3rd grade DD wants to change her name

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old DD told me yesterday that she thinks she would like to go by her middle name instead of her first name. I am fine with her going by whatever she is comfortable with (within reason) and so is her dad. Has anyone else experienced changing the name that their child goes by at this late of an age, and if so, what kinds of difficulties did it present? We would probably wait a while to make sure that she really wants to make the change, but since it wouldn't be any sort of legal or official change, what ramifications could this have that I might not be considering?

[Anonymous]

There was a kid in my son's 2nd grade class who changed his name to Leaf for awhile. But he changed it back. Didn't seem to cause any trouble, really.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest waiting until a month before the end of this school year, and asking your child's current teacher to put this request on her "pink card" (a card that gives pertinent information about students for the next year's teacher). Then mention it to the fourth grade teacher at or before open house. It's much easier to start a new school year with a "new" name than to change it midyear.

[Anonymous]

I did this for a while in 5th grade, and was sorry. I think it's okay to let your child experiment.

[Anonymous]

A family friend used her middle name for a few years in elementary school, then returned to her first name. No issues.

[Anonymous]

I have a niece and a cousin who did this - one changed her name to something very similar to her birth name and the other changed her entire name. Both ended up doing legal name changes at age 14.

[Anonymous]

I knew a little girl about the time Princess Bride came out who told her parents she wanted to change her name to Buttercup. Her parents told her to live with that name for a few years and then they'd consider it if it was still what she wanted. They called her Buttercup and asked that her teachers, relatives and friends did the same. I was a few years ahead of her in elementary school and don't think I ever knew what her real name was - we all called her Buttercup.

[Anonymous]

Almost all my friends did this in elementary school. I was the non-creative kid who couldn't come up with a different name, but it was kind of a fun experiment in individuality. They all changed back after a year or two, I can only remember some of their alternate names. No big deal, let her do it if she wants.

[Anonymous]

I teach high school. Many of my students go by names other than their legal names. I assume they will change it legally when they are adults.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a fan of children having this type of control. My thoughts are the day you turn 18 you can.

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine had a young daughter that wanted to be called Delilah. So we all called her Delilah. It's a phase. No harm.

[Anonymous]

My son goes by his third name, which is on his birth certificate. So he receives official mail with his first name, and I try to enroll him in activities with his preferred name, to avoid what happened yesterday, which was that he politely told his gym teacher that he preferred being called by X name.

Absolutely no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and he's 9.

[Anonymous]

Not a big deal but over the course of her life she will need to list on forms other names by which she has ever been known and she'll have to include:

Middle Name Last Name

First Name Middle Name Last Name

First Name Last Name

No biggie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a fan of children having this type of control. My thoughts are the day you turn 18 you can.

I said the same thing about a clit piercing. But going by her middle name? That's an easy "sure."'