We named our daughter [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] in 2009. At that time it was #7 in popularity so we knew it was popular. [name_m]Both[/name_m] my husband and I felt comfortable using a common name because we liked it. Unfortunately it has surged in popularity so much that I now feel embarrassed to introduce my daughter as the second or third [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] at the library, swim class, or even a small backyard barbecue. I find that I don’t use her name in public. I call her sweetie or honey instead. There are many names in the top 10 you hear with frequency but this is to the point where there is always confusion wherever we go.
[name_f]My[/name_f] husband feels open to changing her name though he would rather not. The grandparents/extended family is not going to like it. I figure since she hasn’t started school this is our last chance to make a change but feeling a lot of resistance even though I think it will be better for her on the long run. Thoughts? Advice?
I’m not sure, I feel she is a little old to change it… however my sister switched her first and middle name around before high school (at around 11) and is happy she did and everyone accepted although some people found it strange… [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like her middle name enough to use it instead? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have a particular name in mind?
I think 4 is a bit too old to change her name. What does she think of her name?
What about using a less common nickname for [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]? I think there would be more options than you might expect. [name_f]Sosie[/name_f], [name_f]Fia[/name_f], [name_f]Pia[/name_f], Sia, [name_f]Sonya[/name_f]?
She’s four years old and she knows her name. Let her keep what is already familiar. I don’t think parents should be changing children’s names after the age of one.
What is her middle name? Could you just call her that instead?
Honestly, I do think it’s too late. She already knows her name and answers to it. It’s already a part of her identity. She is too young to understand why you want to change her name and it most likely would really confuse her. Try thinking of a different nickname or calling her by her middle name.
[name_f]My[/name_f] sister changed her baby’s name, but if I remember correctly he wasn’t even one yet and she actually went for a longer version of his name. He still goes by his original given name 99% of the time – so not quite the same, but!
An idea is to go for a longer variation that you can ease her into so that she doesn’t wind up very confused, or simply have it as her full name to give YOU peace of mind since that seems to be the issue. Even if she goes by Sophia, you can always follow it with “short for ____”. I can think of [name_f]Sophronia[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]/a being two options.
Though I think it might be more awkward and embarrassing to have people find out that you changed her name because it was too popular.
Otherwise I really love the idea of having her go by her middle name or by a nickname.
Definitely don’t change it. It’s completely unfair to your daughter to change her name now. I hate to be harsh, but if you dislike the popularity, perhaps you would have thought it through first before you named her? If the name’s obviously going up, and popularity bothers you this much, you should have researched into it a lot more and considered that. I’m sorry if this sounds nasty, but you’re being very silly imo.
To me, four years old is WAAAY too old to change a child’s name. I am against changing names, period. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t let the popularity of [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] turn you off. It is a beautiful name. 
It would be fine. Find a name that you like, or maybe a few. Present them to her and let her decide.
When I was 9 a friend of mine was taken by the state, along with all of her siblings. Their new parents changed ALL of their names, but let them choose off their list. [name_f]My[/name_f] friend was actually extremely excited!! I think their ages was between 9 and 1ish.
The family would get used to it, I’d say do it if it bothers you that much. BUT, don’t do it if you aren’t 100% sure. And don’t do anything legal until you’ve been using it for a year. I was going to change my name (because I absolutely hate it) but I still haven’t found anything I can see myself as, so I havent.
Ask your daughter. She’s old enough to know whether or not she likes her name. Does she mind sharing her name with other girls? Does she think it’s pretty? Is she proud of her name? In my opinion, it’s too late to change her name unless [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] wants another name.
I think it’s too late to change her name as it will cause confusion for her. For the record, I’m a [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f]. Growing up there were at least 2 of us in everyone of my classes (my best friend in high school was a [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] too!), and it didn’t seem like a big deal to me to have such a common name.
I’m also wondering why you were OK with a #7 popularity name, but now it’s “too popular”? #7 to #1 isn’t that big of a jump. If it went from a top 50 name to #1, I might see your point a little more, but a top 10 name is going to be popular among other children your daughter’s age no matter what.
Really, your friends and family are probably the biggest obstacle. I have had friends that had their first or last names changed during elementary, middle and high school for various reasons (usually going to live with a different parent). It wasn’t a big deal to them, but to some people it is taboo. [name_f]Daphne[/name_f], [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] are similar to [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] in sound.
I think its a bit late to change it. If she was still a baby, that would be one thing…but your own daughter knows her name and is used to it. I don’t know if would be very fair to suddenly start calling her something else. And even all of your family is used to calling her [name_f]Sophia[/name_f].
