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Baby names

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

Should we change our baby's name at 6 months?

51 replies

breadhead · 22/06/2018 22:49

Our gorgeous 6 month old son is called Finley, which i just haven't settled with. My husband calls him Finn, which i feel is only a half-name. I have been unsure about his name since he was born but couldn't think of anything i preferred. Now i have - Hugo! I love it, it feel more 'wholesome' but Dh hates it, likes Finley and is happy to stick with that. Any opinions?

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mammyoftwo · 22/06/2018 22:51

That's not even how you spell "Finley"!!!!!

donajimena · 22/06/2018 22:53

I've seen it spelt many ways Hmm no need for that!

breadhead · 22/06/2018 22:56

Finley is spelt with an 'e' or an 'a', either Scottish or Irish derivation. The spelling's not the issue though.

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RoseMartha · 22/06/2018 22:57

By six months he has his own identity with his original given name it seems a shame to change it.
You could make a point of calling him by his full name if you don't like Finn.

CherriesAndLemonade · 22/06/2018 22:57

Don't really like either tbh. Did you have any other names u considered before he was born? You both need to like it or could cause problems for years coming up in every argument you have....

mothertobe789 · 22/06/2018 22:58

You can spell Finley like that!!...rude. Anyways...i love the name Finley, prefer it to Hugo to be honest. It may be very hard for family etc to get used to calling him something else at six months but go with your gut x

MuckyMare · 22/06/2018 22:58

Hugo is lovely. He won't remember his other name. Go for it.

CherriesAndLemonade · 22/06/2018 22:59

Or you could make Finley a middle name?

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 22/06/2018 22:59

Much prefer Finley to Hugo

breadhead · 22/06/2018 22:59

I actually prefer Finn to Finley but it doesnt go well with our one-syllable surname. Obviously didn't think this through well enough drink pregnancy....

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RafikiIsTheBest · 22/06/2018 23:00

What's wrong with the spelling? I've taught a few boys called Finley, and all 4 were spelt that way.

I like Finley, but also like Hugo. Does your baby not respond to his name at 6 months, seems a bit late in the day to change it, especially if your DP doesn't want to as well.

strawberrypenguin · 22/06/2018 23:00

If your husband doesn't like Hugo then you can't change it to that! You both have to be on board for a name change at 6 months.

Finn is a perfectly good name in its own right, it doesn't sound like half a name at all.

What is it about the name Finley you don't like. Could you call him Lee as a nickname?

breadhead · 22/06/2018 23:07

I guess i am being swayed by knowing lots of other Finleys now (didn't know any before last year) and just have a different feel of the name now. It feels too trendy, popular, chavvy even...but i dont hate it, and as you say, i can't change it to anything Dh doesnt like. Baby doesnt respond to his name yet but probably will soon.

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windygallows · 22/06/2018 23:08

Yes change it but it needs to be a name you both like! My dd is 4 and I still want to change her name!

Lucked · 22/06/2018 23:10

Yes you can change a name at 6 months BUT only if you and your husband are in complete agreement. If he doesn’t want Hugo it can’t be Hugo.

Finn/Finley are lovely names, don’t worry so much about how things flow with last name you are probably overthinking it.

breadhead · 22/06/2018 23:15

This is all very helpful, thanks. We do call him Fininian sometime as a nickname, which i sort of prefer, so i could try calling him that for a bit. Yes. Maybe i am overthinking it.

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Mountainsoutofmolehills · 22/06/2018 23:16

its fine to change.

Mountainsoutofmolehills · 22/06/2018 23:16

some cultures dont name till 1 yr

TintedRose · 22/06/2018 23:16

Both names are nice, but think both are pretty popular now if that's something your concerned about.
I've just changed my daughter's name at 10 months as I knew it wasn't right and didn't want to always regret it.

TheHobbitMum · 22/06/2018 23:17

It's fine to change if you really aren't happy, although there are lots of "Fins" around. As for the spelling my own DS is Findley Wink

breadhead · 22/06/2018 23:19

Hi Thehobbitmum - how is that pronounced?

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Lindy2 · 22/06/2018 23:23

If you change his name both you and your DH have to be happy and want to do that.
You say your DH hates the name Hugo and doesn't want to change from Finley.

Unless you both agree on the name change I can't see why you would do it

breadhead · 22/06/2018 23:28

Lindy2, you are quite right...i dont think its going to happen amd i will have to experiment with variations of Finley, Fintan, Finian etc...

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HeddaGarbled · 22/06/2018 23:32

Clearly you can’t go with Hugo if your husband hates it.

I think you should stop trying to think of new names and learn to like the name you’ve already given him.

Finn is not a half-name.

Don’t take any notice of names being popular/trendy. If you change it to something which then becomes really popular in a year or two, you’re back where you started.

Lindy2 · 22/06/2018 23:35

It's a name from the Hunger Games but I think the name Finnick is great.