Baby name regret?

[amy480]

Recently had a baby girl (we didn’t know the gender) and I struggled to decide on a name (I’m naturally quite indecisive). I had 2 names in mind but when she was born my husband said she wasn’t either of those names which made the doubt set in. I also asked the opinions of close family and got negative feedback on the name I liked (Imogen). In the end we have gone for a popular name (Ava) which I have always liked but wasn’t a front runner until she was here. I now keep dwelling on the name Imogen and wondered if I should have pushed more?! Anyone else had this. For what it’s worth I do think Ava is a very pretty name and suitable for all ages (didn’t want anything too cutesy) I’m just concerned it is too popular and Imogen a bit more unique. Name choices are so hard and such a responsibility!!

Less chance Ava is altered. I hate Imogen lessened to Genny for example..
Ava for me.

Whoops, sorry. My dentist told me that when I was pregnant. I never checked and he is wrong!

I know exactly what you mean about feeling like naming your child is such a big responsibility.

We didn’t use our first choice name (Agatha) because of negative feedback from our parents. The nail in the coffin was when our older child said they didn’t like it either. But both my husband and I kind of regret not sticking to our guns (even though we put it in as a middle name).

imogen was on our list but when our daughter was born the name we chose suited her more.

It doesn’t matter what anyone says on here about their name preference what do YOU love as a name? If it’s Imogen go for it!

Ava’s a strong solid popular name! Personally I Love the name Imogen but that’s my personal opinion! If your baby is under 16 weeks and you really regret the name 100% change the name to the one you feel is right xx

Ava is a lovely name!

I love the name Ava. It was my bff’s name and we’ve been friends since birth. My 3rd daughter hates her name and especially hated it during HS. Her name is Gina and you can imagine how she was teased (aka bullied these days). It was my mil”s name who had passed on earlier that year (a whole other story :). If she had come to me I would have done something about it. Ava is sweet, feisty, daring, brave and just plain lovely.

I love Imogen but when it was our turn DH disliked so no go.

I adore Agatha as @LilySLE has mentioned but I don’t like Aggie at all so would not want to shorten it.

We used a three syllable name for our DD. We never shortened it although we like the commonly used nickname which others use for her.

Ava is pretty and cannot be shortened.

in in the SW and I know far more Imogen’s than Ava’s. Both are lovely!

Both nice.

I love imogen
Change it if you want! It's not too late!!!!

Right now I think there are probably more baby Imogens than Avas, it's quite popular now, where as Ava was v popular a while back (double check on dark greener.)

They are both nice, so I wouldn't worry too much, but no harm changing it if you want to.

Totally agree with a pp - ignore external noise and focus inward completely on your immediate family and your DD. What name suits her, what can you imagine her being called as an adult as she grows. Naming can feel like a "big pressure" and I think we feel that there must be this overwhelming sense of YES THATS IT but that's not always the case. With my son, we had that absolute eureka moment and I adore his name to this day. With my daughter, I struggled so much to name her and was put off my choice by family members / other opinions (Sophia) and ended up with Eliza (absolutely lovely still but I never feel 100% about it even now). It does suit her but I don't have that absolute overwhelming feeling that it's perfect like I do with my son's name and I think that is totally ok. Remove the pressure, enjoy your darling baby. X

Imogen was top of my list for baby number 2
Beatrice for number 3

they were both boys

I think you liked Imogen, wanted Imogen but lost confidence because of the negative feedback, which is understandable. If your going to change it, the earlier the better.

Imogen is a lovely name. Ava is also nice.

Love Ava if pronounced like Ava Gardener but strangely hate it pronounced Arva 🤷‍♀️

Imogen is nicer than Ava in my opinion but all that matters is how you feel about it! Both my kids we pre decided the names and have had no regrets but I know many others who have regretted them! Do what you feel is right 🥰

Love the name Imogen. I have an 18yo niece and my husband has a 17yo cousin called Ava. Both my 18 and 14 year old are friends with a few Avas and Evies. It's lovely but very overused. I would change it if you really want to. I went with a name that was okay and not the one I really loved and have always regretted it. Which will you regret more? Changing it or not changing it?

I wouldn't keep it as Ava and call her Imogen though. You will always get teachers on a power trip who refuse to call her anything but Ava. And it will be on her passport, GCSEs and everything else. It happened to my Nana and it always annoyed her. Her oldest sister convinced their parents to call her by another name, but she was always called by the name they had originally chosen. I'd imagine it could be right faff for her.

I also prefer Ava. I've never been keen on Imogen.

Just add it as a middle name

Ava is so overused and cringe. Imogen sounds like a page 3 model that was on big brother.
I mean it could be worse Zoe Sugg named her daughters Ottiley and Novi!?

I think Ava will date but Imogen won’t.
go for it!

i had this with my first DD, we were set on a name until she was here and it just wasn't her. I liked the name we picked but I didn't love it, we had a few comments and looks from strangers who asked her name and it took me a long while to warm to it. She is now 6 and really really suits her name, she's the only one in her whole school with it and I love it. Give it time op you'll likely warm to it when she starts to show her character.

@theunbreakablecleopatrajones , Right now I think there are probably more baby Imogens than Avas, it's quite popular now, where as Ava was v popular a while back (double check on dark greener.) not unless there's been a massive surge in popularity of Imogen since 2024. (Ava #9, Imogen #64)

Why not give your daughter both names? She could choose when she is older which one she would prefer to use.

I was the same with my second. I wanted to call her Annie but called her Vivienne as we couldn’t agree. I disliked it when she was a baby but she’s all Vivienne now and I’m so glad I stuck. I’d still love Annie tho 🙃