Alexa

[Chriss82]

Hi, our 2.5 year old toddler is called Alexa, before the amazon device was around. However we are increasingly worried about the impact for her now as the name has now been highjacked and we are considering changing it to Alexandra. Are we being paranoid?

Well there are plenty of Thomas around. None of them are teased due to the Thomas and Friends association.
However if you're concerned why not just call her Alex. After all that's probably what Alexandra will become. I think Alexandra is quite a hard name for a baby to say.

Alexandra would give her more options when she's older however Alexa was a name long before a device so I'd say it's fine to leave it as Alexa so long as she's happy with her name that's all that matters.

I'd hope that by the time she's at school. The Alexa will have been replaced by something new?

Both are beautiful names, lovely and girlie. But with the choice of Alex, Ali or Al if she chooses.

I know someone who named his daughter Siri long before the iPhone existed, never mind the software.
It's never bothered her and is generally an icebreaker - and Siri is a lot less common a name than Alexa.
I'd keep Alexa, it's prettier than Alexandra.

Thanks for the replies, our biggest concern is unlike say Henry the hoover or some name which is the same as an object is the fact you talk to Alexa in subservient manner as though she will do anything you tell her. Plus we've had a couple of situations where we have been where this device is and say her name and it kicks in. The generation she is growing up in is going to be immersed in technology, is she going to find she can't say her name

Yes I can see why it would be annoying

That would worry me too, I hate Alexa (the devise) and turned it off very very quickly.

Do you like the name Alex? it seems the most obvious solution to just shorten it slightly.

My name is Alexandra and alex sometimes sets it off. It's very annoying. It's why I sent mine back as my daughter thought it was hilarious!

i Well there are plenty of Thomas around. None of them are teased due to the Thomas and Friends association.

But when you shout for your son Thomas, a Thomas toy doesn't usually start doing what you said.

I don't think you should change it now, she's old enough to find it confusing, but I can appreciate your annoyance. With a bit of luck, the Alexa device will be out of fashion within a couple of years and it won't be a problem any more.

My name is Alexandra and alex sometimes sets it off. It's very annoying. It's why I sent mine back as my daughter thought it was hilarious!

It might have been easier just to change the wake word to 'Amazon', 'Echo' or 'Computer' - all of which are available :)

I have name changed.

My name is Alexa, my Mum named me after a novel and the pretty actress playng the character in a play adaptation 35 years ago.

I still love my name, I've never met another Alexa. The closest I have come was overhearing a young girl being called it on a day out.

The adverts are annoying and now I have billboards telling me what to do as well. My husband's boss calls gives everybody a nickname and mine is ... Amazon.

I'd stick with the name though, the technology will be replaced, at that point she'll have a really unique name as I doubt many people are using it atm!

I wouldn't change her name on the bc, but I might start calling her Lexie or Allie or something else that doesn't trigger the stupid machine, and hopefully by the time she's older, it won't be a big deal.

How about Alexis or Alexia? Less of a mouthful than Alexandra. Or does she have a middle name she could go by.

I used to love the names Yasmin and Allegra but one is now a contraceptive pill and the other a hay fever remedy.

Why is it always girls names they do this to?

Although, tbh, kids can mess around with any name. I know an adorable 5 year old Matteo who is constantly referred to as “Potayyytoh”.

What about just nick naming her Lexy?

FurryDogMother bought a sonos instead. Much better sound quality.

Allie ?

Ita not fair to change her name at two and a half. I'd just pick a nn from Alexa, Lexie, Allie, Alex...

Alexa won't be around forever.

I would be worried too and annoyed as it is a lovely name! I think your suggestion to change to Alexandra is a good one that gives more options.

I actually prefer Alexandra to Alexa but I wouldn't change it just because of the device. It's a lovely name and the device will go out of fashion soon enough or be replaced with something else.

Alexa is beautiful and I wouldn't change it. She must know her name by now?!

No it's a beautiful name. Our daughters names has a slightly similar sound and Alexa sometimes picks that up instead so you'd probably have the same problem with Alexandra. You can change the alert word to Echo I think so if she is somewhere where it keeps going off, that could be an option

Thank you all for your replies, our daughter does know her name but have been calling her Alexandra as well saying lots of people have a long and short name. I think for her in later life to be called Alexandra would give her a bit credibility plus she then has the full name to call herself whatever she chooses, Alexandra, Alexa, Alex etc

Chriss82 I think if you try to call her Alexandra it will automatically get shortened by kids at school.

And the Amazon device wakes up for anything starting with an Alex sound so I am not sure that Alexandra wouldn't trigger it.

If I was you I would introduce a nickname like Lexie now and take control of what her nickname is yourself.

Terribly confusing for the child though.

It's so confusing for us but we feel we are having to justify her name all the time at the moment and we both don't like Lexie as a name so were thinking if Alexandra was her formal name and she will of course still called Alexa! As first time parents this was something we never would have thought we would have to ever be considering!

Alexandra will also set off Alexa, so that wouldn't really help.

Can't you change the command from Alexa to Echo or another name?

Your poor dd must get confused if you sometimes call her another name.

Alexa is beautiful.