Changing our daughter's name at 8 months old?

[BlueJelly85]

Hi, I've seen a few posts about this when searching the internet, but they are usually for earlier on in their child's life (a few weeks after). We really liked a popular name, and wanted to call her by a nickname for it, instead we were really put off by the popularity, but found another longer version that we thought was okay and better for her.

I'm actually gutted that we didn't just go for the other one. We only call her by her nickname and everyone knows her as that. It's a nickname that she will most likely use at school as well. It's just I am so off of the name we chose (the full version of it) and when people ask oh is that her full name, I often just say yes, as I know they will ask what her longer name is. I don't think I can keep living like that.

Thoughts on changing it at 8 months in these circumstances please.

I'd change it and go with your original. Why not? It sounds as though you may regret not doing so, so do it.

If you feel that bad about it, then yes you probably should.
your daughter is still young, so it wont affect her as such, so rather than live with the regret, (if it were me) i would certainly go for it. (providing your OH is also ok with it).

I was going to say no after reading the title as I have an 8 (nearly 9) month old too who definitely knows her name but as you call her the nickname anyway I'd say do it if you're going to regret it otherwise..

Do it.

If it’s a recognised nickname then there’s no harm in keeping the longer name on her BC (I assume something like Charlotte but you call her Charlie?)

It just gives her options when she’s older. I know plenty of people who have switched to their full name or an alternative nickname at Uni or in the workplace.

I think it depends on the name for me. If it's Charlotte/ Charlie/ Lottie then I'd leave Charlotte on BC.

I don't think the OP is wanting to change the name officially to the nickname though, but to the preferred longer version? So like if the nickname is Georgie and the full name is Georgiana but she wants to have Georgina instead? If so, then I would definitely change it.

I’m imagining it’s something like Evie with the full name being maybe Evangeline, seems to fit the description.
I don’t know, personally I like “proper” names on BCs and wouldn’t want a nickname name but lots of people disagree. I also think that as everyone knows her by the nickname it won’t make a big difference which is a good thing, so changing is ok.

If she is known as ‘Evie’ and is called ‘Evie’ by everyone already and it’s causing you stress, just change it! No one will even know (apart from you) and it will make you feel better.

Her name is Millicent, but she is always Millie. NEVER Millicent. We wanted Amelia but yeah... so I would be changing her BC to Amelia, so she is no longer Millicent. Millie wouldn't be what I put on the BC.

Ah ok. Well if she knows her name as Millie and everyone else does too, then it doesn't matter so much if you change her birth certificate. Go for it if it will make you happy. (Love the name Millie, but I wanted it short for Camille...then I had boys )

But Millicent is so much nicer than Amelia. There are loads of Amelias. But change it if you really want. Nobody will worry.

defo change it. sorry but that's an awful name.

I don't think it really matters changing it on the birth certificate if you are planning on calling her Millie forever more. I prefer Millicent, Amelia is so so dull (I say this as someone with a similarly very popular name) and provides less of a contrast if she doesn't want to be known as a cutesy nickname when she's older and go for her full name instead.

If you only call her Millie, then stick with Millicent. There are so many Amelias and the Milly contraction is a bit contrived. Millicent is stronger, more confident-sounding name. I find the name Amelia a bit too twee.

I would not change it. Amelia is SOOOO popular at the moment. Millicent on the BC is fine. Continue to call her Millie. She may thank you when she goes to school with 4 other Amelia's and you have to decide if she is the one who has the long version or the initial surname letter added to distinguish her. In that situation Millicent will be a definite advantage.

😂 “I don’t think I can keep living like that”.

Get a grip op.

How is it a “definite advantage” to not have the surname initial?! In the grander scheme of things it makes very little difference.

I’d change it. You only thought Millicent was “okay” when you picked it and you like it even less than that now. It doesn’t matter that Amelia is more popular if after 8 months you know in your heart that it is the right name. And Millie won’t know any different

Just change it to the other longer version. No big deal.

Other people’s opinions on Millicent v Amelia are pretty irrelevant. OP knows she isn’t keen on Millicent and regrets not going with Amelia, 8 months in. Millie is a pretty standard shortening of Amelia.

Op, in your situation there will be no impact on your child as her day to day name won’t change, so I’d do it and tell her the funny story when she’s an adult (not a contrary teen).

Wow, I love that name Millicent. It's beautiful, unusual and a classic name. I would associate the nickname Millie with it but not with Amelia. I Don't think you should change it. There are loads of Amelias at my children's school. Loads!

FWIW, DC1 and DC2 have always been Firstname Surname due to having popular names and it has never worried them or me.

If you don't like Millicent, then change the BC name. Do it before she gets to 12 months old. Just don't come back here saying you wish you'd stuck to Milliecent afterwards.

stray e.