I never really found a name I loved for my LO who was born on the 3rd. Her name was a last minute agreement with her father (who really isn’t in the picture a whole lot or supporting her) He basically turned down [name_f]EVERY[/name_f] name I liked and at my wits end I quickly and stupidly suggested “[name_u]Addison[/name_u]” which i knew he liked. (Both names I broke down and agreed to because he was so stubborn on anything I liked)
He basically picked her whole name.
Once we agreed I told him it wasn’t 100% certain and I reserved the right to change it when she was born and I got to see her.
Well, due to complications I wasn’t able to see her till the next day in the NICU at a different hospital. Since I didn’t have an offical name picked, the tenative name I told the nurses before labor was used for everything. I was in so much pain and stress I just went with it. Now she’s 3 weeks old and settled at home. She just doesn’t fit her first name to me. I HATE the nickname [name_f]Addy[/name_f], and that’s what everyone has been calling her. She’s a spunky, curious, quiet, contented baby and I just don’t know what to do about her not fitting her name. I’ve been trying to get people to call her by her full name [name_u]Addison[/name_u], I’ve also been calling her Addley, which I prefer over [name_f]Addy[/name_f]. I even call her by her middle name sometimes, which I would always keep the same. But not use for a first name due to potential pronunciation issues. [name_m]How[/name_m] do I get over this name regret?? There was no specific first name I ever loved but [name_u]Addison[/name_u] just isn’t it for me. Are there any other nick names I could call her? I can’t change her name because I don’t know what to change it to
I’m so sorry that you feel this name regret.
[name_u]Addison[/name_u] isn’t my style either and I think it’s bad form that the hospital didn’t wait till you were recovered from the traumatic birth before naming her. I also think it’s wrong that her absent father chose the name. At the end of the day I do not believe it’s his right to be involved in naming her as he isn’t really involved in raising her. I’m sorry this happened to you. I think [name_f]Addy[/name_f] is a sweet nickname but as you dislike it then I would correct people and say that the nickname is Addley. Soon everyone will start referring to her as Addley. [name_m]Just[/name_m] automatically correct whenever people call her [name_f]Addy[/name_f] it’ll soon be drummed into them.
Other [name_u]Addison[/name_u] nicknames:
[name_u]Sonny[/name_u]
[name_u]Sunny[/name_u]
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_u]Ade[/name_u]
[name_f]Dee[/name_f]
You could use another ‘[name_m]Ad[/name_m]’ name which has a similar sound to [name_u]Addison[/name_u] but isn’t [name_u]Addison[/name_u]. So if you decided to change her name it wouldn’t be so much of a culture shock…
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_u]Aubrey[/name_u]
[name_f]Adelina[/name_f]/[name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_u]Adair[/name_u]
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]/[name_f]Adela[/name_f]
[name_f]Adara[/name_f]
[name_f]Adora[/name_f]
I think the best change could be [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] or [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] they have a similar vibe to [name_u]Addison[/name_u] but aren’t so ‘[name_f]Addie[/name_f]’ focused especially [name_f]Audrey[/name_f]. [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] is so classic and doesn’t have (for you) the dreaded [name_f]Addie[/name_f] nickname.
There are lot people who go by there middle name.You could refer to your daughter by her middle name. Then you wouldn’t have the difficultly of changing her first name, finding a new name, and explaining your decision to others. That’s only if you prefer her middle name. Regarding pronunciation issues I don’t think it should be an issue, corrected once this should be enough.
[name_u]Sonny[/name_u] or [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] is a cute nickname option for [name_u]Addison[/name_u] and completely moves away the whole [name_f]Addie[/name_f] dilemma and feels completely different to [name_u]Addison[/name_u]. Sunny suits spunky content baby for sure.
I hope this has helped good luck x
I kind of felt some name regret at first when we named our son. Bu it quickly dissolved with time. I second [name_u]Sunny[/name_u] as a sweet nickname, or call her by her middle- many people do that.
