I want to change my baby name (6 months old)

[GG300]

I am having quite a strong baby name regret. My husband and I couldn’t agree on a name at the time so we came to a ‘middle ground’ that neither of us loved but we came to an agreement on. I used one of my first choice name as a middle name.

the first name has never quite sat perfectly with me. It’s quite uncommon and is often met by surprise/questioning as to why we have picked it.

I feel after 6 months the name should fit and it just doesn’t. Everytime I say it or hear someone say it it makes me feel almost a little uncomfortable.

I think I would like to change to her middle name but am worried about judgement. However I am more worried that I will regret this name forever

I changed my sons at around 6 months to his middle name and just switched it around. It was absolutely fine.

Thanks for your reply. How was this met by family and friends?

Thanks for your reply. How was this met by family and friends?

A couple of family members were a bit funny about it but don’t worry, they’ll adapt to the change, it took a few months to a year. Baby won’t know the difference.

Officially on their passport, doctors, school etc. they are the original name but I always write ‘known as X’ and it’s never an issue.

Funnily enough, I discovered many people are known by their middle names - even Boris Johnson! Also, a friend originally named their daughter Isis and decided to do the same.

What is her name?
You have thought about it soundly, so just go ahead and change her name to her second name, as long as Dad agrees..

Just use her new name. There’s no need to change it officially, as PP says you just write “known as.”

For some reason, a lot of my family are known by completely different names. Think Sally (Colleen), Joe (Brian).

As far as others are concerned, it’s no different to using a nickname. When child was born, called Helen known as Nellie.

Funnily enough, I discovered many people are known by their middle names - even Boris Johnson!
Boris Johnson is Alexander/Al to his family. He used his middle name publicly to make himself stand out. Other former PMs used their first or middle names, notably Hilda Thatcher.

At 6 months, I'd officially swap the names on the BC. I'm a Nicola Clare known as Clare, and I'd much rather be Clare Nicola, to avoid the situations where people assume I'm a Nicola/Nicky. The name's OK but I don't identify as one.

@GG300 , it doesn't really matter what the family think, it's what you and the baby's father's baby, and ultimately the baby think that matters.

We have a baby in the family, and unless it grows on me, I'd be quite pleased if they changed it.

My sister changed nephews name at 4 months. I believe you can change it within the first year with no issues or need to deedpol?

I preferred his previous name but it isn't up to me and dsis felt like you, it just wasn't right.

The family was a bit bemused but at that point we had only met the baby a couple of times so it wasn't a big adjustment.

@Cerialkiller , if the baby is up to 12 months old, you get the birth certificate changed, and it's £46 or thereabouts.

Thanks for clarifying, yes she did this.

If it is a case of calling 'Nicola Clare Voiance' Clare not Nicola, then I'd do it officially and get the BC changed, seeing as it's straightforward at the baby's age.
Same with if they are changing Nicola Clare to Amelia Grace.

What to tell the rellies? A simple 'We can't get used to Nicola, it just doesn't seem to suit her so we've had the name changed to Amelia Grace Voiance'.
If the rellies don't like it, tough.

Is that what your sister did? @Cerialkiller

Do it before a year old on her birth certificate by re registering it’s much easier before she’s one

Do it officially. Not doing so will cause the child problems further down the line and they might get fed up at having to explain! Trust me, I know!

My husband and I couldn't agree on our son's name and after a few weeks, we settled on one we both liked but didn't love.
He has grown into it and it suits him and more importantly, he likes his name.
It may end up being the same for you but if I was going to change it, I would do it before he gets any older as it would be confusing for him.

If you are going to do it I’d do it soon, before changing it has the potential to be confusing for her. Someone suggested waiting till a year, I wouldn’t do that, she’ll be far too used to being called the original name, even at the age of 1.
Just out of interest does OH agree to changing the names around? If he liked the middle name too then why on earth didn’t you just go with that from the start?

Hello, we swapped our DC’s first & second names around when they were 3months - I just felt like the original middle name suited them better. We did it on the BC using the space 17 box. I did feel a bit awkward about it at first but now I’m so so glad we did swap their names around, I went for the approach of less explanation the best - eg just said we decided to swap to her middle name - best of luck!

I’d change it OP, only matters what you and your partner think.

I have name regret for my youngest I don’t hate it but I don’t love it as much as another name, was a similar story to yours we couldn’t agree, DH liked name which I half liked so we went with that, he still loves it, I never changed it and wont do now as they are much older

I absolutely still love my eldest’s name, suits them, and I just really love the name, wish I felt the same and youngest name!

I hope resolving this brings you peace x

My friend did this, when she messaged me to say I started reading it thinking something awful had happened, was relieved when I got to the end of the message! Before a year you can add it to the birth certificate and the new name is the legal name and on their passport etc. I’d absolutely do it if I felt that way.

I've always been known by my middle name - most of the family preferred it! Several of my cousins are also known by their middle names also.
Easier to change it now if that's how you feel.

Honestly OP, change it officially maybe swap the original name to middle and middle first. Do it now don’t carry on with a name that hasn’t grown on you. I met a mother whose son was friends with my son. We were chatting and she had an older daughter who was 11 and the first thing she told me was how much she didn’t like her daughter’s name and she wished she had changed it. I thought this was very sad. 😢 Everyone told her not to change it and it would grow on her. It didn’t and was the first thing she told me, a complete stranger, about her daughter.

Don’t have a lifetime of regret to avoid a few months of awkward chats! What are the names?

Our relatives sent a Christmas card from all their family, using the baby’s new name, and a message saying she’d be known by this name going forward. It was a nice way of announcing it. Hardly anyone even remembers she had a different name now x

Change it to what you love. This happened to me with my third. Thought I was having a boy. Already had two boys. Didn’t really plan girls names. She arrived I was rushed, pressured etc. 5 months on I got regret. Spoke to my husband who thought it was ridiculous. No way.
Waited a month, he agreed. Agonised over it for another few weeks, I felt quite embarrassed and was so anxious.
Did it officially at the registry office as soon as I did a weight lifted. Told closest family. Then did a social media post once we got used to it. People were so supportive.

I look back and laugh now, she has just turned 3.

For me not changing it and regretting would have been worse. Now no one even remembers.

What does DH think?