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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Has anyone changed their baby's name after it was registered?

90 replies

TooMuchMakkaPakka · 20/10/2008 00:33

Maybe this is a strange manifestation of pnd, but i don't feel happy with the name we chose for our lovely DS. She's just under four weeks old, we've registered the name and told everyone. She was even called a different name for the first three days before changing to current one. I really wanted a particular name (a third one, hope you're keeping up with this!), but in the stress surrounding the birth, she was early and i was in hospital weeks beforehand, it sort of didn't get picked. To be honest, feel DH wanted me to choose and put pressure on me to decide then and there - I hadn't had more than two hours sleep in the previous 48, or so it felt. I feel my little girl has got second best (well on the lists we wrote beforehand the name she's got was 9th on mine and 8th on DHs) so 8/9th best . Has anyone out there changed a name at this point and if so, what did you have to do, did your DH certify you (i think mine might!) and was it worth the complete confusion / ridicule of family and friends (some of whom (e.g DH work) have already been told of one name change already!).

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Original poster

TooMuchMakkaPakka · 20/10/2008 00:35

Sorry, its our DD, happy with DS name at least (just as well, he's 2 and knows his name by now).

OP posts:

mumnosbest · 20/10/2008 00:39

I'm not sure if it's the same but my friend wanted to change her ds's spelling of his name. She was told up to 1 year you can change it if you can prove you've been using an alternative name/spelling, e.g. congratulation cards. Worth looking into if you feel strongly about it. Don't worry about any1 else, put it down to being a new mum!

Scrumdiddlyumptious · 20/10/2008 04:35

Hi there - you can change it within 12 months of registration (only the forenames) if the parents now use a different name or want to add an extra name. If you really don't like the name don't bother about what anyone will else thinks as 1. Most acquaintances may be hard pressed to remember any babies given names a few months down the line 2. friends and family will understand and even if they don't it will be a very short lived topic of conversation and 3. you don't want to be stuck with regrets for the rest of your life. If you do decide to go ahead everyone will have forgotten no doubt by her first birthday. Good luck with whatever you decide.

ginseng · 20/10/2008 07:04

my mum changed mine when i was about 11 months old. my old name is still first on the birth certificate but my name now is on it at the bottom. have never had any trouble with legal docs etc,

frazzledoldbag34 · 20/10/2008 11:16

Change it if it's making you unhappy! She's just a tiny baby and am sure she won't mind! Does your DH agree?
And do tell us the names - maybe we can advise you better? (nosy)

monkeymonkeymonkey · 20/10/2008 11:31

Change the name if you want to.
It doesnt really matter what anyone else thinks about the change. You, your DH DS and DD are the main ones who have to live with the name.
Why do you think PND might be affecting your thinking? Have you spoken to you GP/HV?

CoolYourJets · 20/10/2008 11:34

cHANGE IT NOW! I wanted to do this with dd1 v similar circs to yours and was talked out of it. I am still not keen on her name.

VASTlargeginandbloodymary · 20/10/2008 11:37

Change it! She will have her name forever, it is worth it.

Dont worry about what others will think, you have until she is 1 to do it like others said on here already.

Yes, tell us so we can help you

TheRedQueen · 20/10/2008 11:47

Change it! Pretty much the same thing happened to me and I really regret not having done something about it. DD is now 3 and I still don't think her name is right.

Original poster

TooMuchMakkaPakka · 21/10/2008 00:00

Monkeymonkey, I just thought that wanting to change the name is a bit weird, but having heard that other people have felt the same, well, maybe not. It's hard to tell whether or not my feelings about the name are making me feel sad and upset (which is what i think is happening) or vice versa. i think it is the former as i've been unsettled about the name since she was born.
It's difficult to talk to DH about it as he keeps closing the conversation down and I know he is very worried about what others will think if we change it again (esp given that we changed it already when she was 3 days old or thereabouts). It's becoming quite a problem between us.
He isn't dead set on the name, think he feels that the name we have chosen suits her and is good enough. He would be happy with any of several names.
FWIW her current name is Naomi. If we changed it it would be to Imogen or Ellen.
Ginseng can i ask - did you mind that your mother changed your name?

