Don't like my baby's name

[nina01]

I would really appreciate some reassurance - my little girl is 4 months old and I really don't like her name, it doesn't resonate with me at all. It was my husband's choice, and as I named our son I let him choose her name. I must have liked it at some stage, as i agreed to it a year earlier if we had a girl (sadly ended in a miscarriage when 3 months pregnant) but I felt pressured into it, and he wouldn't agree to any of the names I suggested. We needed an urgent birth certificate and passport, so she needed a name! My parents hate it, so I'm not sure whether that has changed my opinion. I am having anxiety attacks about it, and can't stop questioning myself! He said we could change it in a year if I'm still unhappy, but that's too late. I'm trying to call her by her name to get used to it, but keep calling her 'baby'. Friends have said it's a great name, but I'm really unsure. Her name is India, and I sometimes shorten it to indie

[Chickydoo]

I adore the name!! Beautiful

[BananaSplitX]

Ha, ha, ha. Brilliant!!! I think we all want to know what happened 😅

[Parpophone]

I haven’t read all the replies so this could have been said already.....

@BananaSplitX

The OP posted in 2013

[BananaSplitX]

I haven’t read all the replies so this could have been said already, but if you change the name within 12 months from birth, the name is changed on the birth certificate. I was going to do the same and spoke to the register office and they said it happens very often which is why within the year from birth it is a very simple process - go to the birth register office and they change it on the birth certificate. If you don’t like your daughter’s name, change it. You will regret it later on, if you don’t.

[HerbalEssences]

Hahaha, me too. I think because kidspot reported on it. Maybe OP can comment and let us know what happened in the 9 years.

[HerbalEssences]

I wonder if you're hatred for the name may originate from the miscarriage, as the name was theoretically intended for someone else.

I think 4 months is a long time not to get used to a name, especially when you are around the person all day. Is there any way you could alter the name just slightly, so that your nickname would still fit? Indiana, Indira, Indeah etc.

Have a look at this link: www.babynamespedia.com/names/girl/ind-start

Hope you find a solution that makes everyone happy (including you).

[perimenofertility]

Oh damn, I just spent ten minutes thinking of names that OP could change the baby's name to, that her DP could use India as a nickname for, before I saw the comment about it being a zombie thread! How does it happen that a 9yr old thread suddenly pops up?! Come back and tell us how you feel about the name now @nina01 , did you keep it?

[SaharaSahara]

if It’s still really making you feel down by the year mark then just change it, but the down side to that is she will probably be responding to her name by then and you won’t want to confuse her

[RenegadeMatron]

@Bleurose - you are a great person to have around 9 years after an event.

[steppemum]

OH BUGGER I hate zombie threads.

I do think that zombie threads should keep their warning sign for the next 20 posts of something!

[hattie43]

I love that name , India / Indie would be one of my first choices

[MrsReeves]

@WhereAreMyAirpods

This child was named in 2013.

THAT IS 9 YEARS AGO.

🤣🤣 I wonder if OP likes the name yet 🤔

[DameMargaretofChalfont]

Zombie threads are in abundance today!!!!

😳😳

[WhereAreMyAirpods]

This child was named in 2013.

THAT IS 9 YEARS AGO.

[steppemum]

OP - this was the name that you would have used with the baby you miscarried.
Could it be that you associate the name with that loss?
Is it possible that you are a cross with your husband for using the name that 'belongs' to the baby you lost?

I am wondering if there is some grief under this.

In terms of the name, if you don't like it, change it now. No problem to change a name, the birth certificate even has a column called 'name if changed within 12 months of birth' which is where the new name goes.
my parents changed their mind and so my birth certificate has that. It is no big deal.
And your mum? If you keep the name, make a firm comment to her that she is not to comment on the name again.

[DuchessOfSausage]

I'm not keen on it, @nina01 . It sounds nice but it's the name of a country.
Imogen is much nicer.
You can change a baby's name quite easily in the first year.

Baby name regret is not uncommon, and it might be a symptom of something else. Might be worth having a chat with your GP

[Bleurose]

I think India is a beautiful name. My cousin who is 50 is named India & she loves it. (Other children sometimes called her Dee)
Ashley’s sister in GONE WITH THE WIND was named India. Also there is singer India Arie. It is very feminine sounding. Just repeat it over a few times & notice how pretty it sounds. She will probably be the only India in her classes in school which is another plus.

[zxcv123]

I'm going to go a bit against the grain and say that four months is long enough for you to have reconciled yourself to the name - and if you haven't and you are still unhappy about it, then you need to discuss with your DH changing it now before she is old enough to know/care and whilst legally you can change her birth certificate (12 months I think).

I was forced into calling my two DCs names I dislike. I've never called either of them by their first names, always their second names and so the DCs have always called themselves by their second names too. It has caused no end of grief with schools/doctors/hospitals/passports/official certificates etc and it still makes me unhappy every time I hear their real first names mentioned. I should have changed their names when they were tiny.

(PS An "Indie" I know is actually Indigo - would that be better?)

[ghosteditor]

Sorry that you dislike it - nothing we say can change that!

But I love it and wanted it for DD, but DH wasn't so taken with it.

Hope you find a solution you're happy with!

[sarahtigh]

maybe you need to talk to DH again you can change before age 1 without too much trouble; however Imogen is out of the question as DH does not like it, you agreed he could choose as you choose DS's name so I think it would have to be a choice that he could veto as fair is fair, or maybe you could ask him for a couple of alternatives for you to choose between, you really both need to be happy with choice which is why I do not think the you choose one and I choose the other name works

[chrome100]

I know quite a few Indias, most of them my age (late 20s/30s). Although it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice, it is a nice name and one that is perfectly acceptable. That said, if you are not happy with it then I think you should change it. Maybe give it a little more time to see if you can grow used to it, but otherwise I think do it now whilst she is still little.

[cooper44]

My dad chose my name and my mum always disliked it so she just called me something else and always did. No-one but my mum ever called me it. And it's so much nicer than the boring name my dad chose.
Not sure what my point is. I think India is beautiful but you absolutely need to feel comfortable with your children's names so i would address it now.

[Wishfulmakeupping]

As lovely as the name is if you don't like it you need to change it sooner rather than later if you are sure that YOU don't like it forget about your parents views- do you like it?

[Nerfmother]

I am going to go against the grain here, sorry. I don't think it matters if other people like it although it is reassuring.
I have four dcs and I hate ds' name six years later. I really wish I had changed it when I had a chance and when do might have come round. I sat and sobbed my way though the registration and the registrar told me we could change his name later it was so obvious!
Can you talk to dh and get his view? I hate all this I named dd so he gets ds stuff.

[Claphammama]

Hi nina. I'm 15 weeks pregnant and thinking about names. I love the name India and would love to choose it if it's a girl :-) Just searched for it on mumsnet to see what people thought and this thread came up! I think it's very delicate and elegant and for me it has an extra special meaning as I love India as the country and have spent a lot of time there over the last 10 years. Just trying to convince DP now :-)