My lovely daughter arrived on [name_u]June[/name_u] 3. As soon as my husband and I found out we were expecting a girl, we chose the name [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Everett[/name_u] and that is what we named her. But along the way, I also fell in love with the name [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] after meeting a number of babies named [name_f]Alice[/name_f]. My husband likes it, too, but on the day of her birth we couldn’t get past the spelling-not-linked-to-pronunciation issue. I can’t get the name out of my mind, though, and I don’t think I can convince my husband that we should have a fourth child (we are also parents to [name_m]Henry[/name_m] [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] and [name_m]George[/name_m] [name_u]Parker[/name_u]), and that child of course could be a boy. So should I change her name? Thoughts?
No. It should be her choice at this point (e.g., if she initiates an interest in changing her name, support her). While [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is lovely, it’s still a difficult name for most Americans to comprehend, and a lot to ask your child to handle, especially when she already has a perfectly lovely name.
Personally, I like both names in the vintage pairing [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] and I think [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]George[/name_m] and [name_f]Alice[/name_f] are perfection together. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is a modern Irish name that means “freedom” so it’s more like a political statement rather than a name with depth and history. I would think it would also run into pronunciation as well as spelling problems in the US. I don’t think you should change her name. [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_u]Everett[/name_u] is lovely and the name sounds like a writer or artist to my ears.
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] is such a beautiful and classic name- I wouldn’t change a thing!
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_u]Everett[/name_u] is so beautiful! Oh I wish I had a name like that 
[name_m]Even[/name_m] though you have met a few little Alices, the name isn’t very popular. What about changing her middle name to [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], if you really want to include it?
Aw, [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Everett[/name_u] is a gorgeous name!! I really love it!!! And it sounds so perfect with her big brothers [name_m]Henry[/name_m] [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] and [name_m]George[/name_m] [name_u]Parker[/name_u] <3 <3
However, I adore Saoirse myself <3 Not many others do. And I personally don’t mind the not obvious spelling <3 Even though I personally love Saoirse way more than Alice, I do have to say that Alice matches far better with Henry and George than Saoirse ever could </3
Look at your babies personality though: does she really seem to suit the name Saoirse? Or does Alice seem to suit her better anyway? I ditto the previous poster on Alice not being all that popular, even if you’ve met a few little Alice’s lately. I can’t say what the right decision is as to whether to change it or not. She’s still very young and it wouldn’t be an impossible change. I’d speak with your husband about it <3 I love the suggestion above about changing her middle name to Saoirse? Alice Saoirse Everett would be very beautiful!! <3
I grew up with a name that didn’t match the pronunciation at all, and it’s one of the main reasons I’m changing it. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is going to get a “Huh”? response when she corrects the pronunciation of her name. To most of the non-Irish population, [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] being said Sare-shuh makes no sense- it looks like [name_m]Say[/name_m]-OR-see or something else ridiculous.
Name popularity really means nothing. States, counties and even towns have different trends. You really never know what names will be popular when and where. And how many baby Alices did you see? [name_m]How[/name_m] many of them would be in the same grade as your [name_f]Alice[/name_f]?
I third [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] [name_u]Everett[/name_u].
No! Keep the lovely [name_f]Alice[/name_f].
I think [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] is gorgeous - and you should keep it - but if you really want to, you should exchange [name_f]Helena[/name_f] for [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], not [name_f]Alice[/name_f]. Personally, I think [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] fits much better with your other two children.
Hmm…
Yes you may love [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] (she’s a delightful Irish choice) but in all honesty I really don’t think [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]George[/name_m] work with [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] she is such an Irish name that in my eyes works with only the likes of [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] and [name_m]Connor[/name_m]. Whereas [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_u]Everett[/name_u] is a beautiful choice and just sounds so much better with [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]George[/name_m]. Your daughter has been called [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] since 3rd [name_u]June[/name_u] in all honesty I think it’s just far too late to change her name.
