baby name advice

[minerswife]

This is kind of a strange situation. We had our little girl a year ago. It took us a couple of days to name her because nothing really felt right. We settled on a name and decided that when she was blessed we would just let him go with what he felt. I know, Pressure!! But he is our brother and understood. He said he just didn't feel anything so he kept her name for the blessing. Here it is 6 months later and the name still doesn't feel right. Is it possible to change the name after the blessing? Is it worth it? Has anyone went through something like this before? I think I know what we have to do but I worry about getting it wrong.

[Gwen]

so you picked a name... i assume filled out a birth certificate... did the name and blessing with it... and now you want to change it? just trying to make sure i'm following this right. do you know what name you want to change it to? why doesn't it feel right? what feels wrong about it? can i ask what the name is? what you want to change it to?

lol i guess that's not really advise, just a lot of questions.

with our kids there was always a moment after they were born that i went "oh no, this name is all wrong!" and felt panic. however, i must say that in time they all came to fit their name more than i could have ever realized. some of it may just be the insecurities of being a new parent.

as for the church records i think the child is the child the blessing will be what it was, if you make a legal name change the church records will change and it will be no big deal. but that's just a guess i don't really know. lol

[minerswife]

Hi thank you for your reply. That is what happened. Her name is Chaelee, prn Shaylee. Before she was born I had both my mom and my mil seperately tell me I should name her Allison. I was stubborn because I wanted to pick the name but, as time went on I just feel like that is who she is. what she was meant to be called. I can't really explain it. I would change it to Allison Chae to still keep part of the name but it's hard. This is my 4th child and have never had anything like this happen before and here she is a year old. But that's what i'm wondering is how it would work with the church records and stuff.

[susieSA]

I am just a little curious as to why your mom & mil told you you should name your daughter Allison?

I think the name Chaelee is a stunning name.

[minerswife]

It was while I was pregnant and we were going through names and they both came up with the same one without knowing what the other had suggested. I like Chaelee too but it is hard to remember and even harder to spell right. Even my 5yr old son has been calling her shayla lately because he says he forgets.

[Iggy]

It was while I was pregnant and we were going through names and they both came up with the same one without knowing what the other had suggested. I like Chaelee too but it is hard to remember and even harder to spell right. Even my 5yr old son has been calling her shayla lately because he says he forgets.

Most siblings forget the new siblings name. I certainly did with both my little sister (6 years younger than me) and my baby brother (8 years younger than me). Took me two years, approx. for me to remember them.

I was forever asking what her/his name is- so Grandma put a name tag their cribs.

Why don't you fast and then ask Father if this is something He wants you to change. She is YOUR daughter and it remains YOUR and her fathers decision, not the Grands, Aunts, or Uncles decision(s).

By The Way, I like Chaelee.

[minerswife]

You're right, I know we need to fast. But I do feel comfortable about changing it and I would never leave it to someone else to decide for us. I'm just not sure what kind of confusion to expect from changing it I guess.

[Maureen]

I think you should try to remember why you picked Chaelee in the first place. What was it about the name that you liked. If spelling is one of the problems, I'm sure you could legally change how you spell it so it's easier for others to remember and pronounce.

M.

[ryanmercer]

I don't see what the issue is anyway. A name is a name, if the child doesn't like it they can choose something else later in life, you could even call them by something else now it is not uncommon to go by a name that isn't your given name... that is why most applications (for jobs, schools, even on some credit apps) it asks if you go by another name that isn't your legal name.

What's in a name? that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet

[Gwen]

i wouldn't worry to much about the siblings "changing" the name. all mine have different names the kids gave each other. i kinda think it's cute.

i don't think there would be an issue with the church, make the legal name change and then bring the paperwork to the church and the clerk can change the records.

the greater concern for me would be how the other kids would react. ppl are used to calling her one name and to change it might confuse them. what does your husband think about changing it?

