Baby name regret

[Lululululululu]

I have a 5 year old who I really really regret the name of. So much so I often try to use different nicknames. Just wondering if anyone else had this as their child go older and how they came to terms with the fact that they had definitely chosen the wrong name.

How does your child feel about their name?

What is the name? Did you have name regret soon after naming them or is it more recent?

Absolutely fine! It’s a normal name I just have gradually really gone off it! I know there’s nothing I can do but wondering if this is common…

I think at the time I didn’t necessarily love it but I liked it. I have since found names I love and really regret not using

Best thing to so is to settle on a nickname that you like and and try to let the issue go. If she likes her name, that's the main thing.

Sometimes it seems as though obsessing over having given a child the 'wrong' name seems linked to PND. Did you suffer with this?

@Lululululululu I have the same problem. But my DD is only 16 months old. Hated her name since birth but was made to keep it. I have never said her name. Hate just calling her baby but can't find the right nickname.

@TheMurderousGoose i think you’re right. I do suffer with anxiety generally and have wondered if it is being projected in this way. His name is Benjamin but we call him Ben. He won’t tolerate benny or benjy when I try those which I actually prefer to just Ben. What’s very bizarre is he has a brother who I have never questioned the name of!

@Mamalamadrama it’s so horrible isn’t it

I absolutely love that name so can't help

Ooh I like ben. If he was mine I'd nickname him Obi!

Thank you @AromanticSpices

why Obi @Hairbrushhandle

…obi wan …aka Ben kenobi - Star Wars reference

I have a similar issue with my 6 year olds name. She gets all sorts of nicknames names bless her.

I never really found a girls name I loved. I still don't know what I would want to call her. She likes her name luckily.

I like Ben. It’s a good solid name that won’t date and sounds good on kids and adults. It has lots of nickname options and a full name option. I think you chose well. I know a Ben nicknamed benno. And another one nicknamed jammy. You can’t force a nickname though.

Oh of course @Thehippowife

Ben is the best name ever!

Ben is a very good name.

I think you need to accept that once given, your child’s name is their business. You not liking it now is irrelevant. They aren’t a doll.

Thank you everyone for kind comments on the name!

@Ineededthat absolutely right. They are not dolls.

Benjamin is such a lovely name

Ben is a good time
Timeless

I am 60 and have a name I hate. I like my middle name- should have changed it years ago!

Benjamin is a lovely name! I would choose that name (currently pregnant), but I have a brother called Benjamin already

It’s a really nice name op, classic and will see him through his entire life well.

I agree that it's a good solid name that will serve him well. You picked well! I think it might just be your anxiety focusing on this and turning into a bigger issue in your head than it needs to be.

Fab name, DD2 would've had it.

Honestly love Ben, it's a great name.

I went through this when DS2 was about 8 months. Never really loved his name and really struggled to use it. DH finally said we should discuss our options with regards to changing it because it was making me so upset.

When changing it became a real option, I did some soul-searching, reached out to some friends for opinions and came to the conclusion that actually the name was/is absolutely lovely and fine - we kept it although did tweak the spelling slightly. He's 5 now and it's perfect for him.

In hindsight I think my uncertainty had a lot to do with my parents loudly voicing their opinion that they don't like the name the minute we announced it at birth 🙄

When on the brink of changing the name it really did help me to hear how much others loved it - so here I am telling you I really like Benjamin!