Name Regrets?

[Anonymous]

10 years ago I named my son Jacob. I had loved the name for many years before that and was dead set that it was my favorite boy name.

Now I feel like it was trendy and that it’s too common.

Nothing I can do. Luckily, he seems happy with it.

Anyone else on this boat? Anyone feeling generous enough to me me feel better?

[Anonymous]

I named my 3rd a variation of her great-grandmothers’ names. It’s cute but I wish I’d gone more unique. The name I liked before would’ve fit her perfectly now that she’s 5 and I know her personality.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine regretting a name after ten years. At that point, it doesn't matter how many other kids have that same name, it's deeply associated with my kid. The only people I know who regret the name they gave their kid were pressured not to use a name they loved, or who talked themselves out of it based on something like "it was too popular," or "a neighbor used the same name," or some concern about people using a nickname they didn't like, and wished that they had just used the name they liked.

[Anonymous]

I actually kind of regretted making my daughter Summer, but then a bunch of people on this forum told me they liked it, and now I am back to liking it. I know it’s silly but they were very persuasive.

And, for what it’s worth, I like the name Jacob (and I love the name Jake).

[Anonymous]

Jacob is a great name and all classic names go through upswings. You were dead set on that name for good reason, because it's a good name! Nothing wrong with that at all.

[Anonymous]

I named my son a Henry and regret it. I wish I’d named gin something more cool. It doesn’t really suit him.

[Anonymous]

My kids are named very classic, common (and many would say "boring") biblical names--think Thomas, Michael, etc.

Sometimes I wish I had picked something a little less common. I love Reuben and Abraham now.

[Anonymous]

I went through a phase of regretting my DD's name because I was worried it had become too popular (don't want to share it because I don't want it to become even more popular!). It's not a top 20 name or anything's it's a lot more popular than it was when we picked it and I was worried we'd stumbled into a trend by accident.

But two things helped change my mind. The first is that it is 100% a perfect name for her. I can think of a few names that are less popular that would also suit her, but they are very similar to her actual name in many ways. I think we had good instincts when we were choosing a name and the degree to which it matches her personality is wonderful. I can also see how she embodies this name for other people.

The second is that she loves her name A LOT. She loves her full name and her nickname. She loves writing it. She loves seeing it. She loves her first initial (it's her favorite letter). I think my worry about her having a too trendy name came from the fact that so many women I know who have common names resent it, and I didn't want to do that to her. But she loves her name, and it's not like it's ubiquitous (again, not top 20) so it's not like she will always be one of several in school (thought she may occasionally be one of two). So that helped me relax, too, because as long as she likes it, who cares? It's her name, and that's really the most important thing.

OP, does your Jacob like his name? Does it suit him? If yes, trust your gut. You knew what you were doing. It wasn't about trends, it was about your kid. You gave him a good name (I like it, by the way, and don't think it's too trendy at all -- it's a classic).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I named my son a Henry and regret it. I wish I’d named gin something more cool. It doesn’t really suit him.

Henry is one of my favorite nsmes. It's not very common now now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I named my son a Henry and regret it. I wish I’d named gin something more cool. It doesn’t really suit him.

Henry is one of my favorite nsmes. It's not very common now now.

Hank or Harry as nn. It’s “cool.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I named my son a Henry and regret it. I wish I’d named gin something more cool. It doesn’t really suit him.

Henry is one of my favorite nsmes. It's not very common now now.

Uhhh, Henry has been a top 5 baby name in DC for the last five years. It's insanely common right now.

[Anonymous]

I named my son Miles and feel like it doesn't suit him. Plus it wasn't trendy when I picked it (maybe 150 on the popularity list?), but now I feel like there are a ton of them.

[Anonymous]

My DD has a very uncommon name. We have met others with a similar name, but her spelling is very different than most. She is 14, and when she was younger most people (think Dr offices and soccer coaches) would mispronounce it. Now more and more people pronounce it correctly. It makes me smile


She used to complain that she wanted her name to be (list of most popular 2010 names) like her friends. But recently she says she is really glad I did not. "It seems there are 3 or 4 girls in my class or on my team with all of those names!"

In the first 4-5 years, I had started to regret it, and resent my husband who told family the name before I was comfortable with it. They bought monogrammed items and I was not strong enough to change it at the last minute.

We got lucky. When she was 5 or 6 we realized that she was going to be special enough that she needs a special name. Her personality is perfect for it too. If she was like I was as a little girl, I would still be regretting it. But She will advocate for herself and correct a teacher or coach when they mispronounce it, and is confident enough to laugh it off if they still mess it up.


Just last week I said, when she grows up and is VP or someone important one day, someone is going to say "I wonder if that is the same *Kamala* I grew up with" and they will know it is. Her name is so unique. There is only one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I named my son Miles and feel like it doesn't suit him. Plus it wasn't trendy when I picked it (maybe 150 on the popularity list?), but now I feel like there are a ton of them.

I love rhe name Miles.

[Anonymous]

I had identical twins, and didn't realize until after they were officially named that their nicknames rhyme. I'm not sure how we missed something so obvious. They're teens now, and they've luckily never gone by their rhyming nicknames.