“Bruh grandma has been roasting his name for the past 20 min.”
Choosing a baby name is one of the most difficult decisions any parent has to make.
And while many find success with it, others might be left with a bit of baby name regret.
On Oct. 25, one new mom took to the Mumsnet Baby Names forum to share that she’s “having quite a strong baby name regret” six months after welcoming her child.
Now she doesn’t know what to do.
On one hand, she’s strongly considering a name change because she’s much happier with her baby’s middle name. On the other hand, she’s worried about what others might think if she changes it.
“My husband and I couldn’t agree on a name at the time so we came to a ‘middle ground’ that neither of us loved,” she wrote on Mumsnet. “I used one of my first choice name as a middle name.”
She stopped short of revealing the name, but clarified that it is “quite uncommon” and is “often met by surprise.”
“The first name has never quite sat perfectly with me,” she continued.
“I feel after 6 months the name should fit and it just doesn’t. Everytime I say it or hear someone say it it makes me feel almost a little uncomfortable,” she added.
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She asked the forum for advice — and many of the users advised her to go ahead with the change.
“I changed my sons at around 6 months to his middle name and just switched it around. It was absolutely fine,” one Mumsnet user replied.
The original poster then asked how that decision was met by family and friends.
“A couple of family members were a bit funny about it but don’t worry, they’ll adapt to the change, it took a few months to a year. Baby won’t know the difference,” the user responded.
“Officially on their passport, doctors, school etc. they are the original name,” they clarified. “But I always write ‘known as X’ and it’s never an issue.”
Most responses zeroed in on three main options for the mom
As more users commented, it became clear that there were three main options for the mom.
The first option is to keep the baby’s name as is and hope that it continues to grow on them as the baby grows older.
“My husband and I couldn't agree on our son's name and after a few weeks, we settled on one we both liked but didn't love,” one user commented.
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“He has grown into it and it suits him and more importantly, he likes his name,” they continued. “It may end up being the same for you.”
The second option is to keep the baby’s name as is but refer to them by the middle name (or a nickname that both parents agree on).
“Just use her new name. There’s no need to change it officially, as PP says you just write ‘known as,’” one user commented.
“For some reason, a lot of my family are known by completely different names. Think Sally (Colleen), Joe (Brian),” they continued.
The third option is to legally change the baby’s name to something you like — but sooner rather than later.
“Do it officially. Not doing so will cause the child problems further down the line and they might get fed up at having to explain! Trust me, I know!” someone replied.
“If you are going to do it I’d do it soon, before changing it has the potential to be confusing for her,” another user wrote.
Can you change your baby’s name? If so, how?
If you plan on changing your baby’s name, here are a few things you should know.
First off, there is a such thing known as “common usage” or “common law” when it comes to baby names. This means that you give your child a name (James) but refer to them as something different (Jimmy).
This is the easiest way to change a baby’s name because it doesn’t require you to go a legal route.
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On the flip side, it could create hassle and confusion for the child in the future. For example, their legal documents (birth certificate, social security card, ID, etc.) will all say James not Jimmy.
And they’ll need to remember to put James on anything legal, even if they prefer Jimmy.
Secondly, there are options for parents who want to go through with a legal name change.
The best way to go about this is by contacting a lawyer who specializes in name changes, especially since rules and regulations often vary by state.
For the most part, the process involves signing a petition, getting a court order approving the change, giving proper public notice of the change and a final decree from the court authorizing the name change.
A legal name change often takes time and costs money, which is why many people use “common law.”
Name changes are more common today than you’d think
For those who plan on going through with a name change, the good news is that you’re not alone.
One of the most famous examples of a celebrity changing their child’s name is Kylie Jenner and her ex-boyfriend Travis Scott, who changed their son’s name from Wolf to Aire in 2022, per ABC News.
Kourtney Kardashian and Tristan Thompson originally had their son’s name listed as “Baby Kardashian” on his birth certificate before changing it to Tatum nearly one year later, according to People.
Elon Musk and Grimes were forced to change their son’s name from X Æ A-12 to X Æ A-Xii in order to comply with California laws.
And let’s not forget about all the celebrities who don’t go by their real names.
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Reese Witherspoon’s real name is Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon, while Emma Stone’s real name is Emily Stone and Tina Fey is actually Elizabeth Stamatina Fey, per Country Living.
