Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Changing baby's name

112 replies

TulipPeony1 · 20/05/2022 17:22

Hello I have a 7 month old son which we thought we had named a unisex name as we liked it for a girl and for a boy. It turns out since naming him and introducing him to the world that no one has heard of a boy called this name and I have had so many comments from people assuming he's a girl. I am really gutted as it was the only name that me and my husband could agree on and I am really concerned that our son will have issues with this his whole life. I really wish we had named him something else, although I don't know what that would have been. I think about it constantly and hate introducing him by name to people now because I just anticipate their reaction. I have had it in baby group where the teacher called him "she" during one of the songs and I had to correct her. She said that she'd never heard of a boy called that before so thought he was a girl even though he was dressed in what would be described as 'boy clothes'. I've had people think he's a boy and ask "what's his name?" then when I answer they say "oh she's a girl" nope! It's really disappointing and I hate that it's being spoken about. My mum had issues at the hairdressers when another person overheard her talking and commented that it was a girl's name. It just feels like everywhere and I'm really upset that he will bear the brunt of this. I don't know what I want people on here to say really. I'm reluctant to say his name seen as no boy ever seems to have been called this before it would be completely obvious, but I just wanted to see if others would feel the same in my shoes and what you would do.

Thank you

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
DisforDarkChocolate · 20/05/2022 17:26

But we honestly can't make any useful comments unless you tell us the name.

DemBonesDemBones · 20/05/2022 17:27

Nothing useful to say without knowing the name, sorry.

Pixilicious1 · 20/05/2022 17:27

What is the name??

Ishacoco · 20/05/2022 17:29

Name? Can't say much without it!

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 20/05/2022 17:30

So something along the lines of Ashley or something more obscure?

TulipPeony1 · 20/05/2022 17:33

It's probably more obscure than Ashley but along those lines. I think more people just know it as a girl's name and it is rarer for boys.

OP posts:
DisforDarkChocolate · 20/05/2022 17:34

I'm thinking Audrey now.

pinklavenders · 20/05/2022 17:35

People are being rude. There are lots of people with unisex or the 'other' gender's name who've had no issues - people just accept it. Eg female Jack Monroe, Cameron Diaz, etc

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 20/05/2022 17:37

So maybe a name like Eden that's predominantly used for girls' name in the UK and seen as a boys' name in other countries.

It's hard to say without knowing the name but I don't see an issue with changing your child's name as long as it's a considered decision. Do you even have another name in mind?

HitsAndMrs · 20/05/2022 17:37

Is it Jesse? As this is what we are naming our baby if it's a boy and I worry about this too but it has been the name we've wanted for 10 years.

catbirddogchild · 20/05/2022 17:37

No use unless you actually give the name!

Spaghag · 20/05/2022 17:38

Is it Cody?

I know someone in RL who is having this dilemma with her son Cody's name.

User354354 · 20/05/2022 17:38

Without knowing the name it's impossible to comment.

anewername · 20/05/2022 17:39

Can you change it to something similar or similar sounding, so you don't loose his identity completely? MN is great for ideas.

NerrSnerr · 20/05/2022 17:40

Jack Monroe wasn't called Jack at birth- I just looked it up and she called herself Jack as a young adult.

I think it really depends on the name, it would be annoying to have a name that makes people assume you're a different gender.

MojoJojo71 · 20/05/2022 17:40

Aubrey?

to me that’s a boys name but I think I’m in the minority and I seem to hear more and more girls called Aubrey these days

TulipPeony1 · 20/05/2022 17:40

pinklavenders · 20/05/2022 17:35

People are being rude. There are lots of people with unisex or the 'other' gender's name who've had no issues - people just accept it. Eg female Jack Monroe, Cameron Diaz, etc

That's a good point, thank you 😊 I just feel really upset that the first year of his life is consisting of me regretting his name.

OP posts:
anewername · 20/05/2022 17:42

Or just introduce him as " He is called Jesse"

I do similar with my partner, we aren't married and I think if I say partner people assume same sex, so I say My partners He's called xxxx

treesandweeds · 20/05/2022 17:43

You'll have to say the name otherwise they'll be no value in what people say. If you want honest opinions otherwise this thread is meaningless

TulipPeony1 · 20/05/2022 17:44

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 20/05/2022 17:37

So maybe a name like Eden that's predominantly used for girls' name in the UK and seen as a boys' name in other countries.

It's hard to say without knowing the name but I don't see an issue with changing your child's name as long as it's a considered decision. Do you even have another name in mind?

Yes along those lines. We don't have another name at all. It was the only one we could agree on. I just assumed people would be fine with it as I would be if someone told me their child's name and it could also be used for a girl but that hasn't been the case.

OP posts:
StageRage · 20/05/2022 17:44

Is it Aubrey?

Which is / was a boys name, but has been re-invented by Americans and those who have never heard of Aubrey Beardsley as a girls name.

I think you can change a child’s name on the bc up until they are a year old if you have a good reason. Change in use, boy to girl, might count.

Or make a Nick name the everyday name.

Undertheoldlindentree · 20/05/2022 17:44

Perhaps Jesse, Morgan, Rowan or Robin? Have known boy and girl versions of all of these and have never given it a second thought. I think this style of name will become increasingly popular...

Amandawest447 · 20/05/2022 17:45

Well it whatever name it is, names like ashley, Taylor etc are used predominantly as girls names nowadays. Surely I’m you knew this when you were choosing a now unisex name?

CandyApplePie · 20/05/2022 17:45

Just change it,
it doesn’t matter what the name is, change it now whilst under 12m as then you can change it on the bc so best to do it now

TulipPeony1 · 20/05/2022 17:46

HitsAndMrs · 20/05/2022 17:37

Is it Jesse? As this is what we are naming our baby if it's a boy and I worry about this too but it has been the name we've wanted for 10 years.

See I would assume Jesse as a boy and maybe Jessie as a girl. I definitely think you don't need to worry about that 😊

OP posts: