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

Lawyer here. It seems like you may have decided to keep the name but just FYI in case as your DD is almost one I thought I should mention - you can amend the name on a child's actual birth certificate if you do so within 12 months of the original registration. You'd need to have her baptised with a new name and complete the forms at your local register office or on line before the 12 months.

I wouldn't have thought of SAGE when I read your baby's name. I think it's pretty and in a couple of years nobody will even remember SAGE - they'll want to put it as far out of their minds as possible!

It could be worse. Friends of ours called their daughter Isis in 2007....

It’s a lovely name. I don’t link it to coronavirus in the slightest

I think of Sage green the colour and the herb.
And for the record it's sage woman nor man, which isn't a bad image because it means wise. You will get good counsel from this woman...

What about Fern?

I would change it. Not because of what other people will think but because it will always have negative contations for you. Or swap the first and second names around. When she is older you can explain and she can use whichever she prefers.

At OP -

When I think of 'sage', the first thing that enters my mind is accountancy software. So unless you're also concerned about your child growing up associated with tedious rows and columns of figures, and one of the professions perceived to be just about as boring as they come, I really wouldn't worry about it.

Sage has been around a lot longer than the Covid crisis, so if it was a name with negative connotations I think that would have become apparent long before now.

Yeah SAGE accounting software was the first thing I thought of too!

I know a teen Sage who gets teased a little bit about how she should be a Science guru but in a couple of years people will have forgotten about SAGE.

If accountancy software and onions don't put you off then I wouldn't change her name imo.

Lailaloo747

Could be worse....my friend named her daughter Isis a few years back “

I think Isis is a lovely name 🤷‍♀️

Don’t change her name - it’s pretty 😊
I was expecting Corona or similar. When I read her name I just thought of the herb and had to pause to re-read why you were worrying.

No-one is going to remember the name of the science committee in a short time.

I think I’d change the name!

Everyone will have forgotten about who SAGE are in a year or 2 so I would worry about it. Also if I met you and you introduced your daughter as Sage I wouldn't connect it with the scientific advisory group and think most people wouldn't. It's just because it's your child that you've made the link.

I think it's a nice name and not many people will associate it with covid-19, not even know let alone in a few years. Besides, what it stands for is a positive connotation (a board of intelligent advisors) so even if someone did make the association, it's nothing to feel bad about.

Sage is a beautiful name!!! Definitely overthinking it OP! I wouldn't make that connection at all if someone told me their child's name is Sage

I like it a lot so would keep it.

I would think of the accountancy software Sage before the Scientific Advisory Group wotnot... but most likely I would think of the herb.

It is an unusual name but it sounds nice. Noone will remember this Sage committee stuff in a year or two.

My dad and mother in law both go by middle name. I would do this.

I also think it works as a baby, child and adult.

Just makes me think of stuffing

I think Sage is lovely. It's not really that strong a connection, to a government think tank, I wouldnt worry about it, OP.

It’s a lovely name

If you still like the name and think it suits your DD I wouldn’t change it because of the committee. As others have said it’s not like Isis which I think is a beautiful name but really does have awful connotations now sadly.

Well..
If you had doubt about the name before the pandemic then I’d say yes change it.
HOWEVER..
if it’s just because of the pandemic and government advisory service name then no don’t! In a few years time people won’t make that connection. You are noticing it more because it’s your daughters name.

I haven't noticed the SAGE thing and I'm a health journalist - wouldn't connect it with your daughters gorgeous name.

Sage is beautiful and steeped in history, don't change it