Changing names at 39 weeks

Christina_Diane

We decided to change LO's name last night. We knew our choice was popular, but had no idea HOW popular it was until we were looking at it last night. Just last night we learned that it's been the number 1 boy name since 1999 (from the SSN website). The popularity didn't bother me before, but it bothers me now. And, it bothers MH, so that isn't okay. I'm totally fine with changing his name, and I even like our new choice.

However, the only problem is that LO has been a Jacob since 18 weeks. I feel like I've bonded with him as Jacob and Jake for so long now that it seems weird to change it. 

Anyone else ever do something similar? 

alliejo725

Eh, if I felt "bonded" to my child with a certain name, I would be really reluctant to change it.

What's the new name?

anna7602

I have had the same boy name picked out for going on 12 years. I have a daughter, I am not pregnant, and I've already "bonded" with my phantom son named Santiago. Even if I suddenly moved to the epicenter of Santiago popularity (any of quite a few cities in Spanish-speaking countries), I would not give up this name.

I say go with your gut on this one. If your son feels like he's Jacob, don't change it. If you have heard Jacob so much it sounds like someone else's son, then by all means, move on.

SarahPLiz

anna7602:

I have had the same boy name picked out for going on 12 years. I have a daughter, I am not pregnant, and I've already "bonded" with my phantom son named Santiago. Even if I suddenly moved to the epicenter of Santiago popularity (any of quite a few cities in Spanish-speaking countries), I would not give up this name.

I say go with your gut on this one. If your son feels like he's Jacob, don't change it. If you have heard Jacob so much it sounds like someone else's son, then by all means, move on.

This. Popular =/= bad. The reason it has been popular since 1999 is that it is a good, solid name. Not trendy. Just plain good. I say use it.  

HannahO28

I don't think I could bring myself to change my names at this point. They just feel right for this baby... (and I'm team green, so one of them definitely ISN'T the baby!).

Jacob is a classic--not the kind of name that people get sick of after they meet a bunch of them. I say keep it.

BrideBuddies

Don't change it! 

It's a perfectly fine name.  Yes, it's really popular and there will likely be a few other Jacobs in his class.  Is that so terrible?  Not really. 

There's a reason people have popular names.. they're good names.

 

APendola

Don't let the popularity change your mind if your son feels like a Jacob.

Jacob is not a trendy name, it's a classic! 

Christina_Diane

alliejo725:

Eh, if I felt "bonded" to my child with a certain name, I would be really reluctant to change it.

What's the new name?

The potential new name is Owen. It is/was our choice for a middle name. I really like that name too. Uuuugh. 

Perhaps it will be a wait and see thing once we finally get to see what he looks like.  

 

brookelynpaisley

Even though it's the #1 most popular name, I know of exactly ZERO baby Jacobs. Or any under the age of 17, for that matter. It's a classic name. I wouldn't change it.

DarlahMP

I only know one Jacob right now and it's a middle name...I know 3 Owens....So don't use that if you are trying to avoid popular!

queenbone

brookelynpaisley:

Even though it's the #1 most popular name, I know of exactly ZERO baby Jacobs.

This, and I know a ton of kids. I agree with Anna that if you are hearing it so much on other people then maybe I'd think of changing it, but would be reluctant to do it if I felt like he already was Jacob. 

Better to have a popular name than to have name regret later.  Would you be pissed at yourself if you picked another name and when he starts school there are no other Jacobs in his class?

FrecklesInside

Christina_Diane:

alliejo725:

Eh, if I felt "bonded" to my child with a certain name, I would be really reluctant to change it.

What's the new name?

The potential new name is Owen. It is/was our choice for a middle name. I really like that name too. Uuuugh. 

Perhaps it will be a wait and see thing once we finally get to see what he looks like.  

 

I'd go with the wait and see... I agree with pps - if you bonded with the baby under that name, use it... if you feel it is his name, you shouldn't let popularity persuade you. If it REALLY does bother you, then wait and see if Owen works out...

LargeMargeSentMe

For whatever it's worth, I have taught first grade for 7 years now and have only taught 1 Jacob.  I'm surprised it's number 1.

Schnebs

My husband's middle name is Jacob and he is all for naming phantom son that one day.  He doesn't care if it is #1 on the charts (and personally I'm surprised it still is), I actually don't think that I have ever met one now that I think really hard on it.  Owens are ridiculously popular right now though, so if popular is something you want to avoid, try again.  I say stick with Jacob.  It is a classic, solid, strong name.

evaazalea

I would totally keep the name. Owen is very popular as well and you just know you'll be kicking yourself if you change it and then start hearing Owen everywhere you go.

irish city girl

Christina_Diane:

alliejo725:

Eh, if I felt "bonded" to my child with a certain name, I would be really reluctant to change it.

What's the new name?

The potential new name is Owen. It is/was our choice for a middle name. I really like that name too. Uuuugh. 

Perhaps it will be a wait and see thing once we finally get to see what he looks like.  

 

Owen is very popular right now too.  And it's much more trendy than Jacob.  I would stick with Jacob.  It's a timeless classic.  Owen will forever be tied to this era. 

ta78

I wouldn't change the name you love and have grown attached to based on popularity. Maybe he'll go to school with another Jacob, but really it could happen with any name you choose. Plus, keep in mind that even though it has been #1 for 10 years, the number of babies with the name has dropped about 40% and continues to drop. There are just so many more names out there.

zaramarie81

If it makes you feel better, wait until you're holding the baby to finalize. But I agree with pp's: Owen is super popular right now (I know several little Owens). I realize Jacob is popular too, but like others, I know only 1 little Jacob and one teenaged Jake.

Will you regret it if you switch to Owen and suddenly he shares his name with classmates and never meets another Jacob? It's really hard to predict these kinds of things (and Owen really does say 2010-2012 to me right now given it's sudden spike whereas Jacob does feel more classic to me due to it's stability in the ranks).

Good luck - fwiw, I really like the name Jacob!

brideandbreve

SarahPLiz:

anna7602:

I have had the same boy name picked out for going on 12 years. I have a daughter, I am not pregnant, and I've already "bonded" with my phantom son named Santiago. Even if I suddenly moved to the epicenter of Santiago popularity (any of quite a few cities in Spanish-speaking countries), I would not give up this name.

I say go with your gut on this one. If your son feels like he's Jacob, don't change it. If you have heard Jacob so much it sounds like someone else's son, then by all means, move on.

This. Popular =/= bad. The reason it has been popular since 1999 is that it is a good, solid name. Not trendy. Just plain good. I say use it.  

Agree wholeheartedly.

emikat

brookelynpaisley:

Even though it's the #1 most popular name, I know of exactly ZERO baby Jacobs. Or any under the age of 17, for that matter. It's a classic name. I wouldn't change it.

 

This.  And I know several Owens.  I say go for Jacob.  

KatieLG04

I agree, I know several little Owen's and the only "Jake" I know is my almost 18 year old cousin.