What a hard situation! If you’re just looking for encouragement, I love the name [name_f]Lucy[/name]! It feels so sweet and pretty while still having a solid, grounded sense to it. It has a playful, storybook as well thanks to Narnia. Every [name_f]Lucy[/name] I’ve met has been nice. I think that it’s a great choice for your daughter’s name and it’s very possible that you’ll learn to love it, especially with a sweet little one.
That being said, if it really doesn’t feel right, there’s no problem with changing it! It doesn’t sound like you have another name that you would prefer, so changing it might not necessarily fix your problem. But if she’s still a newborn, you still have lots of time to change her name if you do decide on the one!
Good luck deciding and I’m sure it will be fine whatever you choose
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is beautiful! It is totally normal to second guess your choice, but do you dislike [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], or just are not used to that being her name yet?
I would definitely give yourself more time, see how you feel before you make any decisions.
It’s totally normal to feel unsure about a name right after birth, sometimes it takes a little while for the name to “settle” and start feeling natural. [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is classic, sweet, and timeless, and often that initial strangeness fades as you get used to calling her by it.
If it still doesn’t feel quite right, you could try using a nickname like [name_f]Lou[/name_f], experimenting with her middle name, or even trying out a few other names you like to see if anything clicks. Sometimes it just takes a bit of time for the name to feel like her.
I love the [name_m]Name[/name_m] [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] very much. It is sweet, beautiful but it is also a good classic [name_m]Name[/name_m] for a grown woman
Honestly naming is such a challenging thing to do we put so much pressure on ourselves to find the perfect name and it can be very overwhelming. I also think we put so much pressure on ourselves to nail the name before the baby comes when reality is babies don’t recognise their names until they are 6 months old so you have time to figure it all out. Try not to put so much pressure on yourself give yourself time to figure it all out.
Regarding name regret itself honestly I think this emotion is really normal. Having a baby is tough and with changes in hormones I think it does affect your ability to think straight/doubt your decisions. I felt name regret when I named my daughter [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] it’s really hard emotion how I tackled it was understanding why I love the name [name_f]Lilia[/name_f]. I created a pros and cons list surrounding the name (pros outweighed the cons), tried using the name surrounding her with conviction (I had a lot of people mispronounce her name which made me feel awkward so I learnt to correct with conviction) and I used nicknames which felt more accessible like Lils/lily. I also started falling back in love with [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] discovering why I loved her buying embroidered toys for her etc seeing the name in association made me love [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] more. I absolutely love [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] now and moved the past that period (the berries also massively helped) and I think potentially doing these things above would help you feel positive about your decision.
Concerning [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] herself she’s a Nameberry favourite for sure and I can see why she’s a classic choice with a bright feeling. [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] has a lovely meaning feels friendly and [name_f]Narnia[/name_f] is a cute association. I can totally see why you chose [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]!
I love the name [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]. It’s so bright, joyous and energetic! To me, it’s a really beautiful name and a great choice.
I agree with the above comments that feeling uneasy or unsure about your choice is completely normal, and not having found “the one” is nothing unusual. I also agree with the point that you could just not be used to her being [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] yet (or worried that once it definitely becomes her name, you’ll regret not using a different one).
I would also give it some time and try to “proof” her name - use nicknames, say her name to her, say her full name out loud, speak about her with family or trusted friends, write it down. Remind yourself of the reasons why [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] was on your list of favourites.
If the strange feelings / unease don’t improve at all after some time, changing her name is still an option. Good luck!
I think [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is a lovely name – strong but sweet, classic but light and airy. It feels literary, versatile, and timeless.
All that said, if it doesn’t feel right to you, know is a good time to change it. [name_m]You[/name_m] could consider shifting [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] to the middle spot to honour your daughter’s choice, and then see if a better suited first name comes up over the next few days as you get to know your baby. Still experiment with [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] but give yourself a chance to trial other options too.
[name_m]You[/name_m] could also try to pin down what it is that’s not right about [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]? It it the general feel or style? Is it the popularity or the length? Did you want something longer or less familiar? Would a single syllable or a unisex name feel better?
First, as others have said, it’s quite normal to have anxiety around the name choice including sometimes, because it gets mixed up in all the hormonal crashes and postpartum worry.
I also think it’s hard to name a baby, a mature and established name. Often people are thinking for eg Harriet or Genevieve for a name but once their newborn is in front of them, they change it to a cuter, more diminutive name like Tilly or Bonnie; possibly forgetting that a baby will be an adult for most of their lives. Either way, newborns don’t really suit any name, in a significant way. We have to add a little story for the name to match, and just trust that it will work, going off of things like your/the parents’ looks and styles, the meaning of the name, and flow to last name (ie whole name works).
