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Original poster

Name dilemma - should I change 20 month old DS's name?

229 replies

CeilingCat · 14/04/2008 09:10

This has been preying on my mind for a while now, so I thought I'd run it past the MN jury.

DS as a very unusual (but not 'unique') name. I really love it, BUT no one else does. We always call him by an abbreviation of his name (the abbreviation is quite commonplace) and I now dread people asking me what it's short for. I'm not a 'wacky' person, and I hate confrontation, and I find it hard to deal with the negative reactions.

So, DH and I have been talking about changing his name, either to his abbreviated name, or to another name which could (at a bit of a stretch) be abbreviated to the same nick name.

Hmmm this is sounding complicated isn't it? I don;t want to give the actual names cos it would out me to any RL mates, but here's an approximate equivalent:

DS birth name 'Albus'
Nick name 'Albie'
Possible name change 'Archibald'

THESE ARE NOT THE ACTUAL NAMES, BUT THEY ARE THE BEST EQUIVALENTS I CAN THINK OF.

DH thinks we should just change his name to his nick name, but I'm just not sure. I don't like the idea of him being 'Albie' as an official name IYSWIM.

DH thinks it would be weird to change his name to 'Archibald' as the abbreviation to 'Albie' is too contrived.

We never actually call him 'Albus' and we would probably rarely call him 'Archibald', but I think 'Archibald' is going to serve him better in the future than either 'Albus' or 'Albie'.

Still with me? Whaddya think??

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Original poster
CeilingCat · 14/04/2008 19:18

TheMadHouse - in what respect did the school think it would be easier for him? Less confusing?

OP posts:
NotABanana · 14/04/2008 19:40

I wouldn't change it because of other peoples opinions.

If you did change it, he might be gutted later on. Geronimo is definitely better than Solomon imo.

Rolf · 14/04/2008 19:56

It's a great name. Who cares what other people think, and how rude of them to comment.

I'm known by an abbreviation of my middle name and was regiestered at school by that abbreviation. Sometimes I have to tell people what to call me (eg it's always at the top of a birth plan!). I've made a point of calling my children by their first names, but it's not really a big deal.

Johnso · 14/04/2008 20:09

I like it!
Don't change it for now. If he is called Ronnie anyway you have plenty of time to decide.

I thought you could only change names before babies were a year old- is that wrong?

FromGirders · 14/04/2008 20:38

Seeker - it's unusual enough not to write on-line! But I'll tell you if you want to CAT me.
Advantages of an unusual name: people remember you; changing surname on marriage isn't such a big deal, because your surname is just less important; it's a topic of conversation when you meet new people, when you lose your credit card and go back to the shop to collect it, people believe you're who you say you are because you can spell you're own name.
Disadvantages: you always have to spell or confirm the pronunciation.
I just can't imagine meeting someone else with my name. I'd hate it. But my parents did give me a very normal boring name in the middle in case I hated my first name when I grew up. I really loathe being a Jane-in-the-middle.

Original poster
CeilingCat · 14/04/2008 21:04

Johnso - you're right, you can do it fairly easily before they are 1 yr old. After that it's a deed poll job.

Actually I'm feeling more inclined to sit tight for a bit now that I've seen some people think it's OK. I really was beginning to think everyone hated it apart from me and DH.

OP posts:
spicemonster · 14/04/2008 21:07

I think it's a lovely name. My best mate and my dad both use their middle names and it's never been a problem - my dad has all his cards with initials for his first two names and it's fine. The only thing I would say is tell him to sign his name using initials (ie JP Morgan) rather than Ronnie XXX. Just because my friend signs her name very clearly Katie and that has caused the odd problem or two.

I would love to have an unusual name - my son's is fairly unusual and I chose it for him because I hated being one of five girls in my class with the same name!

EffiePerine · 14/04/2008 21:09

Geronomi? I like it a lot

Ronnie a good short as well. Keep it!

MinkyBorage · 14/04/2008 21:12

I can not tell you how absolutely LOVELY both those names are, Ronnie is great, nd I just love love love Geronimo! Don't give him something so special then take it away, naming a child is the closest most people get to poetry (can't remember where I heard that) and you've done a bloody good job. Please don't chaange it, it's HIS name now.

FrannyandZooey · 14/04/2008 21:12

dp says why not name him Solomon Ronnie and call him Ronnie?

