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 love the name & it definitely doesn't make me think of the current pandemic at all x

I think for a similar reason Cora is going to be lamented upon!

I didn't even think of SAGE until you pointed it out... and I follow the news... I don't think people will make the connection, or not many people.

However if you have doubts maybe the name is already tainted for you so is worth changing x

You liked the name when you chose it for her. As a name with some significance (at the time) she may love it for that. It would be a shame to deny her that.
I know someone called Poppy - a name I wasn't taken with at the time it was given. But she is such a bright, cheerful person, that it suits her to a T now and I love it because of her.

I would never have made the connection! I thought you were going to say her name was Corona, haha!

I think it's a lovely name. If you actually like the name, leave it! You can still use her middle name if you prefer.

That's fine, I wouldnt have connected the two! I know a few Isis 's and that's worse!

Keep her name.

Not read the whole thread, but as PP have said - Sage to me is an accounts package (I currently should be entering journals on but am "on lunch").

It's hard to really be objective about your question as Sage is awful in my opinion - sorry. So I would say change it. But not because it reminds me of SAGE, or the herb, or the computer package, but because it just isn't nice - it's quite harsh, doesn't shorten at all and is a bit 'my parents wanted to be unique'.

Change it! She will thank you I think...

Similar-sh names:

Sadie

Saskia

Sabina

if you put one of them in front so that she was Sabina Sage - that would work?

A sage is a wise old man to me - it’s not a girl’s name. I’d think old man, herb, govt advisory in that order.

Really don’t like it as a girl’s name so would definitely change it if you’re wavering yourself.

Wren is a cute nature-inspired name?

A Sage is a herb to me, I wouldn't associate it with organization. If you'd named her Corona or Covid or Bo-Jo or something that might be a problem but I think Sage is fine

I can't believe all the people shitting on a 1-year old's name simply because THEY don't happen to like. The child isn't called TiaMariaEmpressChardonnay or Pol Pot, she is called an unusual but established nature-themed name. The OP's concern is around a possible association with the SAGE committee and, thus, the pandemic. Pages of posters have said they would not make any such connection. Some of these PPs have then gone on to pile on a woman who is clearly unhappy and stressed to try to make her feel worse and make her change a 1-year old's name because THEY DON'T LIKE IT. The internet really does bring out jerkish behaviour in some people. As - presumably - adults you should be embarrassed by your behaviour.

maybe i don't watch enough of the government briefings but that would never have come to my mind!

@Holidayseveryday if you dislike it - regardless of the (as it turns out) unfounded SAGE concern - then change it and ease your mind. If you're feeling a little more vulnerable because of the stresses of lockdown, and so are focussing more on the negative reactions you've had, then keep it. Don't let others sway you. Life is short and the pandemic is not forever. The pandemic is doing a right number on our mental health as well as our bodies, our population & our economy.

I just think if the programme The Herb Garden

I don't particularly like the name-but I still don't think that you should change it.

What does her other parent think?

Or is it that you were never really certain about the name.

Because if you really loved it I don't think that you'd be being put off.

I like it ! Don't for one second think of Coronavirus. Did think of the herb when first read your post but the more I thought of it, bloody love it! Don't change it, she's too old anyway

@ConstanceSalinger “ Yes, change it. There's lots of lovely ethereal natural names. Sage for me is a wizened old man wandering around Old Englande reading tea leaves.” - completely missing the point of the thread.

OP, SAGE isn’t ubiquitous or negative enough for it to influence the name of your daughter imo. I would definitely leave it.

Think of all those poor girls named Isis!!

@diddl “ I don't particularly like the name” - literally nobody is interested in your opinion of the name. RTFT

@FizzyGreenWater “It's hard to really be objective about your question as Sage is awful in my opinion - sorry.”

Nobody cares about your opinion of the name - sorry.

@JaffaCakeGal Dear God not an accounts package!! The school bullies are really going to go to town with that connection!!

Gosh, I love it. Haven't read the thread other than your first post. It makes me thing of advise and wisdom and people
I love, respect and admire.
Don't change it, you'll grow to love it again.

I wouldn’t change it at all! It’s silly

I think it's a lovely name - and I don't normally like unusual names. For me it conjures up a colour - sage green is lovely, soft and calming. That may be because I've been looking at paint charts today.... But the name would never make me think of a committee.

I like it.

If I was older and discovered my real name was eg. Sage Jane and you'd been calling me Jane for years I'd be gutted.
Would much prefer to be known as Sage.

I just think of accounting software when I read that name