You could always use a nickname when your out.
Plus, keep in mind that popularity ususally varies place to place. So even though there might be a lot of [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]'s wearing you live now, that might not always be the case. You could always end up moving (or some of them might move).
It’s too late. I can’t imagine it’s really that much more noticeably popular now than it was 4 years ago: i bet if you look at the numbers, it’s not actually that big of a difference, you just hear it more now because when someone says “[name_f]Sophia[/name_f]” you automatically look around for your kid.
It’s a beautiful name, absolutely nothing wrong with it - it’s not like you gave her something really messed up because you were part of a cult or a junkie who wasn’t all there when you named her. You picked this because you like it. There’s no shame in having a common name! People on this site need to get that through their heads.
She’s too old, she’s been answering to this name for a long time, and it’s unfair to mess with her identity because you feel unoriginal. It’s too late. Try to remember why you loved it enough to use it to begin with.
I think it is too late to change her name, but not too late to start calling her by her middle name. [I’m going to use [name_f]Grace[/name_f] here as an example.] I’m sure you sometimes call her [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]-[name_f]Grace[/name_f]. [name_m]Just[/name_m] start calling her [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]-[name_f]Grace[/name_f] all the time for a few weeks. Then slowly change it to [name_f]Grace[/name_f]-[name_f]Sophia[/name_f], and eventually drop off the [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]. Introduce her to people this way, and she will get it. I know plenty of people who go by their middle name, and it’s not a big deal!
I do think it is too late to change the name. Your child may feel you aren’t happy with them, not just the name. In general people have a strong tie to their name, that is why calling some “names” is so hurtful. I know it isn’t exactly the same thing, but I do believe a name change at this age can have a detrimental outcome. [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] is beautiful name, that everyone decided was perfect for their precious daughter. So you daughter has a name that isn’t as unique as you would like, make sure your daughter knows that you think she is perfectly wonderful and unique, because she is, regardless of how popular her name may be.
I don’t necessarily think it’s too late to change her name… But it depends on a lot of things.
[name_f]My[/name_f] ex was adopted at age 9 and his adoptive parents made him and his siblings change their names. They got to help in the selection of a new name, which I think is a must for any child that can comprehend what is going on. (a 4 year old definitely can).
I have serious name regret over my son’s name, [name_m]Donovon[/name_m]. the spelling, is #1, his fathers last name is [name_u]Van[/name_u] something, so [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] [name_u]Van[/name_u] would have looked ridiculous, had we gotten married and switched to his last name… But even [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] wasn’t a name I really loved. In my situation, I can’t have him go by his middles instead, as [name_m]BOTH[/name_m] middles are after his father (name, and birth name), who is a terrible abusive person that I really don’t want to think about everytime I say my sons name.
Anyway, I seriously considered changing it, but [name_m]Donovon[/name_m] really loves his name. So he didn’t want to ever. That was it.
On the popularity issue, my name is [name_f]Brittany[/name_f], born in '89, when it was top 5 for years. I had at least one [name_f]Brittany[/name_f] in all of my classes growing up. I was always [name_f]Brittany[/name_f] Last initial. and I HATED it. I hate “[name_u]Britt[/name_u]” even more. But, I know other girls named [name_f]Brittany[/name_f] that liked having a common name for all of those reasons, it just depends on the person.
If [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] likes [name_f]Sophia[/name_f], I think she should stay [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]. If she likes her middle name, I think that should be the first route you go. Start calling her by that and then you could officially swap them if you wanted to, or she could just always use it, many people do that.
It’s a BEAUTIFUL name. That’s why it’s popular. Call her Phe, or [name_f]Sosie[/name_f], her middle name, [name_f]Zosia[/name_f], [name_u]Fee[/name_u]-[name_u]Fee[/name_u]…nicknames are great for things like this. I wouldn’t change it. Let her decide when she’s old enough. I’m sure she will [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] her name. I would if it were mine.
I feel like it’s not your name to change anymore. It’s her name, if she wants to change it in a few years she can, but for you I feel it is too late. She knows her name and if she’s bothered by the popularity she can change it one day.
Also I feel like you knew the situation when you chose the name. #7 is popular, so you made the decision. I think a name is not something to be reevaluated every few years. You decide when the child is born and then it’s their name and part of them.
Could you actually just call her [name_f]Samira[/name_f] now? Would it really be her name?
I think you could look for an interesting nickname. Call her Phia, call her [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] (much less common) or by her middle name,