name that potentially she might never use...

Argh, so confused!

OP posts:

FutureGadgetsLab · 05/05/2016 20:55

I thought Hattie was the toddler?!

123rd · 05/05/2016 20:55

Oh, I have re read I'm not sure now

spad · 05/05/2016 20:55

Yes, Hattie is a lovely name. But if you are worried you could change her birth certificate? Why not ask her when she's older?

FutureGadgetsLab · 05/05/2016 20:56

Ah okay OP. If you don't have another name in mind, I'd leave it. Hattie is perfectly fine on its own.

ClubTropicanaDrinks · 05/05/2016 20:57

What would you change it to, though? Do you have another name in mind?

wispaxmas · 05/05/2016 20:57

I love the name Hattie, but if you don't then you should change it now. What does your husband think? I do know someone from my postnatal club that changed her DD's name when she was about 6 months old and she had a 2 year old as well. I think I remember her saying they added a new first name and kept the original name as a middle name and I think family were a bit surprised, but all got on board.

bingisthebest · 05/05/2016 20:58

I don't 'love' my ds' name. He is now 5 and I wouldn't change it.
It's a nice name but I wish we had chosen different. It's a shame.
What I think is I'm not fussed by my own name, neither love or hate it and rarely ever think about it.
By the way I love hattie.

wobblywonderwoman · 05/05/2016 20:58

What name do you love op. I kind od get where you are coming from in that it might feel nicknamey (but it's gorgeous so I don't mean to offend)

I would change it if you want to. she's to your baby and you have to be happy.

anotherbusymum14 · 05/05/2016 20:58

We changed from using our baby's first name to its middle name of our baby at six months old. It's very doable. So I say be in agreement with your husband and go for it. Everyone around you eventually gets it/understands.

wobblywonderwoman · 05/05/2016 20:59

has she got a middle name you like ?

whatdoIget · 05/05/2016 21:00

You can change the name on the birth certificate up to the baby being 12 months can't you? Just change it to something you do love

SpidersFromMars · 05/05/2016 21:08

Harriet or Henrietta are lovely birth certificate names.

Hattie is a great everyday name while she's young. I'd give her the option of a longer formal name as an adult. If you introduce her as Hattie noone will rename her Harry.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 05/05/2016 21:17

If she was the 2 year old. I'd say. No leave it as it is. She's 2 years old and will know her name, and won't be old enough to understand that she is now going by a different name, but at 4 months. She's just learning her name, so. I'd say. There's still time to change it. You can explain to your DS that. His little will have a new name to get him used to it, but do expect him to call her Hattie nos and then for a while. He is only 4.

Could you get used to calling her by a new name, though.

woopywoo · 05/05/2016 21:56

We have a Hattie Hope aged 18 now.Hattie on the Birth Certificate, people have never thought her name was Harriet. Gorgeous name!

CutYourHairAndGetAJob · 05/05/2016 23:05

Ah OK, if she's only four months then you can change it if you want to. Your two year old would get used to it.

However I think Hattie is lovely

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