couples

Am I normal? I want to change my baby's name.

I’ve changed my mind about one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever made. Is it way too late?

It took my husband and I forever to pick a baby name. And now, with our beautiful baby girl celebrating her four-month birthday… I really really hate it.

I have always wanted kids. Ever since I can remember. So I have been thinking about baby names for a very, very long time. However, all those years and all those names were thrown out during the 9 months I was pregnant. I wanted something really original. I didn’t want my baby having the same name as everyone in the class. I hated that when I was little.

So it wasn’t until the very end of pregnancy that my husband and I finally decided on a girl’s name and a boy’s name (we didn’t know the gender of our baby). This is probably where we went wrong.

When I took my little baby girl out in those first few weeks, people would bend down and coo at her. Asking what her name was. When I told them, their facial expression made me like her name even less. And more than often, I would have to repeat her original name a few times before they understood it.

At Medicare, the lady behind the counter read the forms I handed in. She checked about six times whether I had spelt my baby's name correctly. That made me like her name even less.

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But the tipping point came when my friend came over for morning tea the other day. She brought her adorable little 4-year-old daughter with her who I had heard, via text messages, was absolutely ecstatic to see my baby.

She bounced in and took one look at my sleeping girl. She asked what her name was and I told her - "Alaia".

She giggled as only 4-year-olds do. And said, "Just like Liar, Liar, your pants are on fire!" And giggled some more.

I didn't giggle. In that moment, I realised that in all my years of picking out the perfect name, I never took into consideration what happens to a name on the playground.

I have to change her name. I don't know anyone who's ever done it, but I've Googled, and people do. I have spoken to my husband and he thinks I am being ridiculous.

But she doesn't look like an Alaia to me. And she is definitely not a liar.

Is it really too late to change her name? I really, really like Kenzie.

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