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

[TooMuchMakkaPakka]

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!).

walking primrose, i feel so much better hearing your story.

eviz i'm still not really sure whether or not its a phase that will pass. With
friends / family it seems ok but strangers often pronounce it wrong which drives me bonkers as i really don't like the mispronounciations. some days i feel i am getting used to her current name, other days i am very keen to change. maybe i am just fussy. But i love DS's name and never thought of changing.

have been trying to convince DH to change for xmas cards but i think we will probably wait until the time we had originally agreed. I would def rather change now but just have to convince DH.

apologies for lack of caps - post fed baby on knees

I have a good friend going through this very same dilemma,so don't worry, you are not alone, and good luck with your decision!

I have been keeping an eye on this thread. We have not yet 100% made our mind up.

I think we may add another name into DS name. Then if he wants to use it later he can (let's hope he does!!!)
I spoke to my vicar about my dilemna and he said that to change the first name we would need to go via deed poll (which I knew) but we could call him it and hope that at confirmation time he chose the name we have called him for the last x number of years.
However, ds may not wish to be confirmed, so we would still need to do somethng legally before then.
I know exactly how you feel and wish I had been brave enough to change it when I had chance.

My mum changed mine when I was about 3 months old and I love my name now.

Xmas cards went out in the current name, BUT

We are trying out another name at home this week (started on Sunday). Lots of chipping away at DH has made him realise that this is really important for me and won't go away. It is really hard to change, even for me, as i had got used to her name. Knowing that other people regretted not changing has inspired me to push this forward. I don't want to regret it for ever, just to avoid hassle now, so I think we may change it formally in the new year.

Her current name will still be a middle name (which means two middle names, not ideal but ok as all the names are quite short.

DS (2.6) is calling her either name and 'baby' or 'babby' - as he is completely confused!

Makkapakka, I've been keeping an eye on this, and plugging for you to resolve your dilemma. My ds was 2.4 when we changed angharad's name. He is now 8 and cant remember her as a baby, or as any other name. Your plan to keep the name as a middlename sounds fine to me, although we handled it differently. When we did it, we ditched the old name totally, and replaced it with angharad. Her middle name (tess) stayed the same. Either way, the only thing that matters is that you get to a name that you are comfortable with. Trust me, it will get easier. Wishing you all the best, and keep us informed.

Many thanks to all of you who've commented. I changed it today, she's now Imogen but we've kept Naomi has a middle name at DH's request. She's three months old today so a nice present

I found the comments of those who regretted not changing, or were talked out of it, very telling and it's good to know that you can survive the change fairly easily.

Thanks again, without your input I may never have had the confidence to make the change.

My one worry is the impact all this has had on my relationship with DH who really did never want to change it. In the end he was happy for me to change it to whatever i wanted as he just wanted a different topic of conversation in the house, so let's hope we can move forward from here.

I'd better change my mn name now as anyone out there will definitely know who i am after this! What to change that to???!

I should add i have told some friends already who have been very supportive. One said she completely understood as she and her DH had had great difficulty naming their dog!

Well done. Imogen Naomi is a lovely name. You obviously really needed to change it so don't worry, DH has clearly accepted it!

Imogen is a clever choice - so pretty, but not over-used at all now.

It's something that will give you a little 'glow' for EVER imo, when you love hearing their name and are proud of it.

I just wanted to add a postscript to this for all those people who were considering doing the same thing.
A month on since the name change, it all seems to have gone pretty smoothly. I think DH still wishes she was called the original name but he seems fine with the new one and now the name has changed i am a lot less preocuppied by the whole thing which he certainly appreciates. I think it has helped me move on from the difficulties we had around the birth too.
People's reactions have varied. Some been completely underwhelmed, some very understanding - some have said that they wished they had too, but it is probably too late for their DC (lots of name regrets out there?) but a sizeable proportion of people have had eyes out on stalks, just in a curious way. I think a few thought i was joking at first. However, there are far more shocking things in the world.
My dad and brother seem to think it is a good thing to take the p out of me over, but hopefully eventually they will just forget it.
DH who was so worried about telling people at his work, just started using the new name to some people there and no one commented
I am enjoying the new name and really proud to tell everyone. It finally feels like the name she was destined to be (in my head at least, if that doesn't sound too corny).

glad you've finally made the decision makkapakka and that you are happy with it.
Imogen Naomi is lovely name.

DH and I are currently 'testing' names for our baby who will be arriving in just under 2 weeks. Hope we choose the right one!

I am not feeling happy with my babygirl name that I chose for her. her name is Christina. I am thinking to change it to Isabella, Mia, Sophia ,Kayla. more new names.. I am afraid I would create a problem for her when she grows up as she has to mention her old name as per her records..any experience in that issue? she is only 3 months old.

User this is a really old thread. Try making a new post with your situation and I am sure you will get lots of comments.

You should change if you are unhappy with it and definitely prefer one of the others.

FWIW I think Naomi is much nicer and more unusual than your other choices though they are all good names.

Oops just realised ancient thread!