Would you change your kid's name at 18 months?

ENI36

I know it sounds crazy!  But I feel like I have regretted his name choice since he was just a few months old.  It was a name that we both decided we liked, then closer to the time he was born I kind of wavered on it, then DH convinced me on it again and it was settled.  I don't hate it but it makes me sad that I don't completely love it.  I was thinking of switching his middle name and first name.  I absolutely love his middle name.  We have called him by his first and middle name a lot, and he responds to even just his middle name so I don't think it would be too confusing for him.  However, if we were going to do it I'd certainly want to do it sooner than later.  What do you think?  Has anyone done this or thought of doing it?  

MainelyFoolish

I don't think calling him by his middle name is any weider than using a nickname.

Mrs.Hizzo

No, I wouldn't do that. Something about it just seems wrong.

Momuvtwins09

I personally wouldn't do it....I think it would be super confusing for the LO and everyone else. Not to mention it would be a pain in the butt to change their social security info, dr info...and everything else! Maybe you could save the name you love for your next LO's first name?

ENI36

Mrs.Hizzo:

No, I wouldn't do that. Something about it just seems wrong.

It definitely does seem weird, don't get me wrong.  Actually, the only reason I can even think of doing it is that my SIL changed her name when she was 28.  It was REALLY weird at first but I quickly got used to it and now I don't even give it a second thought.   

JenniCollins

I probably wouldn't, but I know lot's of people who go by there middle name not their first name.  So what about just calling him by his middle name instead of going through the hassle of changing his name.

Sharon21

JenniCollins:

I probably wouldn't, but I know lot's of people who go by there middle name not their first name.  So what about just calling him by his middle name instead of going through the hassle of changing his name.

This is what I was thinking. I don't see why you would actually need to change it, just call him by his middle name and soon enough everyone else will too.  

jandb2011

JenniCollins:

I probably wouldn't, but I know lot's of people who go by there middle name not their first name.  So what about just calling him by his middle name instead of going through the hassle of changing his name.

This.  If you like the middle name better, just call him by his middle name.  You only need to use the first name on official docs.  Years ago, I dated a guy named Lawrence Stephen D____.  He went by Steve and that's all anyone knew him as.  It's not that unusual to use a middle name.

MAprincess

I wouldn't change his name.  I know plenty of people who go by rtheir middle name, though, so just call him that if you like it more.

JessesGirl&MackenziesMom

Just wanted to chime in- my grandmother started using her middle name at five years old and by the time I came around, EVERYONE she knew had ONLY known her by that name. I think since you love the middle name, just start calling him that.

ENI36

i acutally have no problem just calling him by his middle name and not legally changing it. i just thought it would make it easier on him later in life. dh is still thinking about it. he is ok with his first name but i dont think hes completely opposed to calling him by his middle name.  sorry for the lack of capital letters, still cant figure this out on my phone.

Katieh6

My Legal name is Mary Katherine but I have always gone by Katie. My parents always intended to call me Katie. I go by Mary for legal docs but that's it.

MrsBalletStar05

I just wanted to chime in that my MIL's given name was Lori Ann (totally fine and normal!)  When she got married this last time, she had it legally changed to Annie Lori.  Annie Lori!!  :-(  My husband thinks it's awful, and not that he calls her by her first name anyway, but if you ask him, his mom's name is "Lori" and not "Annie". 

Sorry, I just wanted to share my name change story even though it really doesn't go with this post...... :-P

Katieh6

If you don't mind haring what is your LO's name?? Just curious if you aren't up to share that's ok

ENI36

Katieh6:

If you don't mind haring what is your LO's name?? Just curious if you aren't up to share that's ok

 his name is elijah daniel. its mainly just that i think i prefer more traditional names. i know they are both in the bible but i feel like elijah is a little more out there.

JOEBunny

I have a nickname and my given name.  I use both.  People call me both.  I don't care.  I used to have a rare last name, so it really didn't matter, since people could easily figure out I was the same person.  Now I have a common last name, so sometimes people will meet me and not realize I am the same as the other person, if someone had told them about me before or they knew someone I knew, but it is not a big deal.  I mostly used my given name at work, so anyone who knows me from work calls me that, which I have found to be kind of nice in the past, since it immediately puts them into the "work person" category, if I don't remember them.

