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Original poster

Baby name regret

76 replies

lauraIEN · 10/04/2024 21:03

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.

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Mich8 · 12/04/2024 06:42

It’s an absolutely gorgeous name OP. It was on my girl shortlist (Noah for a boy is lovely but far too popular imo) but we went for something Arabic purely due to heritage.

TrínaCheile · 12/04/2024 06:49

You could change it to Nora and pretend it was Nora all along and people must have made a mistake 🤷🏻‍♀️

alpinia · 12/04/2024 06:50

lauraIEN · 11/04/2024 21:25

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

Ah, but Noa and Eden go so well together. Keep Noa, they will get used to it. It's hardly a complicated name to pronounce.

I know at least one other in the North of Scotland that is a bit older than your daughter. And it is really climbing the popularity charts.

At least if you shout Noa in the playground you'll probably get the right kid. If you shout Ava/Ada/Eva half the class will turn round 😀

Mich8 · 12/04/2024 07:02

Noa Eden is beautiful. Keep it as it is.

KirstenBlest · 12/04/2024 07:36

Eden is Noa's sister, @Mich8 .
@pinkmags , but you probably wouldn't think it strange if someone said 'Mia Grace' or 'Sophia Rose' when asked their baby's name.

Alloveragain3 · 12/04/2024 10:00

Love your update OP.

Eden is another stunning name, your girls are lucky!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 12/04/2024 10:54

Agree - Eden and Noa make a great sibset, both pretty sounding, unisex Biblical linked names.

Noa keeps growing for girls, you are just ahead of the crowd OP.

KirstenBlest · 12/04/2024 11:33

@IamnotwhouthinkIam , Noa isn't unisex. It's a girl's name.
Noah isn't unisex, it's a boy's name. Noa and Noah both are from the Bible, but not the same book. One is from Genesis and the other from Numbers.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 12/04/2024 13:34

@KirstenBlest Yes it isn’t in Hebrew, but someone on the thread mentioned that it is in Welsh (I live in Wales but didn’t know that) - if you look at statistics nearly a third of the Noa’s in England and Wales are boys. Eden is about half the amount of boys to girls.

KirstenBlest · 12/04/2024 13:51

OP is in the north of Scotland, not England & Wales.
2 boy Noas, 28 girl Noas.
336 boy Noahs, 2 boy Noah-somethings, and 1 Noar
3 girl Noahs

margegunderson · 12/04/2024 13:59

We changed our DD's name just before she was 1 but that was because we'd been guilted out of giving her the name we wanted and were using pre-birth. Nobody managed to call her the birth cert name. Felt comfortable to change as she was used to us calling her the name we changed it to (which was already a middle name). If your baby is used to being called Noa and you like the name I'd leave it myself.

Daisychains35 · 12/04/2024 21:27

KirstenBlest · 12/04/2024 06:18

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

Edited

Im referring to the sound, if someone says the name "Noa" out loud most will automatically think of the boys names Noah, I work with children and have never come across the name Noa for a girl so it is unusual. Yes they are different names but sound the same so most will think of the most popular version and will automatically write it as such

SquawkerTexasRanger · 12/04/2024 21:38

I absolutely love the name Noa for a girl? It’s beautiful. My son has a really marmite name that’s usually a girl’s name. Some people assume he’s a girl when I’m speaking about him but I don’t mind. Stick with your choice it’s lovely, honestly. I had a wobble about my son’s name so I know what that feels like

KirstenBlest · 12/04/2024 21:44

@Daisychains35 , If someone said Jo would you think Joe (boy) or Jo (girl)?
If you heard a name that sounded like Jeen, would you think Jean or Gene?

I'd think girl for both, because I know more Jos than Joes, and more Jeans than Genes.

With a name like Ashley, I'd consider if she was Scottish, otherwise I'd think it was a he.

If I heard Noa, I'd probably think Noah, but that's because I know no Noas and Noah is popular where I am.

CandidPlum · 12/04/2024 21:53

I think Noa is beautiful for a girl! At the end of the day though, the only opinion that really matters is yours and your DH’s x

CandidPlum · 12/04/2024 21:57

Francisss · 11/04/2024 00:41

I like Noa 😊
We picked a really popular name for my son, it was always going to be his name and felt like his name instantly. I never felt strange calling him it or anything as a baby or toddler. When I was pregnant with my daughter we went between two names, both fairly unusual but not way out there crazy, just names you don’t hear many of, like Noa. My family liked the one I had in second place more but had said they loved the other name too. In the end I went with my heart and picked the name we had always liked best. When I told the staff in hospital her name I was met with a slight ‘ahh’ kinda vibe. It was very flat and just didn’t feel the same as when I said my son’s very run of the mill name.

Then when we FaceTimed my family they paused for a second before saying that’s lovely etc and I know it’s because they were sure it was going to be the other name. I overheard my husband phoning his parents and his mum just said ‘oh, unusual’. Any time I meet anyone out with her and they start talking to her, I actually now dread the ‘and what’s your name?’ small talk 🙈 I say her name and they just smile. Not one person has ever said it’s nice. Whereas with my son most people would say ‘aw lovely’ or something. I went from absolutely loving her name when I was pregnant to really not being that keen on it now. I don’t even like the other name more or want to change it, I just feel so different because of how everyone else reacts. It’s such a shame that unless everyone is called the same 10 names on repeat then people will have something to say. I say stick with it, my theory is that when they’re babies you really don’t need to shout them that often. I’m hoping my daughter’s name becomes much more natural to me to use as she turns 1 and becomes a toddler

I’m really curious about your daughter’s name now, I bet it’s lovely!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 12/04/2024 22:00

It's a lot easier to re- register the birth and change first name before she is one so if you're going to change it do it soon! And start using the new name immediately

Tigertigertigertiger · 12/04/2024 22:02

It matters not a jot what any of us think.

Sounds like you want to change it and no , it's not too late

KirstenBlest · 12/04/2024 22:07

About 30 years ago, if someone said 'Alex' I'd have thought female, but now I know more male Alexs.
Who knows, maybe Noa/Noah will be the same.

Noa for a girl seems much loved on MN.

VladimirVsVolodymyr · 12/04/2024 22:46

Really love the name, but obviously if you don't like it then maybe change it. It is a very lovely name.

OctaviaRedQueen · 12/04/2024 23:24

I think adding a letter and changing to Nora is a fantastic idea and is more classic to match her siblings.

mathanxiety · 12/04/2024 23:38

It's not too late to change.

I'd stick to a minor change - Noa to Nola, Nova, or Nora, or Noa to Laura, Lola, Zola, Zoe, Leah, Mia, Noelle, or Finola.

The baby herself has probably got an idea of her name at this point - and the older sibs have too - which is why I'd only make a small change.

mathanxiety · 12/04/2024 23:43

lauraIEN · 11/04/2024 21:25

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

Eve and Eden are not only too close in sound. They are really on the nose - Eve and the Garden of Eden...

I'd go for Rose if you're changing the name. Or Noa-Rose.

OctaviaRedQueen · 13/04/2024 06:54

Oh I’ve just seen your other daughter is Eden. In that case, I think Noa goes beautifully!

I was imagining something like Emily, Charlotte and Noa.

Keep it.

W0rkerBee · 13/04/2024 07:12

As she responds to her name, what about using Noemi. Nola is the more obvious choice though, only one extra letter. Not like a big reinvention. I like Nola. And Noelle.