[Dr T]

I, for one, really like that name Chaelee

[Soul_Searcher]

People are so different aren't they? I LOVE the name Chaelee, its different, unique and individual. I have always disliked the name Allison lol, it sounds old (sorry to any Alisons here!). I have a unique name with a difficult spelling and it has enriched my life. Its a talking point, people comment on it which somehow makes you feel special. Every time I have to give my name somewhere, 99% of the time I will get, Ooh what a pretty/unusual/different name (Its not THAT unusual but with my surname its a bit different).

I reckon the name Chaelee is fab and relegating her to plain old Allison is cruel . Just my opinion of course.

I wouldn't be taking so much what your Mum and MIL say to heart. Its your baby, not theirs and it is upto you and your husband.

[Guest Alana]

My husbands sister called him 'boy' all while growing up. Also, nothing wrong with having a differently spelled name. My name isn't pronounced how you would expect it to be, and that has provided me positive opportunities.

[minerswife]

My husband is okay with changing it. I grew up with a unique name and I spent most of my life wanting to change it. It wouldn't be so bad but she gets it pronounce everything from ch- like cherry to ch- like kaylee. We have talked to the kids about it and they didn't seem to have a problem with it. They thought it would be fun. I think we're just gonna have to sit on it awhile and decide. Thank you all for posting. I have a lot to think about.

[Heavenguard]

Allison could always become a middle name by which you refer to her - some people do that. Then her name can still by Chaelee, but be familiarly called Allison.

Or you can pull an Indiana Jones and just unofficially adopt the name :)

[Elgama]

Naming at least in my experience involves revelation and with Allison you had 2 witnesses - I think Alison comes from Adelaide which means soft and noble - with my 3 the meaning was important to get right.

Personally I would change it - I am in the UK here it is possible to do, not sure of the legal side in the US

-Charley

[Gwen]

i ordered my grandfather's birth certificate looking for some info. i got back 2 sheets of paper. the first was the original it had all the usual info and the name was listed as "baby boy (insert last name)"... the second was and amendment that was done when he was like 4 yrs old with his name everyone knew him by on it. lol i guess that isn't really relevant just something i remembered.

[Wingnut]

My husband is okay with changing it. I grew up with a unique name and I spent most of my life wanting to change it. It wouldn't be so bad but she gets it pronounce everything from ch- like cherry to ch- like kaylee. We have talked to the kids about it and they didn't seem to have a problem with it. They thought it would be fun. I think we're just gonna have to sit on it awhile and decide. Thank you all for posting. I have a lot to think about.

This is one thing I don't like much about funky spellings. The way you've spelled Chaelee could be very confusing, as opposed to Shaylee, which is more straightforward.

I liked the idea of using Allison as a middle name, but actually calling her that. That way, when she gets older, if she decides she likes the less common Chaelee, she can still go with it.

[minerswife]

Naming at least in my experience involves revelation and with Allison you had 2 witnesses - I think Alison comes from Adelaide which means soft and noble - with my 3 the meaning was important to get right.

Personally I would change it - I am in the UK here it is possible to do, not sure of the legal side in the US

-Charley

thanks, this is kinda the feeling I have been getting.

[talisyn]

lol buyer's remorse is showing through. I think all the names are good. There has been a trend in the past decade for girl's names to go back to tradition after those years of 'creative spellings', hence all the Emmas and Olivias and Jennifers. Allison is a good, solid name.

I have a suggestion though, before doing anything drastic. Go through a whole day calling your baby Chaelee 'Chaelee', as if that is the name she should have. After doing this for one full day do it the next day, then the next for a whole week. You must do this with your whole heart, no little tingles of regret. If after a week it still feels like you have a changeling then by all means change the name to Allison.

IMHO, Chaelee is just plain cool! But then I named my daughter Genie so I'm kind've biased

[Carl62]

Everything in Wingnut's answer is exactly what I would've said. I agreed with both the dislike of spelling changes of names (I've lost count on how many ways I've seen Brittney spelled:rolleyes:) and giving Allison as her middle name and allowing her to use that as her common name if she wants. IMHO, Shaylee even looks better than Chaelee.

Edited July 15, 2009 by Carl62