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Original poster

Baby ñame regret

48 replies

BackToNeverland · 31/01/2019 08:32

Hi all my son is almost 3 months old and everyday I think about his name. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just very confusing. We decided to call him ' luke junior ' after his father, and I LOVED this idea during my entire pregnancy (even before I found out it was a boy!)

But since being born I've found it so confusing. At first we decided we liked him being called 'LJ' which was fine as it wasn't confusing, however DH then suddenly decided he didn't like this, and just wanted to call him luke.

I find myself hesitating before I say his name every time, do I call him luke, baby luke, LJ, Junior, luke Junior?? It's all getting too much and I'm really regretting pushing for a 'junior' name now.

I don't know how DH would feel about changing at this point as I don't want him to be upset and think it's his name I don't like, but I know once baby is toddling and I'm having to call his name in the house, it's all going to be just too confusing!!

Any advice?? Or any words of wisdom with dealing with a junior name??

Sorry for the long post lol!

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Seline · 31/01/2019 08:34

Just call him Luke? One of my DSs has family name and we used to live with that relative when he was born. Was never confusing.

Original poster
BackToNeverland · 31/01/2019 08:37

@Seline . Many times during conversations family have asked something like 'oh so where is luke then?' And I sat 'at work' for them to say 'I meant the baby...'

Sounds pathetic but it's everyday and it's incredibly annoying to be constantly trying to guess who people are actually referring to

OP posts:
Seline · 31/01/2019 08:39

Oh right, I see what you mean. Perhaps refer to him as Luke junior for now then? Or just ask "my husband or our son?"

It never bothered me but I did give DS1 a nickname (think Thomas to Tommy so I started calling DS Tommy which older Thomas never goes by) which helped. There aren't really any shortenings of Luke though.

TheRedRoom · 31/01/2019 08:42

Hmm. The only "junior" I know is a Christopher. The dad is known as Chris and the son as Christopher. I think you need to speak to your dh about how you are finding it confusing and frustrating (and by the sound of it a bit embarrassing too when you think people are asking about the wrong Luke). Perhaps there's an option to, for example, call ds Luca as a nickname. I get that dh wasn't keen on using LJ but perhaps there are other nickname options to consider.

Original poster
BackToNeverland · 31/01/2019 08:44

@Seline call me crazy but the name I've constantly got on my mind to change it to is, Tommy!! Now I'm not superstitious but out of all the male names how strange you decided to pick that one. Shock

I guess luke junior could work. I just worry that this feeling isn't going to go away and should I just bite the bullet and ask to change it while it's still doable at his age Sad

OP posts:
IceRebel · 31/01/2019 08:45

If it were me I would change it. It's only going to get more confusing as they get older, for example post addressed to Mr L Surname. I think your baby deserves his own name, as he is his own person.

Seline · 31/01/2019 08:47

How funny i picked that example Shock

If you want to change it then I'd look at maybe having Luke as his middle name. That way you've still got your DHs name and your son gets his own identity?

OnTheHop · 31/01/2019 08:48

Give him a new name before the Luke, either officially or unofficially.

Or add a middle name and call him that.

It could get more and more complicated as he gets older. Letters, when he opens a bank account (they need cash cards from an early age now), Dr appointments, with 2 Lukes at the same address.

It was a cute idea, I can understand your sentimental attachment to the ‘bump name’ but time to get practical.

Also, when he is older, secondary school, he probably won’t want to use the ‘Junior’ at school.

ItsameAmario · 31/01/2019 08:48

I'd tell DH it's either LJ or a change of name as its not working out them both being known as Luke.

Could you call him Lu? That's the nickname of my friends boy Lucas.

ItsameAmario · 31/01/2019 08:49

Or call him by his middle name but still have his given name as Luke legally?

Veterinari · 31/01/2019 08:51

Change it or use his middle name. I dislike ‘junior’ names anyway as I think a child should be an individual not an extension of their parent but a name like Luke that is difficult to shorten is very confusing.

golddustwomen · 31/01/2019 08:57

There's loads of this in my family, we just call them 'big xx' and 'little xx'
Really love the name Luke by the way. It's my ohs name, I definitely would have called our ds Luke but oh veto'd it!

babysleep4 · 31/01/2019 09:00

I would change it now. My DP has the same name as his dad and it's no annoying when I ask one of them a question and they both go to answer. DP wanted to give our child the same name but there's no way I would do it.
It's a shame in your case that Luke can't be shortened to anything. Definitely change it.

GreenDinosaur · 31/01/2019 09:04

You could try Lukie or Lu for the baby perhaps.
Or change your DP's name to Big Luke Grin Might make him more keen to go back to LJ which you were fine with!

HalfBloodPrincess · 31/01/2019 09:17

I had a friend in a similar situation. They decided to just go with Junior in the meantime and it really suits him. We all know him as junior but at 14 he goes by ‘Luke’ at school.

DaisyChainsForever · 31/01/2019 09:24

Your DS has changed his mind on the nickname, so you are understandably annoyed/upset. Big Luke/Little Luke when talking about them to others? Lukie is also a nice nickname. As is Junior. My DS has a couple of nicknames, he doesn't seem confused by it, one even lengthens his name.

MaterialisticMandy · 31/01/2019 09:26

I really like the name Luke Smile

I think call him Lukie for a few years, while he is young and then when he is older I'm sure you'll find it sorts itself out.

tammytoby · 31/01/2019 09:39

Could you call him Lu?

As in toilet (Loo) Shock?! No way!

tammytoby · 31/01/2019 09:39

Could you call him Junior?

TadaTralala · 31/01/2019 09:39

My DH and his dad have the same initials (and surname obvs) - bloody confusing.

Sarahandduck18 · 31/01/2019 09:41

Baby Luke

Lukey-boy?

FurzeandHarebells · 31/01/2019 09:43

Does he have a middle name? And you could call him by both if you needed to differentiate?

Or little Luke and big Luke?

Or call the baby Lukey?

I know a family where there are three generations of men all called John in the same house. Wee John (who is 6ft3), Big John (his Dad) and Grandpa John.

It seems to workout ok for everyone.

Luke is a gorgeous name.

Original poster
BackToNeverland · 31/01/2019 10:11

His middle name is that of a close deceased relative so we wouldn't feel comfortable actually calling him by that name Blush I know I've dug myself a big hole with this!

From your replies I've decided to put my big girl pants on and speak to my DH about this. As the mother if I'm still not happy with the name 3 months down the line then I can't see that changing by leaving it any longer!

OP posts:
Butterfly84 · 31/01/2019 10:14

I love the name Luke. I would just call him Luke. If your family said something like 'where is Luke?', just ask 'Junior?'

And he can just be known as Luke at school/in life.

MummEE2 · 31/01/2019 11:24

I'd call him Luke or baby Luke/little Luke when talking to friends etc about him. Love it when fathers and sons have the same name. You'll get used to it I think but it might take months/years

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