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I can understand second-guessing your name choice, but to change it four years later? Talk about identity crisis!

This is just sad. I knew a family growing up who named their son Bubba. Yes, you read that right. Four years later they legally changed his name to Skyler. While I would never saddle a child with the name Bubba, I could not even begin to think about changing their entire identity during such formative years.

Our daughter's name is Lila -- a name we liked as much for the sound as the low rate of use. Now I understand that it's suddenly in the top 100s. Oh well. It happens. I'm surely not going to change her name to avoid a popularity trend.

I've known people who changed their child's name. He was named for a family member, and then they had a serious falling out with that family member, so they changed his name. Awkward! Fortunately, the baby was under a year old when it happened, so he didn't care.

My opinion on names in general? I think people really overthink this issue. Obviously, names are important, but I've seen people -- and entire extended families -- get so tied up in knots over this issue, it's ridiculous. So many people are obsessed with being "original" or with being trendy or with names that sound status-y. Just find a nice name that's relatively easy to say and spell and that will age well, settle on it, and don't think about it any more. Don't solicit other people's opinions, and don't listen to anyone's unsolicited two cents. (Should one care that much about the judgment of someone who's so rude that they'll offer up a negative unsolicited opinion?)

In my opinion, people grow into their names. A three-day-old baby may not "look" like an Arlo, but trust me, by the time that kid is three years old, he'll BE Arlo.

interesting topic on here. I don't have kids of my own yet, but i have discussed names with my wife for future use.

once thin i'm wondering, so from that point on, as they get older do they always have to check that box that says have you been known as any other name etc. just seems like a big hassle. do you tell the kid eventually, or just keep it a secret.

for the one that got changed at 4 years old. that's is completely ridiculous. by that time they know there name, they have friends that know their name, other parents, possibly a day care teacher. and then you have to tell them all that the kid's name is something different. so stupid.

most names are going to be popular at one point, unless you pick something really obscure (and then i feel sorry for that child in the future as well) it's going to happen. My name was really popular when i was born, never really cared as a child, and now as an adult i don't care either.

it seems more to be about the parents then about the child. like who cares if you have the same name as someone else... sorry for such a rant

First off, you can check the popularity of names every year on the Social Security website. So if you are really concerned about that, plan ahead. Sheesh. You do have a solid 9 months to decide after all.

I agree that it seems to be more about the parent's insecurites than anything else. Four years old?

Therapy.

I am cracking up that the change was from ever so popular Sophie to almost as popular Isadora! Isabelle/a is more popular, but Isadora is sweeping up behind it. Maybe in 4 more years they can make a radical move and change it to Madison.

I agree with Snot and Doppelganger really.

jmorey - Did you know that 'Saint' Angelina changed the name of her Vietnamese adoptee, and I'm sure he was about four too. That sprung to mind when I was contemplating the name change thing. I honestly believe it's nothing short of self-absorbtion to change your child's name at a stage in their life where they understand their identity as being linked to their name.

I agree with everyone. I don't understand changing a child's name because it is popular. At least the parents could have started calling the child by the middle name.

My husband and I found it hard to agree on a name since there were so many names with which we had a neg. association. When we finally found a name, I am not sure we would have cared much if it was popular.

We have a Cooper and a Hudson, both boys.
We thought long and hard about those names, and I think they will grow well with the boys, and not be too trendy.

It's rediculous to change someones name that isn't your own.
I think I'll call up my sister and tell her I'm changing her name from Dianna to Stella.

I agree. Changing a name because there are too many Madison's on your block is just plain silly.
Like others here, if I found myself terribly bothered by it... I would switch to the middle name or start with initals.

I knew a girl in college who went by M.E. - pronounced Emmie - her given name was Mary Ellen. I suppose Mary Ellen didn't suit her -- but I thought M.E. was SO cute!

Want a horror story?
My mother (now 70) was named MaDonna Darlene. But her sisters/ family all called her Donnalene... which she grew up believing was her name - and she wasn't crazy about it. Then when she was in the 4th grade - somehow she learned that Donnalene was not her given name - threw a fit - didn't like the name MaDonna either (and this was YEARS before the pop star came on the scene!!) and has been known as Donna for the rest of her life.

We wanted a name for our daughter that was an established name but a little different too, something that wasn't overly popular but that everyone has heard of and something that only has one spelling. We chose Genevieve. By day two we realised that very few people know how to spell it, some people have never heard of it and some people think its a bit tame. My reward for getting so caught up in trivial details! Go with a name you like at the time, say it aloud to make sure it doesn't sound obscene when paired with your surname and then ignore all comments and move on!

What a pretty name you chose, Miss_Shwee ;)

I'm assuming you know it means Noble woman, or Fair-skinned woman... but did you know both mean the same? Since it originated in the Middle Age, fair-skinned people were people who could afford not to work in the fields, which meant they were of higher status. Oh well. Here, in Quebec, it's quite common, though. Quite common as in having 3 fellow Genevieves in my classes when growing up...

I knew a little boy who was named Ludwig. He didn't like his name so when he was seven his mom told him he could pick a new one. He chose Kole, which I thought was so cool for a little kid to pick. He had crazy black hair and it suited him to a T.

I think kids should be allowed to experiment with their identities; it's such a powerful thing to give them some control over how they are perceived and how they see themselves.

As for changing your kids name when they are older - make sure you consult them. Otherwise you are just being disrespectful. Kids aren't possessions! They are just little PEOPLE.

When my mother adopted my 2 nephews she gave them the option to change their first name along with their last name. They were a bit older (6 and 8 I think). The younger chose to keep his first name, the older legally changed his to his nickname. I thought it was pretty cool of her to give them the opportunity since they were going through the process anyway.

My aunt also gave her adopted son the option of changing his name and he did, from Marshall to Wayne. It was part of shedding his old life which was quite harrowing, he was nine when adopted.
I also had anothe friend named Eon whose best friend in grade school was named Ian so Eon chose to go by his middle name Ben and he has been known as such ever since.
I think the key piece is the child's ability to choose.
I also think people do get too hung up considering you never what kind of nickname a person could end up with and they're never even called by their legal name!

Ha ha Thanks "Genevieve with a Smile" ;) In Australia it is not a common name but we never met a Genevieve we didn't like and that's why we chose it...maybe we should move to Canada, must be a nice place to live with so many Genevieve's!?

I understand wanting a rare name. It was very unusual to meet another Olivia when I was growing up but within the last five years the name has become uberpopular. Now, it seems a majority of expecting couples I know - everyone from friends to aquaintances, indeed my dentist waxed rhapsodic about the name during my last cleaning - tell me they are considering Olivia. It is nice that they like the name, but part of me misses the days when my name was a little less common.

I am an Elizabeth always known as Liz, my husband is a Joel, both common biblical names in the states, however we were lucky enough to know few others with our names. I really wanted to give my sons great names that mean something to them and are unusual but endearing and fitting. Our first is named Grey Michael and loves his name, and our second is Wilde Nyal (he is 3 months). These names are perfect and we will never change them.

Other little kids have come over and asked to play with Brown and a cousin once called to see how Red was, so really any color will do for Grey, and Wilde's name has caused a lot of teasing but we got an awesome Oscar Wilde action figure for Christmas.

I think we will always treasure and adore both our boys and their names!