Of course you can change it. It doesn’t matter what she was called in the hospital or what people are calling her now.
I recommend [name_f]Audrey[/name_f]. It’s as sweet as can be, but also substantial, classic and easy to wear. It also sounds enough like [name_f]Addy[/name_f] that after correcting people for a few weeks they will forget she was ever called [name_f]Addy[/name_f]. If anyone slips up after that they will probably think its their own mistake, lol!
After [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], I think [name_u]Hadley[/name_u] shares an “easy to correct” quality and also has a quiet, sweet prettiness. If [name_u]Hadley[/name_u] isn’t classic enough… you might also consider [name_f]Anna[/name_f] or [name_f]Anne[/name_f], and have people transition into the name by correcting “[name_f]Addy[/name_f]” to “[name_f]Annie[/name_f]” at first.
Good luck, this is going to be easier than you think! 
I guess I never mentioned I named my cat [name_u]Sunny[/name_u]. So that name is pretty much not an option.
I had my heart set on naming her [name_f]Leda[/name_f] or [name_f]Elaina[/name_f]. I don’t think I can just change her name atba whim because the father would have to sign off on it.
It just annoys me that my sweet baby could have had a nice name but got stuck with a trendy surname.
I may end up calling her by her middle, because I do like it. I just didn’t like it as a first name. Oh well.
If you aren’t happy with your name choice I say change it! I had a friend whose parents changed her name at age 1! No one had a problem with it I would take your time and really think about it, you should love your childs name and you have plenty of time to change it when you come up with the perfect one.
Are you SURE he has to sign off on it? If I may ask what is her middle name? There might be more potential nicknames than you might think. For instance [name_u]Addison[/name_u] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] could become the cute and unique AJ.
Change it. I don’t know what the time frame is, but if it’s been just a few weeks you are permitted to change it without a huge deal. It will cost some, I believe around $300, but if you can afford it, it will be well worth it. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if you can’t afford it now, start calling her by a name you love and change it later (more expensive, more effort, but worth it). The father may NOT have to sign off. In PA (that’s the location I see for you) I believe since the mother initially has primary custody, she has all the say, unless and until a court says otherwise.
I like both [name_f]Elaina[/name_f] and [name_f]Leda[/name_f] but I like [name_f]Leda[/name_f] much better as it is not very common. Please don’t get frustrated. Choose what you love, spend time looking on Nameberry and chatting in forums. We are all here because we love names, you’ll get lots of great ideas. Before joining I had about 2 girl names and zero boys names, now my total list of names I really love is at about 30!!
I am so sorry you are dealing with this as such a special time. It doesn’t matter that you WERE bullied in to a name, what matters now is that you make it right. Best wishes and congratulations!
It sounds to me like you got pressured into making a decision that you didn’t feel right about, and that doesn’t seem fair!
I would encourage you to look into the name changing process in your country/state. I’m in [name_m]Ontario[/name_m], and the form states that only the custodial parent needs to sign off on the name change, and furthermore, any parents with access but not custody cannot prevent a name change.
I’m not sure what the best way to broach this subject with the baby’s father would be, but perhaps there’s a suitable compromise? [name_m]Even[/name_m] if not, he may not be able to further pressure you into keeping a name that it seems like you didn’t even really pick in the first place.
Please let us know how everything works out!
edited for privacy
What about [name_f]Ada[/name_f] as a nickname?
Is the father willing to change the name? Can you switch the first and middle names? He could still use [name_u]Addison[/name_u]. Tell him you felt pressured to choose a name you dislike. Both parents should be happy in the end, and you are not.
I encourage you to change her name, so that you do not have a lifetime of regret. It will be worth it to give your daughter a name you will enjoy and be comfortable with. Now is the best time to do it… sooner the better. People will adjust to the name change, and the whole situation will become a faint and faraway memory before you know it. [name_f]Elaina[/name_f] (or [name_f]Elena[/name_f]?) and [name_f]Leda[/name_f] would be wonderful! Go with your heart.