Change baby's name? Help

[hoorayformatcha]

Hi,
I'd please like your honest thoughts on whether I should change my baby's name. He's now 5 months old and the name we chose still doesn't sit right. It's also much more popular than I originally thought it was and there are different pronunciations and we have had to correct people a lot.
I feel like I just should have done this earlier. I think maybe it's too late now? I worry if we do that people will think I'm a bad mum. I worry that he will learn the story one day and my indecision will affect him.
I feel also that I would feel upset to lose the name we have at the moment as it has been used by other people and we did love it before he was born.
My husband wants me to make a decision now. I also feel that my husband would feel upset and embarrassed even though he's willing to change it. This makes me sad to think of him upset and embarrassed. I would definitely feel embarrassed too and I also care what people think.
I know ultimately a name shouldn't matter that much as I have a lovely baby boy and I know I am so lucky to have that
Please let me know your thoughts, good or bad.
Thanks

Change it. My friend changed her baby’s name at 6 months. The old name is long forgotten. You won’t regret changing it

A frien changed her twins names when they were a few months old and TBH it was a game changer for her and really helped with bonding. People just accepted it and she has never looked back .

Thanks @mercybodle, this does seem to be building and it's difficult to take the tension out of it all and just see it as not a really big deal. Then it's more difficult to think clearly about the thing in hand!
Do you know someone who's done it?

There's a thread like this at leaat every month. 5 months is the younger end of the age range of the children involved. The answers are normally near-unanimous in favour of changing.

Is there a different pronunciation or a nickname (or longer version) of the name that you could use? Or swap for the middle name so that you still "have" the originally chosen name?

Can you test out new names on him without your husband being around to see what works eg just spend an afternoon calling him John even if just in your head and see how that feels?

I could use a nickname which is ok. But I feel like I should love my son's name. I want to feel proud saying it.
I feel my husband doesn't want to change it now. He hasn't said but I just know.

I've tried out the new name, it does feel a little weird. But wouldn't it always after calling him one name for 5 months. My hubby's tried and says it feels weird.

Hi, we changed our daughter's spelling at 4 months, I know that's it's not quite like changing the whole name, but I can understand a lot of your thoughts and emotions. The process of changing it was super easy and we've not regretted it once. I'm so glad we did it. I was terrified about what other people would think, I felt sickenly embarrassed. But I had to tell myself that being a parent is about being willing to take the pain for your children if you can. My daughter was likely to spend the rest of her life having her name mispronounced and misspelt, for the sake of a few changes I could prevent that. Yes it was painful initially and took me a while to truely accept my initial mistake, but I would take that so she could have the right name for the rest of her life.
I think the suggestion of trying it is really important - even do it just for yourself for a few days, it's no harm to anyone. You don't need to tell anyone else. Just get yourself to call him the other name you like and see how it feels.
I found taking it one person at a time really helped me. I rang my mum and was so nervous, but to my surprise she was completely supportive and understanding. That gave me the strength to the rest of my family and then my husband's family, then friends and finally a quick post of social media to get it out there and done and each stage I went through, not one person battered a eye! It shocked me that not one person said anything and it was treated like a normal thing. Obviously it might be harder with a full name change but I think starting off small with someone you love and trust and build up can give you the strength you might need and our minds can make things 100 worse that they usually are. Good luck.

In some posts you refer to your baby as a boy, then in others you say "she" when referring to the baby. If you were trying to keep anon by saying it'a a boy rather than a girl and that's why you'd rather not tell us the name, there's really no need. We don't care if it's a boy or a girl but it would be helpful to know the name so we can give unbiased opinions on it!

I think the question is more how does it feel to change a babies name after a few months and how it can feel to regret a babies name.

The Op isn't looking for opinions on the two names. And really it doesn't matter whether people like or dislike either name.

Do you actively like and prefer the new name? Or is it just that you're worried about the current one? I would only change it for the former reason.

No one else worth their salt will give a monkeys if you change it. The only opinions that matter are yours and your husband.

Keep trying the new name out at home, there's absolutely no reason whatsoever to be black and white about this and place an unnatural deadline on yourselves. Take the pressure off! Of course it will seem weird to start with!

Totally agree with you @diddlediddle!

I know someone who changed her baby’s name at 50 weeks, two weeks before the deadline. The new name is much better.

Without wishing to appear rude, it comes across as though you tried choosing a ‘unique’ name, what with not liking other parents choosing it and people mis pronouncing it. It appears to be a trend amongst some parents to use ‘alternative’ spellings of names and this is the consequence.
No name is that popular now. No name is unique unless it’s made up.
If you change the name in England the original name will still show on the birth certificate so think about if you want that. I think it’s quite common for new mums to fret about whether they have given their child the right name.

I changed our sons name at five months and I am so glad I did. If I hadn’t I will still be fussing about it now. It’s something you have to live with forever so if you’ve made a mistake then correct it. It’s simple as that. I absolutely know it won’t feel like that to you right now but it will I promise. Bless you. You can change it informally now and then formally on the birth certificate once your 100% sure you’re happy. Do not worry about what people think. It won’t last and it will pass. If you don’t change the name your feelings are unlikely to pass. It a tough time for you right now. I hope you manage to come to a decision that you are happy with. X