Kids Naming Themselves

plunderb

Today at the park, I overheard a group of 4-year-olds playing pretend. Their real names were Lila, Gabe, and Tessa, but in their game, they insisted on going by Isabella, Jake, and Rainbow.

I could just imagine little Lila's and Gabe's parents crossing Isabella and Jake off their lists as too popular, only to be foiled by their preschooler's yearning for conformity.

Other names from the park today:

Rowan (girl)

Henry

Oliver

Niamh

beachykeen1723

My sister Ramona insisted we call her Rebecca for several weeks when she was about 3. 

moxie9

When I was four, I demanded to be known as Lindsey (I really liked the name, and it was my babysitter's, so it seemed like a natural choice at the time).

SheenaNash1

A teacher friend of mine had a student a few years ago who insisted on being called Obi Wan..and his mother supported it! So she had to call him that for the year....insane.

Temp108743750006959

When I was in 6th grade, the girls in the school yard started a "flower" club and I think I was Lilly. (And we were practicing handwriting that afternoon and I wrote my name as Lilly and got yelled at by my teacher.)

BrittKav

When I was younger, my "playing house" names were either Maria or Mariyah. I'm a Brittney. I remember my cousin Kim who played with me chose the name "Lizzie".

baloneydisc

When my brother (Dale) was in Kindergarten he decided he wanted to be called Jeremy.  I think that lasted about a year.

stahlop

I tried to go by my Hebrew name for awhile.  My Hebrew name is Leah, but I was spelling it Leyah.  That lasted about a week. 

I did have a student at my school whose real name was Mollie but she introduced herself to me as Charlie.  Her middle name started with a C so I assumed it was her middle name.  Turns out her middle name was Caitlin, she just didn't like her given name.  I'll admit, Charlie fit her much better than Mollie Caitlin.

MAMAxB

Haha! Rainbow.. that's interesting!

I don't understand this Rowen name.. ugh.

sprinkle pop

When I was little I tried to rename myself Tabitha.  I'm Nicole.  I'm glad no one listened.

LenMont

My name is Hattie Ann (just hattie..not short for anything). I insisted on being called Ann after the first day of kindergarten when everyone said my name was "weird". It didn't last--I loved it by hs.

nndidiamaka

I don't think I ever renamed myself, but I did try and give myself a middle name.  I always felt so left out!  So for a while I was Lila Mae, because that's what my Mom called me very infrequently.  I also thought the name Naomi was the coolest thing ever, so if I would have renamed myself, this probably would have been it.

queenbone

I like this little Tessa; I was named myself Rainbow during a game of dress up.

Mag&Baby

They probably choose those names because they are popular. The kid that choose Rainbow is fascinating!