Should I change my baby's middle name at 7 months?

[DisneyBaby]

My daughter is 7.5 months old, her name is Dakota and her middle name is Hallie.

When I gave birth my husband and I were expecting her to be a boy, and were totally shocked but absolutely over the moon that she was a girl. Dream come true!
But I think I was so much in shock that I just gave her a name and middle name with my two favourite girl names because in the moment I felt like this might be the only girl I get so I wanted to give her a name I love!

Problem is we are now talking about trying for another baby next year and I have no girl names whatsoever. My no1 choice has always been Dakota and no2 choice for a second child was Hallie, and I have stupidly put it as her middle name out of the fear that I might not have another girl to use the name on.

What should I do?
If I change the middle name and never have another girl I will be gutted I changed it when I love it so much.
But if I don't change it and I do have another girl, I will be gutted I've used it as a middle name.

I believe I can still legally change her middle name until 12 months and it won't have to be declared as her having had a previous name? Is that right?

Her birth certificate, passport, EHIC etc all say Dakota Hallie so these will all need to be changed.

I just can't decide what to do and it's stressing me out.

I’d keep it, you may find another name you like more or you could use Hallie still and they share a name. I know lots of people who have their siblings name as a middle name.

I would have Hallie Something down the line, if I were you. Wouldn’t think it was an issue, especially as it’s just the middle name.

My SIL has 2 sons. Stephen Michael and Michael Anthony.
When she divorced her ex had a 3rd son named Anthony Joseph. I know he had a 4th son but I'm not sure if that boy's name is Joseph but it would not surprise me if it was. You could keep Dakota's mn and use still use it as a first name for another girl. Will give them something special they share.

I wouldn't change it at this stage either. It's so sweet that you were so over the moon you gave your little girl the two nicest names you knew

I am the eldest child and my middle name is the same as my sister’s first name! We have always really liked the fact that we share it, we are very close but it ties us together.

It’s not an unusual name - quite the opposite, it’s Jane but my Mum has always liked it but couldn’t use it when I was born. When my sister arrived many years later she was happy to. Use the name twice and they can both enjoy it! Very best of luck.

I also know siblings in where one has the others middle name as their first name. Not the end of the world.

And in any case, you might find a name you love! Or have a boy next time! Or, sadly, you might not get pregnant again.

There's really no need to change your daughter's name on the off-chance - and you might regret it.

Ffs

I’d keep it as her middle name. If you have another girl, just call her Hallie. It’s pretty common for families to share names in that way, and it’s a nice bond for sisters to have.

@LunaLula83

Ffs

Good of you to impart your wisdom there...

What happens if you change it and have a boy and don’t use it anywhere? Just leave it there are loads of good names and you can recycle too.

I’d say no, you don’t know for sure you will definitely have another girl. If you change it you might never get to use the name? Also if you then did have another girl she would have your DD1’s old middle name as her first name. It just doesn’t seem right to me. Hallie would also still show on DD1’s birth cert -
the new name just goes in to a different section when you make a change in the first year, although it becomes official. If you really want to though, I don’t think her age now is an issue as it’s only the middle name change. I like the idea above of keeping it as a middle name for first born then if you have another girl using it as her first name, then sisters would always have a part of each other

I think @LunaLula83 was just offering up some much needed perspective! 🤣

YES it would be weird to change it now 🤷‍♀️ to free up a name for a potential child you haven't had yet/might not ever had is bonkers

Thank you so much everyone, you have made me feel a lot better about the whole thing!

I was literally at the registry office sorting out her birth certificate and having second thoughts about Hallie. I should have tried my gut and changed it there and then. But as you've all said, it's done now so I should just live with it and if I really can't think of a new name then I'll reuse it