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Original poster

Name change , Help!

47 replies

shazzy123 · 29/04/2020 12:50

Hi, we called our daughter Jessica but everyone calls her Jess which isn't really sitting right with us. Even the doctor said so what can I do for Jess so we're thinking as she gets older it will be Jess not Jessica.

We're considering changing her name because of this , looking at Bella or Isabella ( shorten to Izzy or Bella) with Rose or Joy as a middle name (Currently Jessica Joy)

Also looked at Dahlia, Caitlin and Olivia

Her brothers names Harvey, opinions please really not sure what to do here

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/04/2020 12:51

You didn’t think Jessica would be shortened to Jess?
For me it depends how old your LO is?

TenThousandSpoons0 · 29/04/2020 12:53

Do you like the name Jessica still? Could just use nn Jecca

TenThousandSpoons0 · 29/04/2020 12:54

Also - agree Jessica was always going to get shortened to Jess, so if you hate Jess then you need to come up with another nickname or change it. Seems a strange thing not to have thought of it before though? Perhaps just normal second thoughts that will pass?

KnobwithaK · 29/04/2020 12:58

How old is your DD?

CMMum88 · 29/04/2020 13:02

I think you just consistantly call her Jessica and remind people to call her that. Its rude to shorten people's names without knowing, my dad always hated his name being shortened so we were always called by our full names. I work with an Oliver who is never called Ollie and Andrew's never called Andy etc too.

Original poster
shazzy123 · 29/04/2020 13:06

We thought it might get shortened when she's a teen but not at this age . we like the name Jessica but was just surprised how many people call her Jess already. She's 11 months but haven't really said her name much since the lockdown and just been calling her by her nickname my partner gave her a while ago

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 29/04/2020 13:10

Just say ‘it’s Jessica’ when people call her Jess. I know a 14 year old Jessica who is only ever called Jessica.

I’ve a name that people shorten ten seconds after I tell them my actual name and I just say ‘it’s Margaret’ and they stop. And I’ve lived for a decade in Australia where they aren’t keen on a long name but it was fine.

Flymetothestars · 29/04/2020 13:14

It’s a bit of extra effort but yeh you could just remind people it’s “jessica”
Once she starts nursery the staff will ask what she wants to be “known as” on all the forms, and if you say Jessica then they will keep calling her that. Obviously you can’t control it forever but it’s very doo-able while they’re young before they’re able to make their own mind up

Windyatthebeach · 29/04/2020 13:17

My dd has a name that can be shortened. If ever anyone used the short version I just said oh it's actually - full name -
At 13 she corrects the odd teacher but that's all now.
If Jessica is the chosen name just remind people!

KnobwithaK · 29/04/2020 13:30

If you both want to change it then I don't see why not.. I'd keep Jessica Joy as middle names though, personally.

If you're looking for opinions on your alternatives:

Bella/Isabella - too frilly for me

Dahlia - is it pronounced Daah-lia or Day-lia?

Caitlin - lovely

Olivia - a bit dull

I think Jessica Joy is really nice, even if it does get shortened to Jess Smile

Of course these are just the opinions of a random on the internet..

Original poster
shazzy123 · 29/04/2020 13:40

I'm really not good at correcting people and neither is my partner.

My first choice of name was Caitlin but my partner said any name but that one , he really didn't like it so we ended up settling with Jessica because we couldn't decide but agreed on that one.

My little boys been calling her Bella boo, he's 2 so this is where we started considering the name Bella.

With Dahlia it would be pronounced Daah-lia

OP posts:
KnobwithaK · 29/04/2020 13:53

I think if you like Bella then just go with that. Bella Jessica Joy Surname. Also it has the advantage that if people ask about the change you can give them a cute story about her brother having decided that was her name, rather than go into the detail of the Jessica/Jess issue.. Wink

Windyatthebeach · 29/04/2020 14:14

Bella will be Bell.
Caitlin would be Kate..
Unless you are pushy people will make up their own versions anyway!!

ArnoldBee · 29/04/2020 14:16

People will always try and shorten names. I use a shortened version of my name and folks still try and shorten it even further! At that point I often find a death stare and some sort of comment moves things on. This was always going to happen whatever name your chose.

Lllot5 · 29/04/2020 14:21

People will always shorten/ lengthen change in some way a name.
If you don’t want them to you have to be firm. Say no her name is Jessica.

GU24Mum · 29/04/2020 14:23

Surely it's less hassle to remind people that she's Jessica not Jess than change the name?

If you do change it, I really wouldn't choose Dahlia else you'll then have to tell people that "it's Daah-lia, not Day-lia".

Lllot5 · 29/04/2020 14:26

Plus they’ll call her ‘day’ anyway

RitaConnors · 29/04/2020 14:27

I'm really not good at correcting people and neither is my partner.

If you want to change your child's name then do so and I think Knob's idea of telling her/everyone that you changed it because her brother was calling her Bella is a good story as to why you did change it.

However, changing your child's name because you don't want to correct people who call her the wrong name is absolute madness.

SallyWD · 29/04/2020 14:27

I know a 9 year old called Jessica. Her friends and teachers all call her Jessica. It would be weird to ever hear her called Jess. I think if you keep correcting people it'll stick. She is young enough to change it if you really want to though.

Whitelighttrainwreck · 29/04/2020 14:28

You could be like my mum was with my brother and just call her Jessica no matter what and accept that people will call her Jess.
My brother actually got into the habit of telling people "it's Daniel not Dan"

M0mmyneedswine · 29/04/2020 14:36

Ds used to correct people who shortened dd name, he was 2 and she is still known as full name 15 years later. If you want jessica then correct people, when she is old enough she will do it herself

Windyatthebeach · 29/04/2020 14:42

Ime people use what YOU accept. My ds 5 has a nn. Used for over 5 years now. Very rarely gets his actual name and I love it!!
Nn just became him and he became the name.
He is prob puzzled when school use his name tbh!!
What if your ds starts calling dd Elsa??

Blursula · 29/04/2020 14:55

I wouldn’t choose Dahlia as that’s another 3 syllable-er that will be shortened to Dahl. Also agree Caitlin will be Cate and Olivia Liv. If you like these nicknames obviously go for it! Bell is lovely.

FWIW I think Jessica is a gorgeous name and it’s a shame it gets shortened (although I do see why). Do you like Jessie? Jessa?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/04/2020 15:39

I find people who constantly correct obvious nicknames really petty (I say this as a woman with a long traditional name which people shorten to various versions, none offend me in anyway).
I met a couple whose child is called maxwell, I may have called him Max...they corrected me.
I don’t think you can stop her becoming a Jess so if you categorically don’t like it change the name now.

raindrop83 · 29/04/2020 15:47

I'm finding this crazy, surely you must have thought people would use Jess?! You can't change her name now, poor child!!

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