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?

I had to Google Alexia the condition. I'd never heard of it, and I'm an HCP. It sounds like it's very rare, so it's not likely to pop into people's heads when they hear the name.

It's a lovely name, it's nicer than mine!

Please do seek some help, you're fixating on a tiny non- issue which can be a symptom of something else underlying.

I think it’s fine, but if YOU don’t like it, consider changing it.

Have her go by Allie, Lexi or Alex, and then at some point consider changing her name legally to Alexandra, Alexis or something.

I work in SEN, and it's never once occurred to me to make any connection between the name Alexia and dyslexia. I think it's a lovely name and you made a good choice.

Why are so many people - on a site that constantly bangs on about teaching young girls about healthy boundaries, respect, consent and confidence - suggesting the OP shortens the name of her 8 year old DD who DOES NOT WANT her name shortened?!

I mean ffs. The child has repeatedly stated she doesn’t want her name changed or shortened.

Thankfully the OP cannot follow the bonkers advice to “just change it” as deed polls require the agreement of everyone with PR for a child so her DH can easily prevent his child having her name changed against his, and most importantly her, wishes.

And just ignore that the child doesn’t want her name changed?

in what world is that appropriate?

I’ve only taught one Alexia and she was a lovely girl, no negative connotations!

it's not 'so many people' though. the vast majority of posters have said to leave her name as it is.

I don’t understand when you say the term is suddenly ‘everywhere’ over the last 8 years? Acquired dyslexia is really rare, has somebody famous got this because I don’t think it’s a term commonly used! I really do T think you have anything to worry about.

The vast have, the number who haven’t is shocking. Hence my comment.

Its not just one or two, especially those suggesting nicknames.

it's a nice name and your dd is happy and likes her name so that's all that should matter.
I had severe name regret over one of my dcs name which became the focus of my anxiety it was also a perfectly normal name but I completely over analysed the name. I am now over it and love the name and realise I was just suffering from severe anxiety which dcs name became the focus of.

You need something else to worry about this is a non issue.

I love the name, it’s really pretty.

When I clicked on the thread I thought it was going to be much, much worse. Alexia is a nice name! I’m sure she’ll grow into it but if she doesn’t she can always change it or use a nickname x

@Leolala I have spent forty years teaching in SEND and learning disability education. I have never come across or used the term alexia. It is not everywhere, it is not in any kind of common usage if even I, as a highly experienced practitioner in the area of learning difficulties, have never had cause to use it.

Please look into finding some kind of taking therapy in order to examine what's causing these intrusive and irrational thoughts. For your sake and your daughter's.

You say that you are ok in all others areas but I wonder if you are.

Sometimes, when things get on top of us, we focus on one thing. We think that if we fix that one thing then everything will be fine. Of course, it isnt because the focus isnt actually o the problem.

I suspect that you have the starts of depression and you think that if you can fix this then you will stop feeling low, but you wont. There will be something else.

I say all of this as someone who ended her marriage and broke up her family because of PND....I was convinced that my marriage was the problem and of course it wasnt. The marriage ended, and I was still depressed, in fact I was worse. I strongly recommend you see your GP.

Much love xx

If this is just “associations some woman on MN has”, you really need to move on.

I have read that my son’s beautiful Welsh middle name “reminds somebody of an aneurysm” (because it starts with “an”). I’ve read people complaining about every Irish name ever because they don’t know how to pronounce them, even well known ones like Siobhan or Niamh. Every stereotypically black name (Jayden, Tyrone, Jermaine) is a “naughty boy name” (definitely no subconscious racism there).

Somebody on MN thinks Alexia sounds a bit like “dyslexia”, and you are planning on changing your 8 year old’s name? Get help, this is not a normal response.

It doesn’t have a great meaning medically speaking.

But the relentlessly popular Amelia has an even worse meaning if we’re talking medical jargon. As does Claudia, granted that’s a less commonly used name.

Alexia aphasia is a specific neurological condition. So not just a word that sounds like dyslexia, another neurological condition.

Be less of a dickhead.

And it's pronounced AYlexia.
Psychology background here.

She'll only be bothered by it if you are. For the record, I think Alexia is a pretty name.

No one has ever overthought the name Amelia, going by its popularity! FWIW I prefer Alexia!

You're massively overthinking this. I've never heard of it as a medical condition and would never link it to dyslexia. I know one Alexia, she's an adult and I think it's a lovely name.

Your daughter is happy with it, please don't let on to her that you don't like it as it could rub off on her and make her worry about it.

Every name has good and bad aspects. There is no name that everyone is going to like. I don’t love many of the names chosen by my friends and family for their children, and I imagine the same is true in reverse. So the fact that some people don’t like your DD’s name on name boards is inevitable.

You have to just accept it is what it is at this point.

I like it. I have never heard of a condition called alexia, literally never. It’s a lovely name and your dd likes it, it’s a success!

The people suggesting deed poll and calling her by nicknames surely have poor reading skills, right? I can’t imagine someone seriously suggesting changing an 8 year olds name against her wishes.