Huge name regret after Coronavirus

[Holidayseveryday]

I’m posting on here as it’s anonymous and I’m so ashamed to admit I’m thinking of changing my almost 1 year olds name.

I loved earthy and nature names for girls so after a couple of weeks of deliberation once she was born we named her Sage.

Since then a pandemic has happened, and every day at 5pm theres a government press conference where they talk about “SAGE” “what SAGE says” and their “consultations with SAGE”
(SAGE stands for the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.)

All I can think is that from now on for the rest of her life whenever I tell people (or she tells people ) her name is Sage all people will think of is this pandemic and all they will mention is the government advisory committee!

It was already a bit of a marmite name and Ive never had very positive responses to it, even before this.

I could change it to her middle name which is more of a common name. If she grows up to hate her name I will regret not changing it when I had the chance, but then she knows her name would it be cruel and confusing to change it now?

It’s causing me so much mum guilt, anxiety and worry.

Has anyone changed their child’s name? Any thoughts on what I should do?

Thank you in advance

I like it. Wise, natural, earthy. I didn't even know about the committee and I don't think people will remember it.

Yep I'd absolutely change it.

Fair point about the accountancy system @TippledPink. I'd forgotten that.

I haven't heard of anyone with the name Sage before, but I like it. It sounds like a character in a Mary Wesley novel.

Oh I love the name Sage! It’s beautiful.

Sage means wise in French a sage-femme, literally wise-woman, is what we call a midwife. I think it is a lovely name and would never have though about a like to the advisory group.

Sage is a beautiful name!

It's not like her name is Corona or COVID. I don't think anyone would relate the 2.

I wouldn't have made that connection and I don't think people will in the future. I don't think you need to change it.

I thought you were going to say you'd called her Corona! I wouldn't think at all of the science group if you introduced me to a baby called Sage. I think you're overthinking that.

I don't know any other Sages, but wouldn't think it odd that you'd used it as a name. There are lots of names used and recommended on this board way more unusual or off putting (to me) than Sage!

Sage is lovely. No-one will think of SAGE. Just stick with it, and if she really doesn't like it when she's older then she could use her middle name

I love the name.

In a year’s time nobody will remember SAGE again. At least it isn’t NERVTAG (new and emerging respiratory virus threats advisory group)

Hi OP. Sorry to hear about how you're feeling. I went through similar feelings and ended up changing my DS's name recently, at 9 months old. I deliberated loads, tortured myself over it even, telling myself it was too late to change it, we would be ridiculed, people would judge me and my bond with him, etc. However, the reality is that I had felt this way since we'd registered him. I should have done it sooner, but lack of sleep, hormones and indecisiveness stopped me.

This is the bit I'm not sure about in what you say - did you doubt your name choice before the pandemic or is it just SAGE that is making you doubt it? Do you still like it? I realised that I searched people's faces for approval over DS's first name and, once I changed it, I felt so much more secure in my taste (even though it's a really unusual name, much more unusual than his previous name). I don't want to push my experience onto you, but I wonder if any of this rings true for you too or if it's more about the craziness of the pandemic making you wobble?

What are the barriers to changing it? Can you write out the pros and cons of changing it/keeping it and then score them each and add them up? Then see how you feel about the result!

As for whether she will dislike it, you simply can't know. But if you've given her a name you love / the name you like the most, surely that's the best you can do? For what it's worth, I like a nature name and I definitely thought of the herb and not the government!

I love the name sage, I would keep it the same op xx

I would you’re overthinking it.

But if you want to change: very occasionally an adopted child’s name has to be changed for safety reasons (rarely). Say Esmeralda needs to become Rose. So you call her Esmeralda-Rose for a week, Rose-Esmeralda for the following week and then Rose. It can be done successfully.

@Holidayseveryday I wouldn’t make that mental link at all, and I’m not just being kind. Enjoy your girls pretty name X

No one will remember that but she faces comments about onions.

It's fine, keep the name. It seriously isn't one that I associate with the crisis. You are overthinking things.

I like the name Sage!

Thought you were going to say Corona.

Personally i wouldn't make the connection with the other Sage if i was told a girls name. But the decision is yours to make.

I immediately thought of the colour (as my friend had sage green as her wedding colour theme), nothing else. Personally I wouldn't change her name.

I would think of the finance software, or onions... sorry

I'd change it. Sorry OP I don't say that lightly. Nothing to do with Coronavirus but it's just not nice. It might be ok for a pet. It's also got a male vibe to the word.
If I heard of sage used as a name I'd think boy. I think Sylvester Stallone has a son called Sage.

I also thought of the herb and didn’t make the correlation, and it’s a lovely name. I’d keep it.

I would never think 'covid-19 committee' if I met a person called Sage. And I watch all the briefings and work in media!!

I'd think herb, green colour, nature etc but not covid. Honestly.

So if you love the name, don't change it!