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Baby name regret

55 replies

JDF1611 · 24/06/2022 08:23

My daughter is 7 months and although we'd picked a name before she was born we weren't decided on the spelling. I preferred the more common spelling but it has various pronunciations, however the phonetic version seemed less pretty and more unusual so neither option was perfect.

I went into labour early, had a traumatic birth and was high on morphine after an emergency c section when DH pressured me to make a decision so he could make announcements. I chose the phonetic spelling.

To cut this long story short, I've been obsessing over it since. The name itself isn't incredibly common and I feel she's going to have a lifetime of correcting/spelling her name. I wish we'd picked a less unique name and one she wouldn't struggle with.

When she was 4 months we tried a nickname, a sort of shorter version of her name which I still really like however it didn't stick- none of the other family members used it and DH basically just avoided using her name all together.
DH thinks I have PND and need to get help, however I really don't know if that's the case or if it's just name regret that I cant get past. Every time someone struggles with her name it triggers me, I cant sleep and just have this horrible feeling of dread because of it. But I also feel if we change it, DH will never forgive me and we'll also feel some sadness over the name she's had for the last 7 months.
I really don't know what to do.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
S25 · 30/09/2022 16:42

Also I would pronounce Elena as El Len A so you’re saving LO some pronunciation issues by spelling it the way you have I think! ❤️

Wibbly1008 · 30/09/2022 16:46

Beautiful name and spelt the way it’s meant to sound. Don’t worry OP, it’s lovely.

MsTSwift · 30/09/2022 18:27

I prefer your spelling it’s fine. Definitely prefer the nick name Lainey that’s a fab name

kuvira · 30/09/2022 18:44

It's a lovely name and I honestly think the spelling Elaina is fine. Most people are familiar with the name Elaine so "it's like Elaine with an A" is fairly easy to explain. Elena can be pronounced various ways (e.g. with "Len" sound as in Lenny) so I'd be afraid you'd run into more problems with it than Elaina.

Gillyx · 30/09/2022 20:41

Definitely prefer the spelling Elaina, feels more complete somehow! Also love the nn options Lainie, Elle and Ella. I hope you feel better soon

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