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Original poster

Baby Name Regret: can I change my baby's name?

37 replies

aliceandkids77 · 13/03/2019 09:50

Hi ladies,
I'm suffering from baby name regret and I don't know what to do! My baby girl no2 was born at the end of February, so she is only a few weeks old but already both me and my husband regret the name we chose for her.
Her name is Betty. I actually do like the name Betty but we rushed into naming her without thinking about it properly and now it just does not suit by girl. I actually get quite embarrassed introducing her to people it's that bad! I don't call her Betty at all because I can't stand to imagine having to call her that for the rest of my life!
my DH said he wants to change her name and honestly so do I. He says she's not too old and when she will get too old we won't be able to change her name.
We would be changing her name to Iris. I think it's a gorgeous name and much prefer it to Betty. We actually decided to call her Iris yesterday around the house to test it out and it suits her perfectly, I also like how it goes with our eldest's name, Poppy. (isn't Poppy and Iris so cute?)
It's just that my baby's name seems weird to me and I don't know whether I should go for it! Has anybody changed their baby's name or known somebody who changed their baby's name? Do you think I should? Or should I learn to live with Betty?
Please help!

OP posts:
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stellarfox · 13/03/2019 09:54

Yes of course you can change it and it’s so early on do not hesitate to do it. She doesn’t know her own name yet so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t! Iris is lovely.

KateGrey · 13/03/2019 09:55

I really dislike Betty. She’s still young, I’d change it.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 13/03/2019 10:00

Poppy and Iris go perfectly together, much nicer than Poppy and Betty. Definitely change it. She need never know.

MollyHuaCha · 13/03/2019 10:01

Change.

Betty is short for Elizabeth and IMO is not really a proper name anyway.

Iris is lovely.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 13/03/2019 10:02

I think you have a year to change it, but since you are so certain I'd do it now, so everyone can get used to her new name asap.
My mum changed mine when I was a baby. My nan was annoyed because she'd had the christening mug engraved but really it was fine. Everyone got used to the new name very quickly and I was too young to know my own name anyway.

Soubriquet · 13/03/2019 10:02

Of course you can change it

Iris is a lovely name

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 13/03/2019 10:04

Also Iris is much nicer than Betty.
Forgot to say I also changed my son's last name when I married his dad. You will get a new birth certificate and it will be like the original name never happened.

Saffrona · 13/03/2019 10:06

Definitely change. It’s not too late at all.

Original poster
aliceandkids77 · 13/03/2019 10:32

thank you for all these replies everyone they have really helped me make up my mind! I think I am going to do it since I prefer Iris so much and DH is desperate too lol. x

OP posts:
Easterbunnyiscomingsoon · 13/03/2019 10:38

Under a year old you can get a brand new bc with no mention of the original name.
Go for it.

MsMustDoBetter · 13/03/2019 10:42

Betsy isn't too much is a change and is very sweet.

NuffSaidSam · 13/03/2019 10:56

Change it. No point in sticking with a name you don't like when she's got no idea what her name is!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 13/03/2019 10:58

Aww, I remember Betty being born, and you were red hot on her name.
Of course you can change it at this point. The earlier the better.
Iris is gorgeous.

Original poster
aliceandkids77 · 13/03/2019 16:07

@Awwlookatmybabyspider I think I convinced myself into thinking that Betty was 'the name', probably because when I was pregnant with my first I thought of Poppy and never looked back! Thank you for the feedback, I guess my little girl is a gorgeous Iris now! x

OP posts:
JimJamJarmusch · 13/03/2019 19:07

There are threads on here almost weekly about people regretting their initial name choice and wondering if it's okay to change it. It doesn't seem to be all that unusual. I guess the fact it's so easy to do within the first year suggests a lot of people find themselves in your situation. Definitely go for it - that's always the advice on these threads! Smile

WooWoo1000 · 13/03/2019 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AndItStillSaidFourOfTwo · 13/03/2019 20:16

Iris is lovely, much nicer (and suiting all ages) than Betty.

Antonin · 13/03/2019 20:20

Iris is much nicer. Go for it

BertrandRussell · 13/03/2019 20:22

Absolutely change it. But if you don’t want to be too radical, you could change it to Elizabeth and pick another short form?
But I would go with Iris.

SeeYouLaterUserData · 13/03/2019 20:24

I think Betty is much nicer certainly than Iris! But only thing that matters is what you like, OP. So definitely change whilst you can if it's important to you!

honeyman · 13/03/2019 20:26

Why not call her Beth ?

Minglemangle · 13/03/2019 20:46

I think that Iris is nicer although there is nothing wrong with Betty (apart from sweaty Betty etc). As your DH is on board old change it now.

Refilona · 13/03/2019 20:49

I would change her name to Iris Elizabeth or Elizabeth Iris so it would still make sense if someone called her Betty iyswim

PurpleCrowbar · 13/03/2019 21:00

Yep, that makes sense - iris Elizabeth. Which is lovely, & if anyone in the family clings to Betty for a bit, you can avoid being annoyed by them because it's an early nickname that makes sense with Elizabeth?

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 13/03/2019 22:28

Agree to changing it. I don’t like Betty fwiw. Iris is nicer and goes well with Poppy.