changing our babies name - advice on how to announce

[HollyU]

Hi,

a while back I wrote about changing our babies name, we’ve decided we are going ahead and changing the name. She is called Lola and we want to change to Lottie. I’ve been getting myself really worked up about this and what people are going to think. I just want a little advice on how you think is the best way to say / announce the name change? she’s 4 months.

thanks

Maybe order a cute little plaque card with Lottie on it from Etsy and send a picture?

I also have a 3 year old and hoping they will adjust to the change!

I would probably contact the people you are close with individually. There are likely to be questions.

for your larger circle, I probably wouldn’t mention anything. Just start using the new name. People will probably think they must have misremembered. That way you won’t have to deal with the blowback from as many people.

I wouldn’t officially announce it or make a huge deal. Close family/ friends maybe just a little message ‘just to let you know - we found that Lola really didn’t suit her so we have changed her name to our other favourite, Lottie’. Type thing.
Try not to over think it, I know it feels like a HUGE thing right now, but to everyone else it really won’t be a big deal. No one will think much into it I promise! I changed the spelling of one of our DC’s names, so not the same but I’d really worked myself up so I know how you feel. And in the end no one even commented on it. Someone I know at baby group also used to have a Lila and then one day she started calling her Olivia, and just causally said they’d changed her name. Not a huge deal at all.

This

I really wouldn’t do this - people will be totally confused, and it’s making way to big a deal of it.

I agree with @Ponderingwindow and @Bluetune .

If you have already sent out little thank you cards with photos I would reissue those. If not then I would just rewrite any thank you cards. (Some people keep the photo cards on their fridge for years and it helps them remember the name.)

If you have sent out an on-line announcement resend that.
People could have kept the screen shot.
Tell family and friends ASAP incase they are planning a monogrammed towell for Christmas.

Just start using the new name and order new name tags for lunch boxes and clothes, reinroll in kinder with the new name etc ..

I would just speak to those closest to you first then send a general message so that everyone knows. I agree with a pp that it is worth trying to get this done fairly swiftly so that people haven't ordered personalised gifts and things for Christmas.

This isn't a big deal at all. Just send people a text saying 'we have decided to change lola's name to lottie'

No one will care. You might get one or two people asking why, and then you can just explain your reasons.

You could have her baptised with her new name. Or you could change her name to Carlotta and brazen it out that both Lola and Lottie are reasonable abbreviations and you have just picked a better nickname.

Just send a text to your closest friends & fam saying you have decided to change her name as the other one didn’t suit her.

The other people you know probably won’t even remember her name and if they say something like ‘oh, wasn’t she called Lola?’ just say ‘yeah she was but we changed it as Lottie suited her better’.

It feels a big deal to you but it really isn’t to other people (speaking from personal experience :))

No need for social media announcement as that just makes it bigger than it needs to be.

Good luck! Lottie is a gorgeous name.

Just casually say ‘ah we’ve changed her name; it’s Lottie now’ whenever anyone uses her ‘Lola’ name.

it’s really not a big deal at 4 months.

Lottie is a beautiful name and much better then Lola. I think just follow some of the suggestions on here informing those closest to you and those you see often then just refer to her as Lottie to those you see less, good luck with it all.

Thanks so much everyone! Made me feel much better about it.
Can I ask when you changed your little ones name? @SneezyEvie

Hi, I’m looking to do the same for my 3 month old. Were you able to change it on her birth certificate as well?

You go to the registry office her birth was registered at, it costs about £60 (give it take) and they issue new documentation.

This!! Its no big deal.

Also Lottie is lovely and much better than Lola imo. Xx