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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Help! I think I might want to change DS's name...

35 replies

ilikeyoursleeves · 16/08/2009 22:39

DS2 (4 weeks old) is called Zach and I just can't get used to it at all . We loved the name when I was PG but some folk seem to think it's a bit chavvy (hmm thanks for telling me that) and haven't said much positive about it. So I keep having niggles about it and it's getting to me. DH said he doesn't want to change it though argh!

Not sure if I'm being put off by others opinions or if I'm just not liking the name or if it doesn't suit him?

I don't know what to do!

OP posts:

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NeedaNewName · 16/08/2009 22:43

If it helps I really like the name Zach and kno of two Zachs who are really cool kids and not at all chavvy!

I know what youmean though, I wish I'd given DD2 a different name, but you know what, she really suits her name and I love her so I love her name. Do whats best for you.

PaulDacreEatsBabies · 16/08/2009 22:44

There's a similar thread at the mo - this happens a lot. I think it's a lovely name, but it is of course up to you. You can change your child's name on their birth certificate up to 12 months old, so their "new" name becomes their name as if it always had been. After that you would need to change by deed poll.

I would say, without wishing to be in the least bit patronising, that as your son is only 4 weeks old you are probably a bit freaked about everything and to give it some time. I tend to find that all children's names suit them, regardless of what their names are.

Anonymumandlikeit · 16/08/2009 22:45

I know a fab Zac who has overcome lots of difficulties related to his health and is a WONDERFUL little boy,so have only positive connotations related to this name

Heated · 16/08/2009 22:46

Well first of all, there is not a name that every single person likes but I think some ppl have been very rude not to keep their opinions to themselves and to imply the name is chavvy.

However, if YOU are having doubts, and it seems from your first line that you are, then yes of course you can reconsider.

Do you want to give him a more formal full name like Zachariah and then shorten it to Zach or another name entirely? What other names were you drawn to?

(I've always had doubts about dd2's name & wished I had changed it but too late now)

hambler · 16/08/2009 22:46

You can absolutely change it if you have not registered it. However it is very common to have doubts about the name you have chosen

logi · 16/08/2009 23:10

i think its a great name and it cant be shortened,i thought about changing my sons name because of lots of negative comments and a nurse in hospital convinced me to stick with what i liked....and now 18 years on im glad i did and his name suits him and he likes it.He is called Cruz.

jellybeans · 16/08/2009 23:44

Zach is a great name and quite popular so lots of people like it. No way is it chavvy at all! I would stick with it, whatever you choose people will have their views. I bet you will be used to it soon.

lowrib · 16/08/2009 23:48

FWIW I think it's a lovely name. If you've registered it, stick with it I reckon!

But if you haven't registered it and you really want to change it do it asap .

My friend changed her boy's name at 1 week, but kept the original name as a middle name.

KissMyAssDailyMailcentreplus · 17/08/2009 00:01

Zach is a v cool name...cute ,biblical, strong, I like

skybright · 17/08/2009 00:03

I like Zach but if you want to change it then i guess the sooner the better,have you got another name that you thinks suits him better?

blinks · 17/08/2009 00:51

it's soooo not chavvy.

spinspinsugar · 17/08/2009 03:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MamaLazarou · 17/08/2009 08:28

Don't listen to those very rude people - you chose the name because you liked it, if they don't then stuff them, it's none of their business!

daisy78 · 17/08/2009 09:50

Hi, I'm sorry you are feeling this way. I think it is actually quite common to have baby name remorse. There is another tread about this at the moment, and I am also feeling the same way with my DS and am very upset about it.

Please don't let other people ruin the name for you. I doubt there is a name out there that everyone likes, and plenty of people love the name Zach. If both you are your DH love it, then it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. My sceanario is slighly different as my DH has always loved the name we chose, but I have always been unsure.

At only 4 weeks it is easy to change a name, but I think you need to be really sure. Does he have a middle name you could consider? Perhaps you could call him by both for a while (as if they are hyponated), and see which one you feel happiest with

I don't think Zach is a chavvy name at all by the way

Original poster

ilikeyoursleeves · 17/08/2009 13:51

Thanks for the responses. DS's name on the BC is actually Zachary so Zach is already a shortened version. His middle name is Alexander which I like but now that it's morning I don't mind Zach again, argh I keep changing my mind! I think I'm the type of person who is easily affected by others opinions and I don't think I thought of that when we chose the name. MIL also said she didn't like it cos she has known an 'awful' person called Zach so she will 'need time to get used to it'- she told me this a day after he was born and I was full of hormones! My parents have also said there is a horrible dog near them called Zak!

