Changing nickname from Alfie at Freddie at 15 months

[Motherhood12345]

I'm hoping to get people's view on something that has been bugging me since I named my little boy who is now 15 months old.

We named him Alfred on his birth certificate but have always called him Alfie. However, from the first day that I went out with him, I continually met dogs called Alfie in the park - we have a dog so are in the park a lot. Everyone who I meet says that they know a dog called Alfie too. Before naming him, I didn't realize how popular the name is for dogs and for some reason, it has always really bugged me.

We've recently (for the past week) been calling him Freddie at home and he's started responding to that name - as well as Alfie. We've started telling our friends and family about the gradual change and while my mum was initially supportive, she has now informed me that she doesn't think it's a good idea and that one of her friends was "deeply shocked" at the idea. She says that it's confusing for my son and his 3 year old sister. His sister does continue to call him Alfie and says that Fred is from Tabby McTat (a children's story book), although she'll occasionally call him Freddie when, for example, she's saying his name just after we've said it.

Can I please get people's view on this situation? Am I being silly transitioning his nickname to Freddie, or do you think it's okay?

Do you ever call him Alfred or has he always been Alfie? If so, you're not really changing his nickname, you're changing his name.

I think generally changing a nickname is fine particularly if you transition gently. Changing his name is a bit different though.

It's also a bit of a silly reason. What are you going to do if the next faddy dog name is Freddie? Change his name again? It's not as if there are no dogs called Freddie after all!

I love the name Alfie and don’t know any dogs with that name!!! However that’s not the point I know.

I think you can call your son whatever works for you and Freddie could be a nickname for Alfred. I don’t think that a 15 month old will be too confused or not for long and his sister will get used to it. But I think you will need to accept that some people will still call him Alfie and just be ok with that. As he gets older and more people get introduced to him as Freddie, it will fade out.

i have a friend at work who has 2 different names, one to some friends and one to others and work and he is perfectly well adjusted - and actually both my cousins changed their commonly used names from their middle names to their official first names as older teens (Americans - often use names differently). It happens. I sometimes use the “wrong” name but try to get it right - they don’t mind!

How daft! Surely you have better things to worry about??

Thanks for your responses. @NuffSaidSam we have always called him Alfie so yes, I think you're right it is a change of name - just not officially given that Alfred is on his birth certificate.

@OldTiredMum1976 that's the reaction I'm worried about 🙄

I think it's fine! You're not actually changing his legal name, just nickname? I actually had kind of similar, my son had a name that has 2 commonly used nicknames. We actually used both initially, it was really odd because I don't know why really but I used one more for other people, and then the other more at home. When he was probably similar age to your son, I ended up starting to introduce him to others as the one we used at home because it seemed less hassle than confusing him with 2 names. Now he doesn't even remember having been called the other nickname, And when my MIL calls him that he tells her not to because it's not his name, and his name is the nickname we use. He's 4.

Nick names change.

I have one DC who uses a common abbreviation of their name and would answer to nothing else. The other has been known by about 10 names, has switched them at school, tried out new ones, has some for friends, some for family, some random, some derived from first name, some from middle name. Basically very little consistency at all. Both seem fine with their very different arrangements and appear to understand who they are.

I do know one Alfie thats a dog but I know 2 humans as well.
You can call him what you want but he will end up picking his own name. My DS was called a diminutive of his name but from YR onwards he used his full name by choice and eventually my Mum was the only one to use the nickname and then not all the time

FWIW I don’t know any doggy Alfie’s but know two Freddie dogs.

Nicknames evolve.
Even if you had started of with Freddie it could evolve over time.
For example...
Freddie turns to Fred.
Fred turns to Bed Head Fred (because he always wakes up with crazy hair)
Bed Head Fred evolves into Bed Boy and then at 15 he randomly asks "why does everyone call me Bunk" (because you got him bunk beds at age 6).
That's how nicknames work. They don't have to be so formal.
Call him Freddie if you want to.

How about just calling him Alfred, it's closer to Alfie?

I know humans, cats and dogs named Alfie. It’s just a popular name. It wouldn’t make me think pets if I heard the name.

My youngest son had a very popular dog name. So much so he can’t personalised stuff for kids, but can get dog toys with his name on. We find it hilarious!

Anyway, Alfie is fine, as are Fred and Freddie. If it were me he’d get called all of those and many more!

Both kids are very young, do what you want but equally don't just change it because of the dog issue, I'd only change if you really prefer Freddie to Alfie (both good names, I think).

One of my children was known by a less-than-obvious nickname of her actual name when she was little. She then asked her to stop calling her that when she was maybe 4, whereas before she'd been called it maybe 70% of the time (and her actual name the other 30). One of my other children is still known by the nickname we called her before she was born! So you can't really tell how these things will change over time anyway.

DD bought her brother a dog toy with his name on it last Christmas as a joke

It’s completely fine. You’re not changing his actual name.

At least you officially named him Alfred not Alfie so there are plenty of options for diminutives.

Firstly, its fine imo to change a childs name - ive experiance of this and siblings and child quickly adapt at this age.

secondly id not be concerned about my mums friend bring deeply shocked - so what?

you have your reasons for doing this, your reasons and feeling are valid to you. What others think they can share and you can ignore

It’s completely fine. You’re not changing his actual name.

This.
Parents often choose a name but also decide on a shortened form of that name for "every day" use (for want of a better way to put it).
You may find that he's called variously "Alfie" and "Freddie" initially, but if you call him Freddie, and introduce him as such, he'll gradually become Freddie.
Until he goes to school and ends up being called Alfie or a nickname such as Scabby Knees or something.
If you genuinely like "Alfie", and it's purely the dog name thing that's bothering you, I'd stick with it. Fashions in pets' (and DCs') names change and Alfie's/Freddie's lifespan will be a lot longer than a dog's will.
I love the name Poppy and would happily give it to a DD despite living near to three dogs called the same.

Totally fine!! It's still a clear variation of his name, we have a son who's changed his preference of what he likes to be called and we've all adapted to it. Similar name type to Matthew - we called him Matty and he's now Matt for example

This! Good strong name
All ‘ie’ fake names remind me of dogs and sound silly.

My only issue with Alfie is that I know loads (no dogs!) as well as Archies and always get them confused. I think if I met a Freddie, I would assume he was Frederick or just Freddie, not Alfred. But I think it's OK to just change a nickname. My DC have had hundreds (literally!) of nicknames but only one official name for school etc. Just call him Freddie and don't worry what anyone else thinks. They'll get used to it, and don't worry about your kids - they adapt even more quickly than adults.

I know children and dogs called Alfie and Freddie. His mates, as he grows up, will probably use a different nick name for him. Nick names evolve.

My daughter's had loads of different nicknames over the years, no formal change required and she answers to all most of them😄

Nineteen years ago I was seven months pregnant with a boy. I told my best friend that I was going to name him Alfie. Her response? “That’s a dogs name.” I still called him Alfie and yes I do meet dogs called Alfie. I have also met several dogs called Freddie, Stanley, Bella, Poppy. They are equally human names and dogs name. My daughter is called Evie. Guess what mummy pig is calling her new baby? Yes, Evie! The moral is if you love the name, keep it. I love Alfie and don’t care if he is one human in amongst a thousand dogs 🤣.

Just starting using both, and his full name. That will make more sense to him than a straight switch.

I think it's fine to call him Freddie. Ignore the random woman your mum's friend. Why would her opinion matter?

Yes, lots of dogs are called Alfie. I also know a dog called Freddie. Archie is another popular dog's name round here but I bet Harry & Meghan don't worry about it!