Hope OK to say when you’re feeling unsure, but Lucy isn’t a fave name of mine. However, I can objectively see its appeal - it crosses over the infant cute name and the adult name (covers both!); it is literary and storybook sweet; it’s well known and familiar; and it gives some lovely nicknames like Lu, Lulu and Cici.
I think though when you chose under pressure and at the suggestion of a sibling, it’s more than reasonable (and would be anyway within the first few months, before it starts to matter for the child itself) to consider other options. If it would help and not make things harder, perhaps you could share other names you’re considering or your other kid’s name / kids’ names (disguised - eg Z@r@) so we can advise/suggest, in comparison to Lucy.
I think Lucy goes really well with your other two. They are all elegant and storybook smart. I’d treat her as the one to beat/ in top spot!
Take or leave, but Marlie doesn’t suit as well imo - she would be in my “too cute” category (as the youngest / younger child, another blind spot) and has more of a surfie girl / flower power girl vibe.
I think Claire - or Clara - and Ruby could also work well. Ruby is a little more stylised and flash than Ella and William, which have a quieter poise but it goes well. I like Daisy too, maybe she’s just a little too passive for me (and in my mind doesn’t age quite as well) but it is a very pretty name.
You might like Maisie as a smoosh of Marlie and Daisy. Chloe is another one that matches your other choices. Same for Ivy, Mary (nn Polly or Molly or even Maisie if middle has an S in there!) or Imogen (nn Immy) or Rose.
Hope this helps! You’ve already named really well so far, including if you keep Lucy (and yes, PP anxiety has a lot to answer for!).
That’s a good idea about trialling some other names just around home just to see how it feels.
Yes I think it’s the vibe of [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]. It’s pretty cutesy and not sure how I’ll go calling it out across the park. There’s some nice nick name options
But yes just a bit of doubt still there.
I gravitate to names like [name_f]Ella[/name_f] and [name_f]Isla[/name_f] that have an a ending. But I wanted to try ie/y ending name this time.. just have this sense of dread that there was a better name for her, I just don’t know what
[name_m]The[/name_m] name can be changed. It certainly is possible. It seems like it is definitely early enough that it would be an easy change.
That being said, of the names you were considering, I really like [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] the best. Possibly [name_f]Clare[/name_f], but I like how a two syllable name sounds in the sequence: Ell@, WilL & [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] as opposed to two one syllable names at the end.
Plus, I feel a two syllable first name has a rhythm and cadence that is more interesting than a one syllable name.
I don’t think how hard it is naming another human being is talked about enough. You are not alone!
We went through so many names when I was pregnant with my first daughter. In the end my husband chose a name that I suggested jokingly thinking he’d never go for it. But he insisted that was her name. He absolutely refused to hear any others. And even after she was born he admitted he couldn’t remember the middle name we had given her and kept thinking of her as @rwen Eliz@beth. Eliz@beth is my middle name. I was adamant throughout the pregnancy about not naming her after me because it felt egotistical, but he chose it so it no longer felt that way. It felt sweet that he wanted to name his child after me.
So yeah, I didn’t really name her at all. And I had a hard time connecting her with the name for at least a year. I called her “Funny Face” a lot. But now? She’s 13 years old and I can’t imagine her with any other name. And no, I don’t still call her Funny Face.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] saw your other two children’s names , and I think [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] goes perfectly well with them , they all three contain L’s and sound fantastic together!
I love the name [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]. It has a rare classic quality in that it has not become either overly used or out of fashion for centuries. That is a real plus, and puts it in the category of names such as [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Lydia[/name_f], [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Julia[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].
I like it best out of your list with her lovely siblings’ names as well. Your feelings seem normal, and I think she will grow into her name. If there was another name on your list that you now feel you should have chosen you can change, but it sounds more like you’re uncertain about [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], rather than feeling ‘she should have been x’?
[name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_m]William[/name_m] and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] are a wonderful classic sibset.
I also agree. [name_m]Name[/name_m] regret is partially normal but I started to love the Names by time considering they were the absolutely only Names we could agree on an this Agreement made me love the Names
Congratulations on your baby! [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] is a great name but here are some nicknames I think you could use if you really are disliking the name!
Lu/Lou
[name_f]Lulu[/name_f]
[name_f]Lula[/name_f]
[name_f]Lola[/name_f]
[name_f]Cece[/name_f]
[name_f]Cia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lia[/name_f]
If you feel comfortable sharing her middle name (if she has) I’m happy to come up with some options for that!
LouLou as a nickname? [name_m]Locket[/name_m] as a nn (as in [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_m]Locket[/name_m] from the nursery rhyme)? [name_m]Lucky[/name_m] as a nn? What is her middle name (you could call her by that)?
But the name might grow on you. Or find its own pet/nickname
I think you have.a period of up to 12 months to change the name, however, legally.
But now? She’s 13 years old and I can’t imagine her with any other name. And no, I don’t still call her Funny Face. 