I do wonder too if it goes deeper than just the name too. I feel awful, awful, awful for saying this but I think it's taking me longer to bond with DS2 and that I've projected these feelings onto his name a bit, thinking if I change the name I'll change how I am feeling (?). I fell utterly head over heels with DS1 at first sight and I love him so much. I totally love DS2 too and would do anything for him but I didn't have the same 'rush' of overpowering love at first sight and I think that's making me terribly guilty. I lay in bed thinking about all this last night and cried myself to sleep I know it can take different times to bond etc but I just feel so bad for even having these thoughts. Is that normal?

Yeeks I sound a bit crazy.

OP posts:

llareggub · 17/08/2009 13:57

I have 2 boys, and with both children it has taken ages to get used to their names, despite choosing them because I loved them.

I think after 9 months of thinking about "the baby" or "bean" or whatever name you used for the baby, it is really hard to look at the scrumptious little bundle and call it by an ordinary name, no matter how lovely the name.

It took me ages to call DS anything but "the baby" and I am finding the same with DS2. In fact, I keep calling DS2 by DS1's name.

I am sure in time Zach will grow into his name, particularly when he leaves the baby stage behind and starts to toddle around.

Zach is a lovely name, by the way.

PotPourri · 17/08/2009 14:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MaggieBeauLeo · 17/08/2009 16:04

I really like it, and I have zero tolerance for chav names.

OK, some names deserve harsher criticism. Zebedee, Montana, Phoenix for eg, and chardonnay and Diesel and other names I'll admit to having been a bit mean about on this board.... but some names that have come in for criticism on this board have also shocked me. Just becaue a name isn't Tarquin or Prudence doesn't mean it's chav.

Zachary is, when all is said and done, a bible name.. My great uncle was a Zachary. It's not new, it's not pretentious, it's not made-up!

Stick with it. It's a great name. I also agree with the posters who say that it can take a while to look at your 8lbs of mottled baby and 'merge' their name with their personality... Harder still before they even have a personality! that will come, honestly it will. I had this wierd surreal feeling, how weird that my daughter is a *Maggie, she's only a Maggie because I said that. It seemed to random, to uncertain.

People who insult your children's names (to your face! I'd rather they said it behind my back tbh) are very rude. SOmebody said my choices were "very conservative" and then sniggered. They weren't in the top 50, so they were fairly conservative as in not very 'omg' but still, they don't seem to share their names with anybody in our circle.

MaggieBeauLeo · 17/08/2009 16:07

PS, I was just thinking, as he's not yet a year old, maybe if there was another name you had in mind you could put it on the birth cert as a middle name, and then he could be known as it later IF you decided to change.

HAlf my family is known by their middle name.

stillfrazzled · 18/08/2009 10:22

My favourite little boy (who isn't DS ) is Zach - no way is it a chavvy name!

Umlellala · 18/08/2009 10:29

It took me til nearly a year to get used to both dc's names. It helps to have a family name you like as a middle name so you know you could call them that if you really wanted to. But I'd just stick it out - you've only just met your son, of course you are getting to know him (congrats by the way)

gingerbunny · 18/08/2009 10:30

our 8 month old is Zack, we called him something else for the first few hours, then changed it to Zack.
I love his name and he really suits him, I can't imagine him being known by the other name now.

chandellina · 18/08/2009 15:11

your parents and MIL need to get over themselves and think about their grandson. we dealt with this too and were basically talked out of the name we had chosen because we lacked conviction - it was outrageous. let them know his name is Zach and their opinions are no longer welcome on the matter. I finally had to tell my extended family that "voting was closed" and this was three weeks after he was born.

MamaFi · 18/08/2009 15:21

My second son is called Zack, and I wish I'd called him Zach - which I think is slightly less harsh looking when written down. I wish I'd registered him as Zachary infact.

Zach is a gorgeous name, he will grow into it, as my little boy has - he's two now, and really is a ZACK!

Enjoy your baby! And don't let other people make you question your choice of name.

MamaFi · 18/08/2009 15:23

Oh my first son's middle name is Alexander. Lovely name choices!!

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