Child name

[Lola231]

My daughter is 4 years old and she’s about to start school. Her name it’s Elma and I’m worried she might get bullied due to her name being similar to other characters. The thing is she’s used to her name now so I don’t know what to do. Any thoughts please..
I’m thinking to change her name to Emmeline instead or Emmeline Elma..

I wouldn't change her name as it's lovely but if it's going to be an issue maybe shorten her name to something like Elle or Ellie .

Don't change her name.

The thing with the idea that 'having an unusual name may lead to bullying' is that it sort of implies that by being very, very ordinary, and staying as close to the middle of the pack as possible, a child can avoid becoming the target of the circling lions bullies. And that's nonsense, because the bullies are part of the pack too. No amount of being the most ordinary, unremarkable person in existence can really act as a shield or get you away from them - and nor should it. We aren't put on this earth to be dull and compliant to the whims of other people's judgement.

Children find all sorts of things to target, when bullying a peer - and not all those things are ones that can be changed. I get that you want to protect her, but you're currently considering completely shaking her whole world upside down in response to imaginary bullying that could potentially happen at some point in the future. Please don't do that to her. Just be there for her, and support get throughout her life, whatever it brings.

She has a lovely name, and it's hers - please don't take it away from her to placate anyone who might one day think otherwise. (Plus, imagine the horrible irony if you changed her name and then she got bullied about the new one! Which is entirely possible; there's no rhyme or reason to these things...)

Please don't change her name, is beautiful. I've been a reception teacher for 10 years and never once has a child been made fun of because of their name. Children are so accepting when they are little (and there have been some very unusual names over the years believe me!). It is her identity and she should be proud of her lovely name!

Thank you for replies. Greatly appreciated.

It’s a beautiful name ❤️ I wouldn’t change it. She’s used to it and it’s hers. I think the reasons some children get bullied and others don’t are complicated, I don’t think it really comes down to a name. Especially when it’s a pretty and unusual but not ‘out there’ name.

Don't do it...her name is lovely & I can't see why it would prompt a bully....at least not any more than any other random BS pathetic excuse. If she does have an encounter with bullies at some point support in that but don't confuse her by a name change or try to make her blander or less visible because of anticipated problems.

Gorgeous name. Statistically it is increasingly common for children to have less common names. Don’t stress.

Is this really about something else? Are you worried about school for other reasons?