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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

DD is 4wks old and we're having 2nd thoughts about her name. Anyone else been through this?

102 replies

Jivegirl · 22/07/2008 21:13

Hi there,

Well, as the post title suggests.. DD2 is nearly 4wks old and we're not sure that her name (Charlotte) suits her.

Not sure whether this is just because she's a teeny baby and needs to grow into her name.

Her middle name is Elisabeth, but I guess one option is to pick a nickname from her middle name and call her that?

We haven't registered her yet, but of course we've told everyone she's called Charlotte, all the congratulations cards have her name on, her red book etc. etc.

We've tried shortening it to Lottie but it just doesn't feel right.

Is it terrible to change a name after 4wks? Has anyone else done this? I know it's daft, but I'm really worried about what other people will think. And that it's changing her identity in some way!!

OP posts:

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bohemianbint · 22/07/2008 21:55

Ha, fancy bumping into you in the baby names section jivegirl! Have just been posting myself re a boys name, still no idea. The whole name thing is such a huge responsibility. If you're really not sure change it before it's all legal - when do you have to register? Do you have a plan B? I'm currently mulling over Eliza for a girl, I quite like it and have found 2 in my family tree...x

Heated · 22/07/2008 21:57

I hate to admit it but my naming taste has changed since having the dcs, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't use their names now, particularly dd's which makes me feel v guilty. She does have options about what I can call her but at 2yrs I wonder if it would be confusing to her and other family members to change it. Dh wouldn't understand anyway.

Charlotte/Lottie is beautiful btw.

shybaby · 22/07/2008 21:59

My dd didn't have any name at all for two weeks, because I couldn't decide!

She was just "the baby"

Does that make you feel better?

OLIVIASMAMA · 22/07/2008 22:01

I'm a Charlotte Elizabeth and am called Charlotte, Char, Charlie, Larlie (by a couple of small children) and Lottie on the odd occasin. I really like my name. I know what you mean though - my DD is called Olivia, she's nearly ten months old and I feel she has only just grown into her name but she definately couldn't be anything else now.

If you really do feel that you want to change your DD's name go for it. Don't worry what other people think, they may think it odd but stuff em, they'll quickly move onto the next thing to grumble about.

shybaby · 22/07/2008 22:07

fwiw I think Charlotte is a beautiful name but its really up to you. Even though I decided on dd's name after two weeks I still wasn't sure it suited her.

And maybe it still doesn't (its a quite posh and innocent name, she certainly isn't either!) but it's her now and I cant imagine anything else .

PussinWellies · 22/07/2008 22:10

I know a Charlotte Elizabeth known to all as Tilly, from the way it sounds when you run them together. Offfered to you free if you like it!

mavornia · 22/07/2008 22:11

shybaby, i'm all intrigued at your "posh and innocent" name - would you consider divulging?!

LuLuBai · 22/07/2008 22:15

Oh I'm intrigued too.

shybaby · 22/07/2008 22:16

Not at all mavornia

But dd has a beautiful name and she's a dirty smelly tomboy!

She's making it funky im sure...or something

lunavix · 22/07/2008 22:18

Would it be Emily? I consider that a posh and innocent name

shybaby · 22/07/2008 22:20

I am not telling ladies!

margesimpsonmoment · 22/07/2008 22:26

ds2 didn't have a name for 5 weeks . We are still unsure of his name and he's 11months. When you register the birth you get until the first birthday to change the name by reregistering - this really made me feel better when I registered his birth as we were so unsure of his name. Now we have two weeks left to change it but it would feel wrong to change it now - almost as if we were denying him in some way. He is growing into his name tho.

mavornia · 22/07/2008 22:26

oh go on, you old spoilsport!

I'll tell you sordid tales about dh and his family in return!

shybaby · 22/07/2008 23:23

Not good enough mavornia im afraid

Original poster

Jivegirl · 22/07/2008 23:24

Thanks ladies.

Agree with previous posters, I'm not sure she suits any name at the moment, so on that basis I think we'll leave her as a Charlotte Elisabeth, and maybe make use of one of the Elisabeth derivatives if she doesn't grow into it.

