Is it worth changing DD's name?

[Redladybug]

DD has a middle name which we've ended up calling her on a day to day basis.

She has a lovely first name which is quite long and that we still completely love! But we call her by her middle name.

Is it worth getting her name legally changed so her middle name is her first name on her birth certificate/legal documents?

She hasn't started school yet - would it be possible to put her middle name as her first name on the register etc?

Thanks

[ASqueakingInTheShrubbery]

I'd change it. I used my middle name, but my first name was on anything official, so any time I had dealings with authorities, they called me by a name that wasn't me. It was intimidating when I was already feeling vulnerable. I changed it by deed poll as an adult and am so glad I did.

[Sophronia]

Leave it. I know lots of people who go by their middle name.

[Redladybug]

Thanks for all the replies!

I also know a couple of people I've worked with/went to school with who were known as their middle name but never considered it it's a hassle for them until now.

DD's first name is 4 syllables, unusual but beautiful. Her middle name is 'known' (everyone will have heard of the name). I want to still give her the option of picking which one to go by when she's older. We chose her first name because it was more unusual and DP much preferred it over her middle name, but everyone agrees the middle name suits her!

DD isn't one yet - I think before the age of one, the name can be changed on her birth certificate rather than deed poll (for what it's worth!)

[Redladybug]

Also her middle name isn't common at all - not in the top 100, but easier to recognise/spell/pronounce

[Bringmesunshite]

The use of my "proper" name by work colleagues, officialdom or the general public that I deal with daily helps me to be "in the zone". Then I kick back and go by my nickname with close friends and family. Also, when my parents called me by my proper name, I knew I was in bother

[CPtart]

DH is known by his middle name. It is massively confusing....banks, passports, anything official is a headache.
In a recent emergency I had to give the police my DM's siblings' names. However, they are all known by their middle names which made trying to trace them extremely difficult as I struggled to remember what each of them was really called. I think the police thought the whole family was mad!

[CountessYgritte]

I was going to say leave it but remembered my gran who was known by her middle name. All medical stuff always called her by first and she'd get really pissed off. When she had dementia they just thought she didn't recognise her name

[CountessYgritte]

So yes, change it

[DramaAlpaca]

I've gone by my middle name all my life, as has my sibling. I have no idea what our parents were thinking.

It's been a pain, to be honest. I often get called by my first name (which incidentally I really dislike) by people who don't know me, and it's on all my official documents which can make things difficult. Also it's not nice being addressed by a name that you don't recognise as you.

I'd change it for her sake, I really would.

[MrsNuckyThompson]

My son is (deliberately) known by his middle name. It's more common than you'd think. Schools normally allow for you to put a 'known as' name even if you register them with the full name. You can change a name by deed poll but not sure I can see the point in your case!

[buttercup54321]

change it or start using the other name now,

[TinfoilHattie]

I would leave it as it is. My Dad grew up being known as his middle name by the family, his proper first name everywhere else. Never caused any problems. "known as" is common on all forms now, so at school you would list her full name as for example Alexandrina Rose, known as Rosie.

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Just explain in the known as box. That she goes by eg Amy her middle name. It won't be a problem.
A child can opt to be called anything. Even if its nothing to do with their name.