Child changing their name...

[howdymums]

My DD wants to change her name for various reasons and I completely understand why and am allowing her to do so.

The question is how do you go about picking a new name?

She can't decide on one she likes, so we are all a bit stuck! Is a nickname sort of name better and easier to catch on? Sorry this seems like a bit of a pointless question ://

What about Maya, after Maya Angelou, thinking of 'Still I rise'.

How about
Sunny
Sannah / Zanna
Zuzu
As a sort of nickname from her original name (which you said was similar to Susan, unless Susan was just an example of a name in which case ignore me )

I really like Eden though its a really nice name it also reminds me of names like

Maayan
Maya
Sienna

yeah i don't really want to share her name! but do like the suggestion of sunny, & eden, trying to think of an unconnected nickname now xx

Lyra
Hazel
Lucia
Seren(a)
Eliza
Meredith (Edie as nickname)
Alexandra
Lena
Sophia
Zara
Lauren
Marianne
Natasha
Victoria
Sienna
Natalie
Cassandra
Anastasia (Annie)
Sara
Jasmine

zara, zizi,

there are several international variation of susan, which would lend itself well to nn
Susannah = Hanna
Suzette = Annet (sp)
Susanne = Ann

Elodie
Heather
Ferne
Louisa / Luiza
Rosamunde
Violetta
Juliet
Desdemona
Maria
Daisy

Zara
Zeina
Zoe

Or with a 'z' sound - Isabelle, Isodora, Xanthe

Susanna/Suzanna could be nicknamed many things.

Susie, Sukie, Susa, Sanna, Anna, Susu/Zuzu, Suze, Annie, Nasa, Sasie, Suzzy, Anne, Sussy or, as some already mentioned, Sunny.

But nicknames can be unrelared to the first name. Or related to the last or middle name. Or a certain characteristic of a person.

Or in my case my little sister was unable to pronounce my name, that kind of stuck. So that's a nickname I have (but only backhome).

Suzanne (Zannah).

Cecelia, patron saint of music. NN CeCe

Why are you choosing another name for her? She obviously hates the one you initially chose, you perhaps you should stay out of it this time! Don't influence her at all as she doesn't like your taste and she'll be changing again in ten years time!

I changed my name at 17 as well. I think if you go for a nickname or other name which sounds like or is related to her current name it will be hard for people to remember that she wants to be called something different. Eh. If her name is Susan and she changes it to Susie, it might not seem like enough of a change for people to take notice of it. I think she should choose her own name and pick something really different to the name she is leaving behind her.

Why are you choosing another name for her? She obviously hates the one you initially chose, you perhaps you should stay out of it this time! Don't influence her at all as she doesn't like your taste and she'll be changing again in ten years time!

lovely

But I do think that you as the mother should be somewhat involved. Couldn't you two make a list together and she could pick the one she likes the most?

One thing that someone I know did was write lots of options of the names they were thinking about, including their surname, and pin them up about the house. They crossed them off as they saw they didn't "fit" what they wanted for themselves, and then that helped them narrow their options down.

So, lists like (made up names)

Toby Smith
Santosh Smith
Jane Smith
Charlie Smith
Eleanor Smith
Eli Smith
...etc etc

Don't discount "boring" names (David, Jane, John, Mo, Vic and all the rest of them) as having a generic name can be very useful in later life.

she wants me to chose / help / give suggestions!

I think Eden is morenoften a boy's name.

The problem with names is what you like this year you may hate in five. So I would choose a name with personal significance so you can always feel justified in having chosen it even when your tastes change.

Maybe a family name, or the name of a place special to her, or the name of someone she admires.

Rosa - after Rosa Parkes but also with nature connontaties. Maybe Roseanna for long?

If she's into nature what about famous female conservationist's names historicheroines.org/2015/07/30/4-women-conservationists/

Zadie like the author? Could be a nickname for Zara or Zaharah or Sadie which comes from Sally/Sarah.

The only Edens I know are girls. but you could have Edie from Edith or Edith?

Jude short for Judith?

What's her personality like e.g. quiet or outgoing etc, that could make a difference?

Í think something close makes the transition easier, I knew someone called Virginia who hated it and changed it to Olivia so she could still be called her nickname Via without anyone thinking it was odd

Thanks all for your suggestions! We actually agree thinking about it that its probably best to chose a name that means something to her & Eden doesnt mean much to her.

trying to think, she likes Bob Dylan? Dylan for a girl is a bit out there no?

Susan means Lily, if that's any help?

Dylan isn't that out there, but she could also have Roberta/Bobbie?

Bob...?

Hm... Roberta nn Bob/Bobbie? Robyn/Robynne nn Bob/Bobbie?

I like Robyn nn Bob/Bobbie