Baby name regret

[lauraIEN]

My 3rd baby is coming up to 1 year old and I just am not sure about her name. Is it too late to change?

My partner and I had a real hard time deciding on a name, we didn't really agree on any. When we went to register her we were running out of time and I still hadn't decided. I really liked Eve but my partner said it was too similar to my middle child's name. Sooo I decided last minute on her name and I don't think I was ever 100% about it.

Her name is Noa. I have had so many comments from people assuming she is a boy when they hear her name or on the phone they ask her name and I have to state the spelling "without an h". My other two kids have timeless, straightforward names.

I'm not sure if it's more of a problem just now because she is a baby and when she gets older it will be more obvious she is a girl. I feel like I really need to make a decision asap before she gets too old for me to change it.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Noa is the correct spelling of the biblical name for a girl. It's also a really pretty name, and growing in popularity not just in the UK. It's in top 20 lists in more than just Israel now. The only thing I dislike about it is how common it is becoming around the world!

I doubt that in 5 or 10 years you will have to explain much about the name or the spelling simply because it will be much more common to hear it. If this is your only reason to want to change the name, I don't think it is necessary.

Incidentally, the boys name Noah is not pronounced the same as Noa in the original, as the H is pronounced with a ch as in Loch. It has just become silent as it has migrated!

I love Noa!
Do you have another name you love and want to change it to? If not I'd stick with the original. Also if she's nearly 1 she must recognise her name by now. I think if she does it would be unfair to change it. Its ultimately your decision but Noa is really lovely

I'm not keen on it because Noah is so popular. Noa in itself is pretty.

Without knowing your other child's name, it's hard to say if Eve works or not. It is timeless but Evie is overused.
I'm not sure what your definition of 'timeless' is, but if DD1 is Eva/Ava/Edie/Ivy (not timeless IMO) then yes, it's too close.

I think Noa is so pretty! We considered it, but clashed with our surname… it’s super easy to spell and correct if need be. My DD has a unisex name but recently more popular name for boys name, I had a few “isn’t that a boys name…” comments when she was a baby and I did have that - oh god what have I done, moment. But at 5, she totally is her name.

Alternatively, a friend felt like the frilly name she gave her DD didn’t suited her, so she went by her middle name for a few years, before her DD decided at 7 she liked her first name best.

Noa is the correct spelling of the biblical name for a girl. It's also a really pretty name, and growing in popularity not just in the UK. It's in top 20 lists in more than just Israel now

Noa is such a beautiful name! It's classy and feminine.

(I've never liked Noah for a boy as it sounds so soft and feminine)

Please don't change her name!

Definitely don't name her Eve - that's soo overused and boring in comparison.

Noa is beautiful!

Thomasina, Thomasine, Thomeline, Thommeline, Tommeline, Tomasine, Tomasin, Tomine, Tomin

None of these? Are they all too weird?
What are your thoughts? Thanks!

Sorry, meant to start new thread - no idea how to delete!

Noa is beautiful! I know one who is 8 and it really suits her. When I say her name I don’t think of the male version, they’re completely different names in my head (despite knowing a few Noah’s). As she gets older people will ask her name less, and she’ll also grow into it so it will feel more like her. I think it’s becoming more popular for girls too so as more people come across Noa’s, less will assume she is a boy.

Could you introduce her as Noa Middlename?
Something like 'This is Noa Mary'

@pennybournes , Tamsin or Thomasina. No to the others.

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I know it’s not popular on here but could she be Noa-Eve

@Autumn1990 , that will get said as Nowureev.

I wouldn't do that - Noa is beautiful and feminine as it is. Your dd should be proud of her name.

I quite like Noa. I would keep it. If you do want to change it, I’d go for something similar like Nia or Nola

Nia or Nola are great ideas.

I LOVE Noa! I would have gone for it for a girl but she had a boy cousin called Noah.

How do you feel about Nora?

Noelle?

I like Noa, but I have a similar non-standard name and it's a PITA to have to go through life Explaining Yourself. Just my experience.

I heard a colleague on the phone giving her standard name (think Elizabeth Evans) and was consumed by jealousy that she could just say it, not have to spell it or justify it or smile and nod to the inevitable "oh that's a beautiful name" that people use to smooth the awkward pause.

For the record, Noa is a gorgeous name! No need to change it!

Wow! This is my first post on here and I didn't expect so many responses 😃

I just wanted to update and say thanks to everyone for making me feel so much better about her name.

Our middle daughter is called Eden for those wondering, and the name that my partner thought would be too close to Eve. I had two other names in mind to change it to: Ada or Rose.

She has started responding to her name in the last few months so I agree that it would be confusing for her if we changed. A big part of the problem I think is where we live. It's a really small town in the middle of nowhere (North Scotland) so a lot of people here haven't heard Noa before for a girl. And it has mostly been the older generation that I've had comments from about her name.

Thanks for the suggestions about using her middle name as well for introducing, I absolutely could and will do this as her middle name is quite a feminine and short name.

Thank you everyone for your advice and it's reassured me loads most people saying it's a pretty name 🥰
Xx

I like Noa, but if it's not working for you, how about Nola?

Wouldn't be too much of a change for her (presume she knows her name already). Other people might just think they misheard it originally 😂

Oh I just love Noa! I still have moments of regret for not giving it to DC3 who's now 2.

My eldest is called Eli. He's now 7 and just this week at swimming lessons someone pronounced it "Ellie" when reading out the register. This happened so often when he was younger and it made me regret his name a few times. Now I'm totally used to it and it does happen a lot less frequently. I do love his name now!

I think you're right about your location not helping.

You can't have Ede and Eve. Eden is unisex.

Noa is a fine name, more unusual as its traditionally seen as a boys name. By one most babies know their name, do you call her Noa? Or is there another name you use/like? You could potentially use Nola or Norah which aren't massively different

@Daisychains35 , Noa is a girl's name. It's from the Old Testament. Nothing to do with Noah.
Daughters of Zelophehad - Wikipedia