Should I change my babies name??

[Jenz8675309]

So i have a beautiful six month old girl.
We named her Noelia, pronounced No-el-e-ah. For anyone wondering its a version of the name Noelle.

I really don't know how we ended up with that name. My husband was SO DIFFICULT, we literally went through the top 100 girls names and he just went hate it - hate it - hate it. He only wanted Noelle but i didn't want to name a baby born in summer a Christmas name, and then i found another version of the name- Noelia, and that's what we settled on.

Well shes six months old now and i just can't get on board. Whenever someone asks her name i cringe a bit, knowing I'll have to pronounce it a few times and then feel like i have to launch into this explanation of it. And I've set her up for a life of that :-( I know changing her name would be a bit embarrassing and again I'll have to explain it to EVERYONE but I don't wanna feel this way forever. Problem is I know my husband would definitely say no even if i decided that's what i really want to do...

Does she have a middle name you could call her?

I’m sorry you feel this way op. Could you not come to a compromise with DH. Noel? Ella? It’s tricky if he is really settled on the name especially after 6 months of calling her it.
If you are really that uncomfortable with her name you really should tell your DH how you feel.

Oooh, Ella is lovely! Perfect solution in under ten posts!

Under 5 posts!

If your husband is going to definitely say no then there isn’t much you can do. Rather than change her name completely can you think of a nice nick name or shortened version to call her? Perhaps Ellie or Leah.

My friends daughter was christened Sandra but from the age of about a year old they called her Flutie. Don’t know why. Their son is David but they call him Olly. Nothing to do with second names.

Noelia is a nice, unusual name (fwiw I also really like Noelle) and I can’t really see how people are having so much trouble pronouncing it. My daughter’s name is fairly unusual in this country (as did I growing up although mine’s pretty standard now!) and occasionally I repeat it or spell it out to people if necessary but it’s not that problematic. That said, your child should have a name that you love and are happy with and it should not be all about what your husband wants, and if you are unhappy with it the sooner you can change it the better before she comes to recognise it as her name. Really I don’t think your husband has any right to overrule your decision if you wish to change the name, after all you carried her and brought her into the world so why would you not have at least as much, if not more, sway in such an important decision.

Don’t feel you have to explain her name. It’s a lovely name. Do you know why don’t you like it?

What about shortening it to Lia?

Noelia is lovely just give her a nickname of something you love. One of my DDs has a nn of Bob, she still responds to it at 14 , the others all have nn too...

I would keep her official name as it is now and just call her Ella, Ellie or Noelle.

At school she could have Noelia on the school registration record, but be known to teachers and pupils as Ella or whichever name you choose.

Thanks for your comments everyone!

I think just cos its so unusual people seem really hesitant or confused- a lot of people seem to pronounce it Noella which i don't get as it's definitely not spelt like that!

I was thinking of coming up with a nickname, Ellie and Lia are okaaaaay but i don't love them, but unfortunately everyone in my family has taken to calling her Noey which again i don't like but seems to have stuck and i even caught myself doing it now! Argh

Nell would be a cute nn for Noelia.

Nola is quite easy to pronounce.

Nell, Nelly, Elia perhaps?

Noelia is the name of the Portuguese lady in love Actually isn't it? I hope think it's a beautiful name for what it's worth, but if you aren't keen then shortening or a nickname seems a good solution- your DH can still use her full name x

Noelia is a beautiful name - hope you don't change it! As others have said, there are so many nickname potentials. I know a girl called Noelle and she is often called Noey.
I think it will grow on you over time.

Really great idea above to use Nell ! Love it.

I think the lady in Love Actually is called Aurelia which means Dawn

I like Nell

I personally think that unusual names hobble children. Give her a sensible neutral name that won’t hold her back from becoming a scientist or a judge.

If you want to make a statement about how interesting or trendy you are wear a logo jumper.

I think the name is a pretty and Noey is such a cute nn

No you’ve explained it I actually quite like Noelia. However, I would have pronounced it No-Lee-A or No-Ella until corrected so I suppose that doesn’t help. If you still love the name then just say it confidently and respond to any raised eyebrows with ‘it’s Portuguese (or wherever it’s from)’. If you’re not so sure on it anymore then try out a series of nicknames to you find one that fits like Nell, Noey, Lia, Ella etc.. I wouldn’t be rushing to change her name just because of a few confused faces from strangers.

Lovely name! You could call her
Nell
Elle
Ella
Nola
Don't explain her name to anyone.

I like the name but can understand why it's a problem.

I would go with Noel, Ellia or Lia as nn.

Besides, when she turns 4.5, she might decided what to call herself and vehemently stick to it, not answering to her full name at all, ever..... (Not that I'm speaking from experience here, nope, not all at t )

I think it's a pretty name.
Unusual but not remotely bonkers.
I'd keep it and use a short version - some very nice suggestions on here.

And yes, once she's old enough to express an opinion, she may well decide that she wants to be called Toots!

Can’t you change it slightly to Noella? Almost the same name but far more straightforward.