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

Can you keep her name as it is, but just use her middle name?

I just realised I use an accounting package called Sage, I've never even thought about it and it isn't what I think of when I hear Sage, I've only been using it for 20 years.

I'd change it. I don't think it's great

Sage is lovely. And I wouldn't make the connection. Give it time, SAGE will pass from the spotlight.

Isis - brings to mind Bob Dylan, it’s a lovely name

I hadn’t really noticed it was called SAGE. Wouldn’t worry about it!

I think it’s a lovely name.

I would change it. It’s not a nice name for a girl sorry.

Op didn't ask if you liked it or not

Keep it, OP, It's her name

I didn’t think of the herb until I read the thread. I just thought of ‘wise’!

Sage is a lovely name - don't change it for such a silly reason, you are overthinking this.

I do know someone who changed her baby's name, she had the birth certificate changed, can't remember how long you get to change your mind but the certificate still showed the original name somewhere. The child found out when she needed her birth certificate for something and decided to start using her original name.

Just checked, you have 1 year to change the name on a birth certificate so you haven't got long if that is how you want to do it.

It makes me think of Christmas dinner.

I wouldn’t change her name just because of the links you suggested. If, however, you just don’t like the name, then yes, change it. I think it’s a lovely name!

Keep it OP

I hope she gets a brother and a sister, Basil and Rosemary. Have to say it does make me think of herbs and onions and stuffing, rather than anything to do with the pandemic but really it's not my business.

Thank you so much everyone, this has been so helpful. I don't think I ever felt insecure about it before all of this or felt like I needed people's approval about it, I don't think you'll ever find a name that everyone likes. (although like you say the first few months of her life are a bit of a blur, and when we actually named her i was still recovering from the birth)

It has really just been recently, it's a weird time with a lot of anxiety and worry about the future and there's not a lot else going on so you're right I may be overthinking it. The thought of changing it is hard but I didn't want to not do it if it's best for her.

Keep it op it’s a lovely name

People will forget soon enough

I'd choose it myself for DC2 if a girl, but it doesn't sound right at all with DD1's name. It is beautiful though.

Oh heavens. I would make NO connection to the SAGE group. I can see why you're overthinking this. But as an outsider looking in, I seriously, seriously wouldn't even worry about your baby Sage. I still completely and utterly think of this name in its earthy sense.

It is a beautiful name and i didn't see the corona connection until i had read several posts. keep it.

Just think of herb not the advisory group! Overthinking this massively OP.

I really like it and don’t think of SAGE when I hear it.

I think of the herb.

Have you said how old your baby is @Holidayseveryday

SAGE is new to me. Completly missed that. Sage is a lovely name

Sage is a beautiful name

It means wisdom

:)