OP posts:

LadyOfRoffle · 21/10/2008 00:14

Ellen is lovely. So is Imogen

choklit · 21/10/2008 05:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

frazzledoldbag34 · 21/10/2008 09:52

If you think you'll regret it if you don't do it, then I'd urge you just to get on and do it now. Then you can forget all about her original name and get on with enjoying your new baby.
By the way, I think Imogen and Ellen are both lovely.
Good luck and ignore what other people think / say. She's your baby and there's no reason to be embarrassed about changing her name. You were hormonal and exhausted (I'm guessing here) when she was named - it is a really difficult decision - and now you've had time to live with her you're quite within your rights to change your mind to something that suits her better.
If anyone is negative / horrid about it ignore them. It will be forgotten about in a couple of weeks and I bet your daughter will LOVE hearing about her different names when she's older.
(My DD1 changed her own name when she was 2 - lots of people carried on calling her by her proper name but gave up eventually. She's 7 now and nobody calls her anything but her new name now, and haven't for years (except great-grannie but that's ok!!!)
Good luck. Am with you all the way on this x

Iloveautumn · 21/10/2008 14:27

My bf as a child was called Naomi and she always had to deal with mis-pronunciations and mis-spellings. Also, imo, there's not a nice shortening for Naomi (she has Nomi and Nay).

Ellen and Imogen are nicer imo.

Perhaps you could sell it to your dh on the basis that it will be better for your dd - that might make him more inclined to risk the ridicule of his friends?

Iloveautumn · 21/10/2008 14:30

I've just thought that my previous post could be v offensive for anyone/child called Naomi!! Sorry!!

LadySanders · 21/10/2008 14:39

i think naomi is lovely, but def change it if you've decided you don't anymore.

ds2 was zach for several weeks until we realised it didn't suit him (or us!) at all, as it happens we hadn't yet registered his name, so we didn't need to do the legal stuff, but i'm SO glad we changed it and so what if a few friends thought we were a bit odd for changing after we'd announced it

(added bonus, most of his birth congrats cards say zach instead of his actual name, that'll be a fascinating family anecdote one day)

lulumama · 21/10/2008 14:43

I have changed DDs name by deed poll, all done on line pretty much , cost £56 or so when she was 2

within 2 -3 days of being born she was known by her nickname rather than her registered name, and by a few months old would not repsond to her registered name, everyone called her by her nickname etc.. so we changed it

you get certified copies of teh deed poll to use as evidence of the legal change of name

MrsMattie · 21/10/2008 21:05

All your names are lovely, but change it if it will make you happier. It's not going to affect your baby!

maretta · 21/10/2008 21:11

I changed my ds's name - actually just added a middle name when he was a few months old.

It wasn't a hassle, just had to fill in a form and go and see the registrar.

His new actual name doesn't appear in the main box of his birth certficate but in, I think, box 17, down the bottom. This did cause us a small hassle when we got a passport but only from the post office. They told me I'd got the name wtong on the form. When I sent the passport application, I mentioned it in the additional notes. Anyway, I'm waffling, this was a small hassle.

I think you either have to tell everyone of a name change OR live with the name you've chosen. I'm sure you know which you'd rather.

monkeymonkeymonkey · 21/10/2008 21:11

I think Naomi is a lovely name. It was my second choice name for DD1 (though in retropect I'm glad we didnt choose it and she isnt a Naomi!)

wb · 21/10/2008 21:13

My step-brother (and wife obviously) changed their ds1 name when he was 6 months old. We (family in general) did find it quite difficult at first - ie kept getting it wrong - but baby didn't notice and we all got their in the end. I was a bit sad cause I liked name 1 better than name 2 but hey, their baby their choice.

stroppyknickers · 21/10/2008 21:14

I sat and registered ds2 in the office in floods of tears, while dh told the registrar his name. She was really lovely and kept saying that I could change it if I wanted within 12 months. It must happen. I wish I had, I feel a bit teary thinking that now.

wb · 21/10/2008 21:16

got "there"

Ineedsomesleep · 21/10/2008 21:16

Don't worry about other people, if you want to change her name go ahead and do it. Naomi is a nice name, but I much prefer Ellen and Imogen.

Perhaps you could use Naomi as a middle name to placate DH?

skewputt · 21/10/2008 21:24

I would just go ahead and change it otherwise it may well bother you long term. I did have PND and was too befuddled to really think about DDs name, and she ended up with an unusual spelling. I do like her name, but I'm sure when she gets to school she'll have trouble spelling it for herself and others - especially annoying for the poor soul when our surname is also uncommon and has to be spelled out! I wanted to change her name but didn't necause DH didn't want to - I now regret it and think at almost 4 it's too late.

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