Mamazon · 14/04/2008 21:20

If i ever get pregnant again baby will be called Ronnie (boy OR girl)
i love it and really like geronimo too.

YOU love the name so it really doesn't matter what others think.

seeker · 14/04/2008 21:52

Actually, thinking about it, a lot of people are called lots of different things. My ds, for example is called Patrick. But his football team call him Pat. His cousins call him Patch. His close family and adult friends call him Matmick (his first attempt at his own name)One of his uncles calls him Paddy. Another calls him LittlePat (to distinguish him from BigPat - his grandad) The lollypop lady calls him Bubbles. I am inclined to call him Bunny or Bonkersboy. His teacher calls him D'Artangnan - for reasons too complicated to explain.....and he manages to deal with all of this without any confusion whatsoever.

seeker · 14/04/2008 21:53

Oh, and dp and I often refer to the dcs as Girl and Boy.

controlfreakyagain · 14/04/2008 22:07

does he have siblings? do they have unusual names?.... does the name "fit" with the other dc's names?

mehdismummy · 14/04/2008 22:17

i love the name ronnie because it was my dads name. I was not keen on my ds name(clue in my nickname) but it has grown on me. It means guided one in arabic and everyone comments on it. Its really common in algeria but not here. It suits my darling boy!

islingtonponce · 14/04/2008 22:19

are you still there cc?
unless you are the person i know.... (and i think her ds is a bit younger than 20 months)...... he is not the only geronimo in town! there's a mum at dc's school with a baby geronimo..... (think he gets called nimo for short...think you should stick with the name you chose, use ronnie as nn.

pinkyminky · 14/04/2008 22:40

Dh has just come in from work and agrees with me, it's a fab name. Don't change it. Ronnie is cool, too.

seeker · 14/04/2008 22:56

I'm really sorry to say this - and I have said more supportive things further down the thread - but it's not a fab name. It's what people yell when they bungee jump. It's a bit like Cowabunga. The OP has the chance to change her mind on this and I really think she should. I nearly called my dd Halcyon but I came to my senses before rather than after the event - I am so pleased now. Cat can put things right now - and she needs to be encouraged to.

EachPeachPearMum · 14/04/2008 23:17

Well- I have come across over 200,000 childrens' names (through work, I hasten to add) but I've never seen a Geronimo!

Very memorable- if you love it, keep it!

DH has just said- if he has to go to a boys' school, he'll suffer- change it to Ronnie.

pinkyminky · 14/04/2008 23:27

Do they not still get called by surname at boys schools,then?

pindy · 14/04/2008 23:32

My DH has an unusual name and at school and until he was about 20 used a "form" of it which was acceptable. When he went into business he reverted to his "original" name -nobody ever forgot it!!!! and really this helped him in many many ways.

It may well be something your DS in later life appreciates - just refer to him by the name you prefer at the moment and take if from there. Kids change their nicknames all the time and teachers go with that.

Good luck.

XxX

Rose99 · 15/04/2008 17:28

I agree with seeker (sorry).

You should follow your doubts and the reactions you are getting in RL.

Your child lives in RL, not in MN.

Original poster
CeilingCat · 15/04/2008 21:45

Controlfreaky - DD has a 'normal' name (I would guess top 100, on a par with e.g. Anna).

Islingtonponce - really? That makes me happy I'd love to meet another Geronimo!!

MM - Mehdi is a lovely name with a beautiful meaning.

Seeker - no no no it's NOT like cowabunga. It's a proper name and has been for centuries! Grrrr

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 15/04/2008 21:54

It is a great name. He can choose a number of names from that name, if he grows up not to like it. Gerry, Garry, Nemo, Ron, Ronnie, it is a great name.

His name will say on the passport, electoral roll, etc, any other place you can tell them what he should be called.

My cousin is called Benjamin, but his "real" name is Arthur Benjamin. He has opted out of Arthur, and is happy to call himself Benjamin. You wouldnt know, unless you are looking at his passport.

PhoenixCymru · 15/04/2008 22:56

I think you were very daring with your choice of name, but if you were happy with it then I wouldn't change it. It is hard being a child with an unusual first name, but all those I have met go on to be determined, tough adults who can get on in life- including my younger sister. You could have named him something plain and boring and commonplace and he'll still moan about hating it when he's growing up- we all did, I bet.