I think you should call your child what you want to call your child.  I sometimes call DS by his middle name, but I don't introduce him to people that way, it is more like my pet name for him.

littlemomma10

Personally, I would simply start calling him by his middle name, but legally leave his name the way it is. It's not that uncommon. I was a teenager before I realized that the name my dad goes by is actually his middle name. His first name is his fathers name, so my grandparents always referred to him by the middle.

Mrs.V

Lots of people go by their middle name, it's not that weird. I wouldn't officially change your sons name, just use his middle name. I can think of lots of adults that go by their MN. My DS is named after his father. He is Matthew Lucas but from birth, we have called him Lucas and that was always our plan.

CocoBrynne

I'd leave it alone and if you want to call him Daniel you can.  I went to school with a guy who always went by his MN, it wasn't a big deal.  FWIW tho I think Elijah Daniel is a great name.

KKMMex

scatteredtrees:

As someone whose parents did this to her- and consequently goes by her middle name: don't do it. It totally and completely sucks because documents get screwed up, medical records get screwed up and school records get screwed up. 

 I hate going by my middle name. 

I didn't like going by my middle name as a child either.  I'm Sharon Kay and everyone calls me Kay.  I didn't like having to constantly explain which name I went by to all my teachers or any other authority figure.  

I don't think there's anything wrong with legally changing the order of his names.  Yes, you'll probably have to go to court to do it but in the big scheme of things, I think it's better to do that than to have him deal with going by his middle name his whole life.

MrsAJL

ENI36:

i acutally have no problem just calling him by his middle name and not legally changing it. i just thought it would make it easier on him later in life. dh is still thinking about it. he is ok with his first name but i dont think hes completely opposed to calling him by his middle name.  sorry for the lack of capital letters, still cant figure this out on my phone.

It's not hard at all to be called by your middle name and not your first legal name. two good friends of mine are (not their real names) - Tom David Smith and John Mark Jones. They go by David Smith and Mark Jones respectively. To the best of my knowledge it has never been difficult for them with re: to legal documents or official business where they need their full name.

My sister has gone by a nick name her whole life. She only goes by her legal first name on legal documents and things she's published academically.

ETA: My daughter is legally Margaret Olivia. We have called her Molly since birth. The only person who refers to her as Margaret is the nurse at her doctor's office because that's what's on the intake sheet.

 

lisamoe

Just call him by his middle name?  I'm sure you wouldn't be the first.  Then you don't have to worry about legalities and the hassle/guilt of going through with a name change.

June2007

scatteredtrees:

As someone whose parents did this to her- and consequently goes by her middle name: don't do it. It totally and completely sucks because documents get screwed up, medical records get screwed up and school records get screwed up. 

 I hate going by my middle name. 

Seriously. My DH's mom did this too and I don't understand it at all.   Either flip them (which I dont think would be a huge deal) legally or just stick with Elijah. (which is a great name and worlds better than Daniel IMO but I am the opposite of your naming style so MO doesn't count for much)

CountryMile

I love the name Elijah! That being said I would not change my child's name.  

Mani

I say switch the names if you like. It really is not that hard since especially since he is so young. If no one calls him by the 1st name, I say do it. My cousin is called by his middle name by our family, but when he started school they automatically started calling him his 1st name, and he hates it. Every year his mom has to reexplain to  new teachers that he prefers to be called by his middle name. I personally think that is more of a hassle than changing a toddlers name.

ENI36

Thanks for the replies everyone.  Not sure what we're going to do yet.  I go back and forth on it.  I think DH is really leaning towards just leaving it.  I think I am fine with his name for the most part, I just go through periods of doubt with it.  I am a worrier by nature though so maybe that's why.  Mostly I just want him to like his name but it'll be awhile before we find that out!  Oh and I appreciate the people who responded to say they like his name .