Ruined child's life with the name?

[Leolala]

So the DD name is Alexia. At the time of her birth I was aware of dyslexia term but it was not everywhere like it is now and it never appeared to either of us that alexia is also a medical term, we just struggled to find a name and both really liked it. When we googled it back then we discovered it meant “men defender” and thought it had a good meaning.

She is 8 and I am constantly obsessing over the choice we've made to the point that I am not sure if also made a mistake with our second DC name. She can't go by Alexa either for obvious reasons - mumsnet constantly slams both of the names whenever they come up. This made my anxiety worse with all the negative comments over both of the names.

I do feel like I would want to change it but DD loves her name and doesn’t want any NN or other name. She is not aware of negative connotations but she may find out one day.

Is the name really that bad? What would you think if you hear it on a playground?

OP, I think you need to speak to someone if it's impinging on your mental wellbeing to such a degree. Anything that's causing you such anxiety should be addressed.

I didn't know it was a medical condition either. If you want to call her something else, I'd go for Alex as I don't think Lexi is very nice. Alexandria is a nice longer name.

In the nicest way - you have to see your GP. If not for your sake for your daughter’s second.

as otherwise I have perfectly fine life with job, family, handling it all.

This isn’t a minor thing. This is your child’s name. Essentially you want to change your child’s name against her wishes, and your husbands wishes, that’s not a normal thing to feel so strongly about.

It's a really pretty name. Nobody would think of 'dyslexia' at all!

Your baby go changing the name of an 8 year old child, who likes their name, just because you've changed your mind. Sorry. It's her name, not yours. Her happiness is the only thing that matters here. If you need some support to come to terms with this, then please get any help that your need, but it's unfair to make your daughter feel negative about her name or put pressure on you.

I think it's a lovely name personally.

Oh for an edit button

You can't go changing....

It's honestly a beautiful name OP. Mumsnet can be brutal and if everyone is agreeing that it's a lovely name you can relax and know it is! Also most importantly your daughter loves it! Xxx

I know several Alexias and it never crossed my mind that it was anything but a pretty name.

OP you are looking into this far too much and imagining problems that don't exist

It's a lovely name

You absolutely can and should go to a GP about becoming depressed and obsessed with a small issue. Maybe some private online counselling? Your daughter is 8- of course you cannot change her name now.

I agree with others saying you need to see your GP and discuss how you’re feeling OP. 🥰 There’s nothing wrong with your daughter’s name. I’ve read my children’s names slated on the name boards many times over and so I make an effort to avoid them now when I have no need to be there really. My kids are teenagers, so why would I be there. :)
Be very careful with what you voice to your daughter as well obviously Op, she likes her name so that’s the end of the story. If SHE doesn’t like it later in life, she can change it. Try to remind yourself of that fact whenever this pops into your head. It’s HER name, her life, her choice from here on out. ♥️

Op, you haven’t ruined your daughters life through her name, but you DO risk ruining her 8th year (if not beyond) if you progress with any plans to change the name she loves. As pp say, it’s a lovely name, and I also love Amelia, which has much worse medical connotations.

Fwiw i worried about my sons name when he was born, it really was a form of postnatal anxiety in my case (I even posted fretful messages about it here, albeit under a different user name!). If you can (I didn’t) do go and see your gp, it may be changing hormones, peri menopause?, or some other issue (too much alcohol, not enough good food, all these impact me so who knows!), that lies behind your anxiety.

It's a perfectly nice name . Your daughter loves it. Nobody is taking the piss out of her.
Why are you stressing so much about it?

DD is very confident for her age and will handle any even negative comment really well. The problem is me- I always carefully watch for reactions when I introduce her and if I use any NN for that she corrects me and says - that’s not my name! I understand from the comments that I am overthinking this but do not know how to get out of it. This tread may help or indeed to see a GP

It sounds like you’re creating a problem that doesnt exist

I don’t hear it as medical.

Alex or Lexi if you can’t get over it

You really must stop with the nicknames.

You and your DH have done a good job to bring up a confident little girl. Don’t undermine yourself.

I think you should seek help to feel better about this. It is not your name to change. She likes it, so that is the end of the matter. You need to find a way to shift your feelings.

I didn’t associate it with either of the things you said. It sounds a pretty name to me.
if she was up to altering it you could change it to Alexis, but I think the name she has is far prettier.
I think you also need to be careful that your paranoia about her name doesn’t rub off on her, remember her name is part of her identity so if you reject her name in front of her she could see that as a mild rejection of her.

I think you're massively over reacting here. Fair enough if you'd called her Dyslexia or Chlamydia, but Alexia is a perfectly well known and acceptable name and hardly anyone will know it's also the name of a lesser known LD. I have a child with dyslexia and I'd never heard of it! Even if they do, so what? There are lots of names with alternative connotations that are way worse - imagine being called Fanny, or Gay, or Dick. I know both a Gay and a Dicky and neither have any problems with it. Most people can separate alternative connotations in their mind.

What is it that's actually worrying you about the name OP?

No-one is going to think about "dyslexia", it's a completely different word.

It's just a lovely name! I know an adult Alexia and always thought it was a nice name.

I use any NN for that she corrects me and says - that’s not my name!

You are going to end up making her hate her name and probably herself (because her name is part of her).

You need to stop your behaviour. Go see a doctor.

I thought you were going to say Karen, but I don't think Alexia sounds anything but delightful!

It’s a perfectly nice name and your DD likes it - that’s all that matters.

Don’t worry about what MN thinks.
My teenage niece has the kind of name that MNetters swoon over, and she hates it!

Alexia is absolutely fine. Lots of names have other meanings- when you meet someone called Rod, you don't think of a stick. Alexia as a medical term is pretty obscure and the name simply reads as a variant of the Alexandra/Alexa/Lexi/etc group of names. And your daughter loves her name! Honestly, you are worrying about nothing.