Anonymous wrote: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?

Why don't you wait until its crystal clear that this is what she wants? Kids come up with a new ideas all the time and then change their minds in an instant.

Changed my name in high school
Not leagally though
Go by my birth name now

I can't believe how many of us went by different names! Nobody else I knew in elementary school did it, so I've been going around all of these years just thinking I was nuts back then.

My brother had a big XMen phase in in 8th grade and wanted everyone to call him Logan. We have a pretty ethnic last name, so the combination was pretty ridiculous. Luckily, the idea didn't last long, but it was fun while it did.

I say let her do it. And if it sticks, at least it's her middle name, which you had a hand in choosing.

I wanted to be Jeanne (with an e on the end) or Agrippina (no, I have no idea why Agrippina). I was quite convinced those would be names I'd want to be called forever and ever. I was 6. By 7 I was back to being quite happy with my own name. In most cases, that sort of thing will pass. I'd say let her call herself by her middle name and most likely she'll move on soon enough.

I desperately wanted to change my name to Roberta when I was in fourth grade. Roberta. *shudder*

I wanted to change my name to Tiffany as a kid. I'm really glad it's not an easy thing to do. Blechhh.

Anonymous wrote:

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."'

This is how I feel about kids thinking they want to change genders.

Two of my friends changed the spelling of their names in 3rd grade.

I went by Portia for two weeks in 3rd. Couldn't pull it off. Back to Ashley.

Don't do anything legal or permanent as she'll most likely change back.

It's no big deal.

Anonymous wrote: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.

HAHA! I was going to post about how when I was four I spent at least a year demanding to be called Buttercup.

OP, FWIW, I spent probably the majority of my childhood wanting to change my name. First it was Buttercup, then for probably a year or two it was Julie (the neighbor's dog's name and my favorite stuffed animal's name), then once I was tweenage I wanted to go by various pronunciations of my own middle name and/or different spellings for my first name. My mom started going by her middle name in high school so maybe that's where I got the idea, who knows. At any rate, my parents said if I still wanted to change my name when I was old enough to legally do so, I could. Of course, I never did, although I continued to play with the pronunciation of my middle name up into my 20s.

If my daughter wants to change her name when she's a kid (she's only an infant now), I'm pretty sure I would tell her she has a beautiful, symbolically important name that we chose very carefully and purposefully, and if she wants to change it when she can legally do so that is her business. But for now, her name is her name and maybe we can talk about nicknames if it's that important.

I lobbied to be called Petunia the summer before 4th grade. The only person who was agreeable to this was one aunt on my fathers side. Never forget her birthday or a holiday call to her and she's 93. Coincidence? No

My mom/dad/sister/brother call me by my middle name.
Everyone else (husband/in-laws) call me by my first name.
No big deal

And in your case that IS one of her legal names, right?

So shouldn't be a prob.