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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Girl name regret

78 replies

KonkeyDonk · 10/02/2022 23:42

Baby is less than 6 months old. After long discussion we registered her at the last moment as Cecilia. I wasn't convinced but DH said I'll get used to it. So far I've only been calling her Cece, which I love, but her full name just sounds so lispy and doesn't suit her Sad!
Will I get used to it or will I forever regret not changing it? My other option was Serena which my DF didn't like so I decided against it. DH thinks I'm silly but it just doesn't feel right. I had a bereavement soon after the birth of the baby and I was not quite myself as well.

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RunningFromInsanity · 10/02/2022 23:51

Just continue to call her and introduce her as Cece then.
I never use my full name except for official documents. Friends I’ve known for years were surprised when they found out my official name wasn’t what they’ve been calling me!

Welldarn · 10/02/2022 23:52

Cecelia is lovely and so is Cede. I think you have given your daughter a beautiful name.

Original poster
KonkeyDonk · 10/02/2022 23:53

For what is worth I love both these names, it just feels like Cecilia is extremely serious and Serena less so. I know she won't be a baby forever but I was hoping it would grow on me by now.

OP posts:
Tinyhorseshoes · 10/02/2022 23:54

Lovely name.

CassieJumped · 10/02/2022 23:54

My son had his name 9 years before he was born. For his two sisters we had his name plus two other names each. When they were born they had the one of the two they suited best. For a boy we only had one name. So when he came along he was 'boy name'. For months I felt like he wasn't 'boy name' eventually after tome he became 'boy name' and now he's 7 and his name is perfect. I get it op. You just have to decide which way this goes. I stuck with it and it worked out. Can you see that? X

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 10/02/2022 23:55

I agree with PP she never has to be Cecelia. Plenty of people are only ever known by their nicknames. (Aside from official documents). Even when as starts School it has a preferred name box.

stickygotstuck · 10/02/2022 23:57

Cecilia is beautiful OP, you must have liked it to give it to your baby.
I second using her nickname if you prefer.

RonCarlos · 11/02/2022 00:00

Cecilia is gorgeous. I much prefer it to Serena, but that's just me. It reminds me of the Simon and Garfunkel song. It looks like quite a cool name to me. Cece is nice. My DD has a fairly grown up name and we had a nickname for her which she is still called at home. But she has grown into her name and it really suits her.

Original poster
KonkeyDonk · 11/02/2022 00:02

I think I might be falling into a trap of 'she actually looks like a steamed dumpling not a Cecilia/Antonia/insert human name'. Just worried I'll regret it as I keep coming back to it.

OP posts:
rocketfairy · 11/02/2022 00:08

Cece is great, also Cecy (Sessy). Do you like Cecile, Celia or Lia as other nn. options?

LimpLettice · 11/02/2022 00:32

I wanted Cecilia in my last two pregnancies. Both boys, so I used it for my kitten. It's a beautiful name, not serious, and CeCe is such a great nickname. Vastly prefer it to Serena which just makes me think Serena Joy.

It's hard to make such a big decision for someone else, but OP it is still less than 6m since a birth and bereavement. Don't be too hard on yourself, that is two massive events and maybe you are associating the name with a difficult period. Understandably. I think babies do look like steamed buns a lot of the time (!) but they usually grow into the name you've chosen. I'd try not to dwell on it too much and maybe focus on dealing with some grief.

Greenmarmalade · 11/02/2022 00:45

I have the coolest friend called Cecilia. She’s such an awesome woman.

Cece is so cute! You can change it to that if you prefer?

WeAreTheWeirdosMister · 11/02/2022 00:51

Change it, Serena is nice and Cece goes with both so the transition will be painless

babyjellyfish · 11/02/2022 07:09

Keep it! Cecilia is a beautiful name.

ThirdElephant · 11/02/2022 07:11

It's a lovely name OP, and she's had it for six months. It's hers now. Use the nickname you love. No six month old looks like a Cecilia.

TatianaBis · 11/02/2022 08:05

I think it’s a beautiful name OP. I prefer it to Serena. However it’s also a name that, despite liking on other people, I wouldn’t personally choose. And that’s they key isn’t it - you went with a name despite not being 100% convinced of it. So it doesn’t matter how many other people like it.

Your child’s name is not something you should have to ‘get used to’ so I wonder how you ended up in this position. I’m not sure what the relevance of what your dad thinks about Serena, it’s not his kid.

Roselilly36 · 11/02/2022 08:14

I love it, great choice.

TabithaTittlemouse · 11/02/2022 08:29

Cecilia is a beautiful name. I know of a 4yo Cecilia and she’s lovely. I also love Cece.

Luredbyapomegranate · 11/02/2022 08:34

If you love Cece I don’t think you have to worry.

Cecilia is a lovely elegant name (same feel as Serena to me) that she will grow into, and if she doesn’t, then she’ll stick with Cece. (Steamed dumpling is adorable BTW)

Lemonlemon88 · 11/02/2022 08:37

Cecilia is a lovely name.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 11/02/2022 08:40

Just keep using Cece. It will stick and when she starts nursery and school you can give it as her preferred name. Keep Cecilia as her 'Sunday name' Smile

8stone13 · 11/02/2022 08:44

My partner is Celia, her parents were inspired by the Simon and Garfunkel song. It's not a name that is popular for her generation as she was born a decade plus after the song which makes it special. She tends to be known as C. I think both Celia and Cecilia are absolutely fantastic names. I've known several Celias and one Cecilia and they've all been incredibly bright women (all academics as it goes) who were self-assured and warm people. I have nothing but positive associations with the name.

toastofthetown · 11/02/2022 08:47

If Cecilia still doesn’t feel right for your daughter then it doesn’t matter how many on here say they like it and prefer it to Serena. Is DF a typo for DH (as your father’s/friend’s view aren’t relevant)and does your husband still like Serena? Does he know that months later you are still not liking the name? You could try out calling her Serena for a few days and see how that feels, without needing to change anything yet.

On another note, how are you? A bereavement shortly after giving birth is really hard. Sometime fixating on a baby’s name can be a sign of PND, so hopefully you have lots of support Flowers

FanFckingTastic · 11/02/2022 08:56

Personally I find that we tend to 'find' our own names as we get older so I wouldn't worry too much about what her registered name is. You will call her what you like most, and as she grows up she will ultimately decide what she wants her name to be. 2 of my 3 kids have completely different names to the 'formal' name that they were registered as.

MotherOfCrocodiles · 11/02/2022 09:03

I couldn't settle with DSs name. It's a serious, grown up name and although there were nicknames I liked, DH banned them all. The whole family called him Baby til he was about 18 months old.

So.... nursery gave him a nickname neither of us liked and that is now effectively his name.

On the bright side, I now like both his original name and the nursery nickname, because they are his names and I love him. That effect only kicked in when he started being more of a person- about two I think...