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?

We have an Alexia (3mos). We had originally liked Alexa as our chosen girls name before TTC but changed it when we fell pregnant due to the Amazon prevalence-not so much your subservience point, more just that it went from unusual to really familiar!

We did consider Alexandra but with our preferred middle names being quite traditional the combination was a)very long b) made it sound like I was birthing a forty-something accountant. That said, our intention was to always call her Lexi as an abbreviation so in your position I wouldn't change it (although I appreciate you don't love that as an abbreviation which is a bit more challenging!)

There isn't an easy answer, you have to go with your best judgement I think but I would probably try and raise a child with the strength you felt that name embodied when you chose it to push back against anyone that may try and disrespect her (Amazon-inspired disrespect or otherwise!)

Don't change it. Just use "known as" on school forms etc. She could be "known as" alexia, alexis, lex, allie.

@Chriss82 in my opinion, yes. Even though it's likely a fad, everybody in her generation and likely the one above her will remember what 'Alexa' is and I do think they will use this as lighthearted banter throughout her life.
The Alexa I teach has a lot of issues with her name- kids don't taunt her now as we have really cracked down on it, but I've no doubt she hears it beyond the classroom walls!
Likewise, an older student named Alexandra used to be nicknamed Alexa, she now goes by 'lexie'.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do. Raise a trooper and she'll be fine whatever her name is :)

@SenoraSurf thank you for your honest reply, this is what I'm hoping to gain by being on here so we can make a rational decision. I feel for the Alexa you teach as at that age your name is established and your vulnerable for bullying and like us she is probably thinking why this name? The Alexandra though shows me she can still use Alexa if she wants or have more options plus she can formally introduce herself as Alexandra has no social prejudices being such an established a name.

@Chriss82 yes these are both older girls (Alexa is 12 and Lexie is 15) as I teach in a secondary. Would be interesting to here from primary teachers as to whether they have come across more alexa's

I think it just confirms my fears recently as my wife went to her hairdressers and as soon as she mentioned our daughters name this device kicks in as she plays her music through it. My mum went to her brothers my uncle and couldn't mention her grand daughters name as he said he now has an alexa..... this is a joke! After Christmas this will only get worse with more people receiving them as gifts, so when can we say our daughters name? What a situation

I spoke to my colleague regarding her Alexa. She is 8, so beyond the name changing stage, so changing it now isn't an option. But her daughter LOVES her name. No one else in the school is called Alexa. Having said that, she did say that if she would have been naming her now, she wouldn't have picked Alexa. It's a tough one.

It's annoying, and some kids might tease her, but please don't change her name, it's a lovely name and she'll be confused if you change it! Kids will tease each other whatever name you choose for them and the technology may well be gone in a few years.

I know an older Alexa, I think she's a bit bemused and irritated by the amazon link, but that's all it is - a minor irritation.

@darceybussell thank you for your comments. I know technology comes and goes but I think this will be around for a while, certainly reading what their plans are for it and by the investment they have made to it. I think whilst she is still young enough for change (do you remember what happened at the age of 2.5?) she might thank us further in life. We were thinking of Alexandra as this is only extending her name and she can see still be called Alexa as a nickname. So this should be less confusing for her.

@itisitis thank you for your comments. I feel sorry for your colleague's Alexa as at the age of 8 your name is well established and approaching secondary school where you just want to fit in but this name will definitely make you different and that means bullying. It's disgusting and irresponsible of a company to use a persons name in this way, if google and all other smart devices use separate names why couldn't amazon, how can they highjack a name for commercial gain?

@WitWicky thanks for your comments. Interesting to see you with a name very similar to Alexa, do you not worry that by being so close there will still be confusing later down the line?

Is it really that much of a massive issue? I don’t even know anyone who owns an Alexa lol. It’s a beautiful name no need to change it

@MrsFoxPlus4 it is an issue to us as parents, we know lots of people with this device and I'm sure after Christmas there will be many more! My wife can't even mention over daughters name at her hairdressers as they have one there. My mum (Alexa's granny) couldn't talk about her granddaughter at her brothers house as it went off. If we can't even talk about our daughter in places how is she going to feel. Please the way you talk to the Alexa device is such a commanding way my I don't what that for my daughter

People aren’t going to talk to your daughter like an electronic device because they have the same name

I know lots of people with Alexas, and given they sold out of all the cheaper models during Black Friday, there will be many more getting them this Christmas. Of course we would all like to believe that people won’t make fun of her and ask her to do stuff, I am sorry but I think they will. Through no fault of my own or my parents, I was picked on for being different. If I or they could have changed that, we would have. I didn’t believe I would ever say this, but I would seriously consider either changing her name or changing her alias.

@CoperCabana thank you. I'm of the same opinion as you. The name is not mainstream enough so she is definitely in the minority and therefore a easy target. I do believe the amazon Alexa will grow, they can afford to make it work! It breaks my heart to even consider changing my daughters name but I think it's best in the long run especially as she is young enough. I just get annoyed that when doing our research of the name we didn't come across the amazon device

Honestly look at the speed of change with technology. In ten years time we won’t have an Alexa. It will be something else.

@ICJump I am surprised where this technology has come from and also (call me old fashioned) I can't see why we would want this regardless of its name. Do we sit it out and hope it disappears then? Personally I think her generation will grow up only thinking Alexa is a device not a person hence my concerns for action now

Speed of change isn't the issue though, she'd have to put up with it for her childhood, which is when it counts tbh. OP I really feel for you but think you're doing the right thing

@Chriss82 I really feel for you but you sound very pragmatic about it. Who knows what it will be like in 10 years? But for now, I know my two daughters, who are not in any way mean, would find it funny as we have a few Alexas. They wouldn’t say anything but unfortunately other children might. Not an easy decision for you.

it seemed to me half the girls in my dd's hockey team (age 17) were called some variation of Alexa, Alex, Alexandra. Bit confusing when cheering for them. It is a lovely name and none of them have any issue with Alexa.

There are lots of nicknames too - Alex, Alicky, Allie. Personally I'd stick with Alexa - the technology may well be replaced with something called Tom or Sue or whatever in the next few years.

Bugs the shit out of me that the helpful persona you give orders to in your home has a female name though.

@CoperCabana thank you. This is a huge decision to take, some many day I overthink things but I just want to do the right thing, as any parent would. I know what you mean about your daughters, I think anyone if honest would find humour in it.

You know, you could change your daughter's name, but she could still be teased for some other reason, appearance, hair colour, anything. I would wait until she is socialising a lot with other children, see how it goes, alert school staff, and only change name as a last resort.

@pallisers I think if we went with Alexandra then we are giving her the full name that she can do what ever she wanted with it when she is older

@GrannyHaddock thanks for your comments but I was thinking of taking action before she went to school. I still feel crazy for even considering changing my toddlers name. It's so bizarre