Almost 1 in 10 moms regret the name they chose for their babies

Picking a name is one of the biggest and earliest decisions you make for your baby. It can also feel incredibly daunting. The possibilities are endless, and it's hard to know whether a name fits before your baby even arrives. In many cases, you're not just picking a name that you like, but one your partner likes as well, and agreeing on a name can be a delicate negotiation. After settling on the name Cleo with her husband, one BabyCenter mom shares that she is going through "major regret." 

"Every time someone calls her by her name I can't help but cringe," she writes. "I just want to cry because I don't know what to do."

She's not alone: According to a new BabyCenter survey of more than 450 parents, nearly 1 in 10 moms wish they chose a different name for their child. 

A surprising number of moms regret the baby name they chose

Roughly 9% of moms say they have experienced "name regret," and while every parent's situation is different, there are some reasons why they might feel this way. 

I tried calling him MJ for several months after he was born. It just doesn't fit him.

- BabyCenter Community member PickleP23

A large share of moms (20%) say they've grown to prefer their child's nickname, whether it's a shorter version of their legal name or a different name altogether. Middle names are a frequent alternative, with 15% of moms saying they prefer their child's middle name. 

Another 15% of moms say they've had someone outright critique or mock the name they chose. As one mom explains, "I named my son Kyan (rhymes with Ryan), but every time I introduce him, most people say, 'Like cayenne pepper?'" 

Approximately 10% of moms say their child's personality simply doesn't match the name they picked. 

"When I was pregnant with my son, we called him MJ," one mom recalls. "I tried calling him MJ for several months after he was born. It just doesn't fit him. I eventually started calling him Maverick Dean (Dean is his dad's middle name) and to us, it fits him better. He is now 3 years old and we have yet to legally change it. But we have plans to." 

There are also instances where a parent might like, or even love, the name they chose for their baby, but they feel a different name would be easier. About 1 in 10 moms (11%) report they chose a culturally-specific name for their child, but ultimately use an English name more often in their day-to-day-life.

"My husband and I have seven children, [and] four of them have names that are more obviously Hispanic than the other three," shares one mom. "I don’t regret their names, but I do wish that they were a little more familiar."

A little more than 1 in 20 moms (6%) have gone as far as to legally change their baby's first or last name, according to BabyCenter’s survey. 

Name regret typically sets in within a year

If you're pregnant and nervous about choosing your baby's name, know that your "risk" for name regret subsides over time. About 15% of moms who experienced name regret developed their feelings within a month of giving birth, while 21% felt regret during the first year. After that, name regret appears to drop significantly: only 6% of moms say they first developed those feelings after their child's first birthday. 

If you do start to feel regret, and you're intent on getting a legal name change, then it's best to do it "sooner than later," one mom advises. The name-changing process varies from state to state, but in most cases it will require filing with your local court and submitting forms to agencies like the Social Security Administration that supply and track your child's documentation. This is often easier (and potentially cheaper) if you make the change shortly after giving birth. Babies also start to learn their names when they're about 6- or 7-months-old. 

Name regret isn't anything to be ashamed of. Many BabyCenter moms note that giving their child a nickname – or even legally changing their name – has helped them feel more connected to their little one. 

Name regret also isn't always permanent. As one BabyCenter mom explains, "I have felt [name regret] for each of my three children, but eventually I [began to] feel like their name suits them, and I'm back to enjoying it." 

Methodology 

The Talk to Moms Monthly Poll was conducted by BabyCenter between July 26 and August 6, 2024. We surveyed 478 respondents ages 18 to 44 who are currently pregnant or have children up to 5 years old. The survey was fielded among the Dynata Research Panel.