People change their names for a variety of reasons. But what happens when the person who wants to change their name is your son, and he’s only six years old?
One couple has turned to Reddit for advice, saying their young son put in a rather bizarre request to have his name changed as a birthday present.
They explained the situation using false names to protect the boy’s identity – but they do say that his first name “is the name of a piece of a piece of furniture”.
“My husband and I adopted our son about 3.5 years ago. He had a rather unusual name but we decided to keep it. We researched a lot and although the name seemed awfully silly, it felt wrong to take his name from him,” the woman – who calls herself namechangename on the site – wrote.
“For the sake of the question, I will use the first name Table. His full name was Table Michael Harrison. My husband and I gave our son both of our last names and made Michael and Harrison both his middle names. Therefore, his name became Table Michael Harrison Smith-Jones.”
Top Comments
I had a bad combination of names as a child. I was adopted at the age of 9, I hassled my parents to change my name and they wouldn't let me, then when they adopted me I was left with a ridiculous surname that the gave the bullies more ammunition to hassle me and make my life even more hell like. But because my parents didn't care they refused to accept that I desperately wanted a name that couldn't be used against me. I still to this day wish that I had been given that opportunity to reshape and explore a different world under a different moniker. I am still very sensitive about my name and refuse to answer if someone shortens it. If children are given a name that is so out there that they are constantly being harassed by other kids, parents need to take note and be so much more sensitive to their needs, children aren't furniture, though Michael Jackson thought one of his children was a blanket.
David Bowie's is a prime example, he and his wife in the 70's called their first and only son Zowie Bowie, because of the issues around his name, his son said he wanted at quite a young age to be named plain David Jones, and that is what Bowie did.
I think your son is making the right decision, lets face it none of us need to be hassled by something that's easy to fix.
All the best xx