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

Think of my goddaughter who’s name is.....Isis

Two have mentioned this. I’m a third. Lovey, amazing, beautiful and kind 17-year old called Isis. Family friend. Can you imagine what she’s had to deal with these last years?

That said, please don’t change Sage’s name. It’s beautiful.

Please don’t transition to her middle name either.

It’s wisdom. It might also be an herb, or a software package, or a scientific government body, but so what?

Your daughter knows her name. And the rest is white noise. This, too, shall pass...

Sage = owl from the herbs.

Wise, sagacious. Brilliant name.

I am sure things will move on and Isis will return to the lovely name that it is.

I knew a really nice elderly chap whose middle name was Adolf. That was a bit unfortunate, but he was born in 1914. We didn't find out until his funeral.

Herb or computer accounting package - is what springs to mind - not anything to do with Covid19 - sorry . I think by the time your daughters an adult though the association will have changed

I love it. Do not change

I actually like it so much it's in my top names list for a girl

I love the name sage! So pretty x

If you want to change it because you, personally, don't like it after all, then change it.
But don't change it because of the name of a committee that will hopefully be forgotten in a couple of years. As this thread has shown, most people wouldn't have thought of it even now, right in the middle of the pandemic, so in the future it won't even cross the vast majority of people's minds.
You are tuned into it because it is already your DD's name, much like when you buy a new car the roads are suddenly full of the same type even though you never noticed them before. But to everyone else, it will not be an issue.
Don't change a name you love because of this, but if you actually prefer her middle name, go for it before she gets much older. Plenty of people do use their middle names. My Dad and his brother were both known by their middle names, as are 2 of my sisters in law, and one of my best friends goes by her third name.

I think you're way over thinking it. I wouldn't connect the two and it's a lovely name.

I wouldnt change it, I only think of the herb. I wouldnt connect it to covid and when she is older especially no one would think of it.

I thought you were building up to that you’d called her corona lol.

Sage, I don’t think anyone will remember or associate her name with this group don’t change her name.

Why don’t you start pretending her first and middle names are linked so every time you talk to her or say her name you say both together, eg Sage Jane, and then after a few weeks try dropping the first name and just using the middle name.

I didn't think of anything other than "stuffing ball"

I love it by the way - I didn't mean that negatively!

In a year's time I really doubt whether anyone will remember the name of a fairly obscure committee.

I'm not usually keen on unusual names, but I like Sage. It makes me think of both wisdom and the herb, and those are the associations that will stick.

Sage doesn't make me think of the pandemic, but I'm from the generation that watched the herb garden, so to me this is Sage

As long as your don't write it in all in capitals no one would make the connection and it will just become your DDs name

There’s a very big world out here where SAGE isn’t known as an acronym for any organisation or agency. You’re paranoid because your worldview has shrunk, necessarily, with lockdown and also new motherhood.

Don’t make big changes in lockdown, and don’t let mum guilt wear you down.

Quite surprised by the posters saying change it because they don't like it. Not what was asked and so what? Pretty self-absorbed methinks

Sage made me think of the herb not the acronym, other than you mentioning it OP. If you still like it, I can't see a reason to change it. Not that you asked, but I think it is quite a pretty name.

Like @helpmum2003 my dh is known by his middle name and it has been a pain in the bum for lots of reasons. A basic one is banks not accepting cheques in his name. My niece's name is spelt slightly differently on her birth certificate which caused all sorts of problems when she started work with the NHS.

Good luck OP making your decision

I love Sage and would never have connected it with the advisory group tbh

It's not something that makes me think 'what a nice name' but it's not a made-up name, a youneeeeq name or a mispronounced Irish name (my pet hate). A grown woman called Ms. Sage Jones (or whatever your last name is) would be taken much more seriously than a Nevaeh-Mae or a Mayzee-Jayde so in that respect, you've done her a favour.

I agree that no-one will associate it with Coronavirus for long (if anyone even does now). If you want to change it for other reasons, she'll soon adjust to a different name, at that age. However, I wouldn't change the name unless you want to. As you've said, you'll never please everyone, no matter what name you choose.

(As for the suggestion from a PP that it has a "male vibe", I disagree. "Sage" seems more feminine than male to me. But even if it were a traditionally male name like my own name is what's wrong with that? A bit rude, tbh.)

Sage is a great name. I’d certainly keep it.

Great name. Wise. And a delicious herb, said to give wisdom. Short and simple.

By the time she's old enough to care, no one will remember the advisory group - I bet you're pretty unusual in knowing it now.

You can't win with names. Who knows what acronyms they'll think up in 10-15 yrs time. And her friends (?) may well think up the most obscure references for any name.

I think of the publisher when I hear the name. It’s fine and I wouldn’t change it if you otherwise love it.

It would never have occurred to me to link it with the group. It's a herb, and a nice name.

And as others have said, the committee's name will disappear off the radar soon, anyway. It's not something that's going to follow her around.

You've got it backwards really. You're only noticing the committee's name because it's your child's name. No-one else is taking it in at all, never mind linking it to your little girl.

Ugh. Just saw your update. Please don't change to her middle name. You really do have this out of proportion. No-one but you will link her name to this committee. They really won't. You're doing this for nothing, and you'll just sow confusion for the rest of her life, when her name won't match the name on her birth certificate and her passport etc. She REALLY won't thank you for that.