Name change. Help?

Question

My husband and I have decided on changing one of our childrens' names. Her name was Teagan Lily but we've decided that due to some large issues with the person she was named after (unfixable problems too great to mention here) we wanted to change her name. We decided to change it to Lily Harper. Do you think we were wrong to change her name? She's only a few months old.

xXo

I just want to know if you think we were in the wrong.
Teagan (not my daughter but the lady she was named after) ended up to be really self-centered and irrational. She babysat our children one night and got so drunk she put their lives in danger.
She also did many other things that I will not mention here.
We just didn't want our child named after someone like that.
Also, Lily was my grand and great-grandmother's name.

xXo

Well, we thought she was a good person but it was really all an act.
She's my husband's friend's wife. In the beginning she seemed truly wonderful and inspirational but...ah. Now she's gone too far. She's in rehab for drug use and DUI. I just...ugh.

xXo

Answer 1

Oh Sweetie! What a dilema!

I think that you should definately change her name, and really she is so little that she won't know. Lily is such a pretty and special name anyhow.

I think that Lily Harper is adorable.

Sometimes people aren't who you think they are. It's unfortunate. She might be a great person when she's sober, but you don't want your daughter named after her.

I would change Lily's name and never look back!

Answer 2

I think it was okay if it was an issue with the person she was named after.
BUT, I would have to say I might prefer the old name better. Lily is a lovely name, but I'm not so keen on Harper. Harper sounds very masculine, and to me, Harper reminds me of Canada's terrible prime minister Stephen Harper. Okay, NVM politics. Lily Harper is still nice and although I don't love the name Harper, it works well with Lily.
If you had to change it because of an issue with who she's named after, I think the name change is right. No, I don't think you were wrong to change her name.

---Edit---
Well, I don't think people change from being a good person to a bad one overnight. I think before you and your husband decided on the name, you should have really thought it over. Was Teagan a babysitter or something? Because I dont believe people change overnight, you shouldnt have changed her name like that. I mean Teagan must have been a good person some time, for you two to decide to name a child after her.

Answer 3

I don't think it's wrong at all, especially since she's only a few months old. You shouldn't have to be reminded of this woman every time you say your daughter's name. I would do the same thing if it was me. Also on your choice for the name Harper, and the person who said it sounds more masculine, the first person I thought of was the Pulitzer Prize winning author Harper Lee (who is female) who wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird." I also like Lily better than Teagan.

Answer 4

I completely understand how you feel! While I'm sorry for your friend and hope she can pull it together, it's tough to call out your darling daughter's name and relive all the anxiety you must've felt!

Since a legal name change - even for a little bitsy baby - costs money and requires a court order, you might consider just calling her T. Lily. It's an imperfect solution, but if you're not made of money, it will probably be good enough. (I'm J. Verity. It's irritating, but only when dealing with, say, my bank. Otherwise, it's pretty much honored without question - so much so that people often are surprised when they see my full name on my driver's license.)

My guess is that you call your little one "sweetie" and "honeybunches" and so on - just like we all have uber-cutesy nicknames for our beans. Bean, see - that's one of my mine. ;) Until your kid is two-ish, she doesn't know her name for certain. If she isn't yet saying "I'm Teagan," I think you can change it without harm.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I think you have the right to change your infant's name due to this reason, it would have been a bigger deal to wait until your daughter understood and responded to her given name. But even adopted and foster children have their first names changed without much fuss..all you do is add the wanted name to her given name, call her that and eventually drop the given name completely and only use the name you wish to use....and I really LOVE the name Lily Harper..it's gorgeous and strong :)

Answer 6

I don't think it's wrong at all. She's only a few months old. My first name was changed around that time from Corey to Sarah. My parents also changed my little brother's middle name when he was 4. I don't think it's wrong, she won't remember. You may want to send out new birth announcements though! Hope this helps!

Answer 7

It is definitely not wrong at all. If you feel that way, then the sooner you change it the better.

Otherwise, you will probably always be hounded by the negativity that comes with keeping the original name.

It shouldn't be difficult either. I changed my name last year if you want more info.

Answer 8

I believe it is perfectly alright to change her name based on the circumstances. Your daughter needs a name that both you (her parents) and she can be proud of!

Teagan means 'good-looking' so if you wanted to stay with that meaning (or a similar meaning), perhaps Jennifer, Fiona or McKenzie (which all mean 'fair' or 'fair one') would be an appropriate replacement. Just suggestions though... it is, of course, your decision!

Otherwise, just remember to go with your gut! Good luck with your remnaming!

Answer 9

I think if you do it as soon as possible, it will be fine, make sure you get her birth certificate and everything changed, you want her to really have a name and not to have to write a couple of names down on things. Good Luck!

Answer 10

I feel that if your baby is only a few months old, this is not a serious problem, because won't remember this, and I cannot blame you for not wanting the constant reminder of a person who totally lost your trust.......