(I did ask her opinion during her feed and she just gurgled. At least she can't say she wasn't asked!

OP posts:

Zebraa · 22/07/2008 23:39

When we had DS (Charlie)I wanted to change because Charlie sounded too grown up and my boyfriend kept saying let him grow into his name, we've picked it because it's the name we liked best and he is now absolutely a little Charlie. She will soon be a little Charlotte, don't you worry.

SazzlesA · 22/07/2008 23:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LuLuBai · 23/07/2008 10:38

I'm glad you feel a bit more settled about it Jivegirl. Names are such a big thing, but I think you have chosen a really good name and I'm sure it will feel more 'right' in time.

Still intrigued by Shybaby's daughters name. My DD is lso a right little muddy faced, grazed kneed tom-boy and her first name means 'dove' and her middle name is after the purest of Shakespearian princesses. But there you go. I still love her name and am very glad she has it.

savoycabbage · 23/07/2008 10:46

You should change her name if you haven't registered. I wasn't sure about my 2nd dd's name and I thought I would get used to it but I haven't and she is 22 months now!

If you change it I am sure people will raise a few eyebrows but it won't be that bad and then it will be done. If you try and call her something sort of nickname it might not 'stick' and they will still be calling 'Charlotte' out at the Doctors etc.

FluffyWuffy · 23/07/2008 10:50

I think go with your instincts. If you want to change it then do, otherwise you'll spend the rest of your life thinking that you wish you had! It's no big deal, and never mind what everyone else thinks. As for the cards, save them and give them to your daughter when she's 18 and say that she was once called Charlotte but you changed your minds - it's a quirky story and she'll probably find it all quite cool!

I think CHarlotte is a nice name and I also like Lottie. However, if you're not happy now you probably never will be 100% with it - is it me or do names just click? We were going to call our little girl Isla Willow but we both started to wonder about Willow (although initially we didn't tell each other about our doubts, I don't know why!) and decided to change it as it didn't feel right. She's now called Isla Chloe Emma (Chloe we decided on while I was in labour; we added Emma on in the post-natal ward so it was all very last minute so at least she's got plenty to choose from if she doesn't like her first name!! But to be honest, we don't call her Isla, her nickname is Wiggles and we've got to get out of that habit or she'll think it's her real name .

With regard to the surname, my partner and I aren't married either, but Isla has taken his (apparently we're going to get married, but no rock in sight...) Anyway, the registrar said to us 'if you get married, you'll have to re-register her in order to legitimise her...'

Can someone remind me which century we are in?

Pick something you love and go for it.

tortoiseSHELL · 23/07/2008 10:52

I think Lotte (pronounced Lotta) would be a lovely diminutive name until she is big enough to use Charlotte!

Twitmonster · 23/07/2008 10:55

my ds2 spent a couple of weeks being a Josh to every one but me, I couldn't call him it or even refer to him as it. So I went back through out list of names and one suddenly clicked, so I spoke to dh, he agreed that it was a better fit and we changed it. Got a few weird looks/comments but hey so what? I don't even think anyone remembers he was originally Josh.
Do what is right for you and your dh/p and her.

TwoFir · 23/07/2008 16:38

We had that feeling, we chose Alexandra and it seemed too big for a little baby and Alex seemed too toddler, but she grew into it quite quickly and now it suits her. Trust your own taste and call her a nickname in the meantime

LadySanders · 23/07/2008 16:44

ds2 had his name changed at about 4 weeks, before we registered, we swapped his 1st and maddle names round. cards mainly have 'wrong' name on but happy we changed as it just did not suit him...

2point4kids · 23/07/2008 16:47

I'm going to go against the consensus here and say keep her name as it is!!

It sounds to me like you still really like the name, but just feel a bit awkward saying it as its all so new (new baby, new name, new sounds etc).
If you dont have another name in mind that suits her perfectly then I think you will just be swapping one name (that you carefully chose) for another name that feels just as awkward until she grows into it.

It took me a while to feel comfortable saying both DS's names when they were tiny, but still love them both. I think its a natural adjustment thing that alot of people go through.

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