Name Change

Girl Names
1

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone

This is my first time posting, or even talking, about this topic so sorry if its a bit awkward!

So my birth name is [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]. I know that a lot of people think that it’s a nice name, and I agree but its just not me. There are a lot of reasons why I want to change my name but the main reasons are:

  • its really just too harsh of a name and really doesn’t suit how I am appearance wise nor my personality
  • I have a 2 year younger sister called [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]. Everyone gets [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] and I confused, including my
    parents, because our names ([name_f]Immy[/name_f] and [name_u]Izzy[/name_u]) are just too similar
  • I’m half Swedish and my Swedish side of the family cannot pronounce my name for the life of them. I’m
    always [name_f]Imo[/name_f]-yen to them and I want a name that my entire family can pronounce

I have generally been called ‘[name_f]Immy[/name_f]’ my whole life but now that I’m nearly 18, it feels too cutesy for someone like me.

I would really appreciate some help with finding a new name for myself. I have tried to come up with some names but I haven’t had much luck. Here are some options that I’ve had:

  • [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] nn [name_u]Sasha[/name_u]. It was the name that my parents were going to call me if they hadn’t called me [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]. I love it and I think it does suit me really well but the only problem is that I have a two year old half sister called [name_f]Saskia[/name_f]. [name_u]Sasha[/name_u] and [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] are way too close for siblings which is really disappointing.

  • [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]. Has been one of my favourite names for a long time but I don’t want the nickname [name_u]Gabi[/name_u]

  • [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]. What my older sister wanted to call me when I was born. [name_m]Just[/name_m] way too popular.

If it helps at all, I have light brown hair, green eyes and i’m 6 feet tall. Any suggestions and help is welcome.

Thank you

2

I don’t have a heap of suggestions but what about [name_f]Natasha[/name_f] nn [name_f]Tasha[/name_f]? Similar to [name_u]Sasha[/name_u] but definitely not close to [name_f]Saskia[/name_f].

Otherwise maybe:
[name_f]Cassandra[/name_f] ([name_u]Cass[/name_u], [name_f]Cassie[/name_f], [name_f]Andra[/name_f], [name_f]Sandra[/name_f])
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] ([name_f]Adele[/name_f], [name_f]Della[/name_f])
[name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] (may get stuck with [name_f]Emmy[/name_f]/[name_f]Em[/name_f] - easy transition but may be too similar for you)
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] ([name_f]Nell[/name_f])
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] ([name_f]El[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Nell[/name_f], [name_m]Len[/name_m])

3

Some ideas:
[name_u]Ariel[/name_u]
[name_f]Ariana[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Estella[/name_f]
[name_f]Magdalene[/name_f]/[name_f]Magdalena[/name_f]
[name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonora[/name_f]
[name_f]Althea[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Annika[/name_f]
[name_f]Liselotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]
[name_f]Brielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Aubrielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Andromeda[/name_f]
[name_f]Annalise[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Cornelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicia[/name_f]
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]/[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Gardenia[/name_f]

4

Hmm I agree that [name_u]Sasha[/name_u] and [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] are a bit close for siblings. But what about [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] nn [name_u]Alex[/name_u]? [name_u]Alex[/name_u] feels like a pretty relaxed name that people could switch to easily. Or [name_u]Lexi[/name_u]? Or [name_u]Allie[/name_u]? Or [name_m]Xan[/name_m]? (So many nickname options for this one!)

I really love [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]. I have the same reservation about it though–I’m not wild about the nickname [name_u]Gabby[/name_u]/[name_u]Gabi[/name_u] either. But what about [name_f]Bri[/name_f] as a nickname? Or [name_f]Elle[/name_f]? Or maybe you could choose [name_f]Brielle[/name_f] as the name? I really like the idea of [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] nn [name_f]Bri[/name_f] though.

Good luck with the name change!

5

Okay, so I cannot guarantee that these will be pronounceable by your Swedish family. So sorry! But here are a few suggestions ~

[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Camellia[/name_f]
[name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]
[name_f]Alessia[/name_f]
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] – maybe not feminine enough sounding?
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f] – ^
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f]
[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]
[name_f]Milena[/name_f]

Also, I just wanted to mention that although [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is at #7 on the US popularity list this year, it was at #289 in 2000 (around when you were born). So yes, there are a lot of babies and young girls named [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] right now. But in 2000, there were only 1104 Charlottes born, as opposed to 25953 Emilys (the #1 name that year). My point is that you will likely not encounter a huge amount people named [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] in your age group. Its current popularity still might be a deal breaker for you, but I wanted to point this out, just in case. [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] seems so perfect for you!

6

Thank you all so much for your help!

aleerakate, I really loved the suggestions [name_f]Natasha[/name_f], [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] and [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]! They’re going straight to my list

emmievis, I love [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f], they also have connections to my childhood which is great

silversky109, Thanks for the ideas of the other nicknames, but [name_u]Sasha[/name_u] has always been the nickname that stood out
and was the nickname of my half Russian grandfather. I am definitely still keeping both [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] and [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] on
my list. I loved [name_f]Brie[/name_f] and [name_f]Elle[/name_f] as suggestions for [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f].

dream.create, Thank you for the ideas!! My Swedish family probably won’t be able to pronounce most of them but [name_f]Linnea[/name_f] they definitely will be able to, as it was my great great grandmothers name, its a really good options for me.
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is still an option but I think it was #24 in Australia (where I’m currently living) in 2000.

7

[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is the best fit. If you choose [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] and 100% dislike [name_u]Alex[/name_u] and would be annoyed if you were called it then you need to scratch it off and you will have the same issue with your sister and you get confused with [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] (the belle ending). [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] might also be worth considering.

Also -

[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f]
[name_f]Hallie[/name_f]
[name_f]Evie[/name_f]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_f]Amabel[/name_f]

8

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any nicknames that you like other than [name_f]Immy[/name_f]? I would start there. As someone who has changed her name (to a nickname), it is much easier to get others to cooperate with a name change and actually call you what you want to be called if it’s not too far removed from your original name.