Personally, I think [name_f]Alice[/name_f] sounds way better w/ [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]George[/name_m]! It’s just a nice fit! [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] seems odd paired w/ them. Not odd, but just not as fitting as [name_f]Alice[/name_f] I guess. That said, I totally get name remorse. I posted here many times about my own name remorse w/ our second daughter [name_f]Fiona[/name_f]. I came very close to changing her name but ultimately decided to stick with it. She’s 7.5 months now and I still have days where I wish we named her [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] instead…but I decided that we gave her the name [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] for a reason and need to stick with it. She will either grow into it, or develop a more suitable nickname. It’s a tough call. I think if changing a name you have to be so sure as many people won’t get it. But if you really can’t get on board w/ [name_f]Alice[/name_f], then change it soon before she ever know the dif! [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] really started responding to her name by 5 months so it doesn’t take long.
Ordinarily, I’m not a big fan of the name [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and at this age, I would say if you really think you should change it, change. HOWEVER, I don’t think you should name your child anything the majority of the population most likely can’t say nor spell. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] may sound pretty to your ears, but when she’s 5 years old or 6 years old or 7 years old or 30 years old and has to spell her name every time she says it or has to tell people how to pronounce it, it’ll be a huge pain for her. Stick with [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and as another poster said, make it her middle name if you want. Then, it’ll be her choice if she wants to go by it when she’s older.
When we named [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f], I was stuck on the name [name_f]Miriam[/name_f]. I spent a couple months wondering if we’d picked the right one. After her personality developed more, she became her name more. Now, I don’t know what I was thinking. She’s not [name_f]Miriam[/name_f]. She’s [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]. Of course she’s [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f].
Give it time. She’ll become [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and once you get to know her, you won’t be able to think of her as anything else.
A dear friend of mine named her daughter [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], and while I do think it’ll have spelling and pronunciation issues, it fits for her and the family. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f]'s dad is a dyed in the wool irish man who emigrated only five or so years ago, and they plan to use very irish names for their whole family. This may sound harsh but, assuming you’re in the USA, i think in order to use a name like [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] with such a complicated spelling (for Americans) there should be some other ties to the name to give it some legitimacy- like a strong family background in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f], other irish names, living in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] or perhaps the UK (where people would be more familiar with it)… Especially to be changing her name after some months now.
And I agree, [name_f]Alice[/name_f] sounds stunning with both her brothers and her last name. Absolutely gorgeous.
I think [name_f]Alice[/name_f] is nicer. She will have no problems with spelling & pronunciation. Plus I think to go through the hassle (of paperwork and most people you know thinking you’re insane) you have to be so certain you’re over [name_f]Alice[/name_f].
I prefer [name_f]Alice[/name_f] – that said – it doesn’t make your own second thoughts go away. I agree with all above that while [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is exotic and beautiful, it poses some problems. [name_f]Alice[/name_f] works better in your family, for one thing. Then there are the spelling and pronunciation issues.
Obviously wisdom is on the side of [name_f]Alice[/name_f], but that makes me worry that whatever is driving your remorse might have some deep or stubborn roots. Maybe everyone is right. Take a deep breath, hang in there, and your ambivalent feelings will resolve themselves. If they do, there is no doubt [name_f]Alice[/name_f] is the more sensible choice…
Geez, some of you are so overdramatic. The kid was just born in [name_u]June[/name_u]. It is not too late.
[name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is not mismatched with the boys’ names. Plus, I don’t feel that opposite gender sib names have to match. [name_f]Alice[/name_f] is OK, [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is better. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] are lovely (and so is [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f])
I wouldn’t let the spelling stop me from choosing a name. [name_f]Remember[/name_f], we hear names more than we see them. I had a friend in college named [name_f]Siobhan[/name_f]. It was months before I knew that that was how her name was spelled. She was “sha- von”. Most of the people [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] will encounter in her life will have no idea how her name is spelled until after they know the pronunciation. Yes, spelling her name correctly will take them some getting used to but that’s not a good enough reason to throw away a great name, [name_f]IMO[/name_f]
I had name regret with my first son. [name_m]Even[/name_m] now I wonder if he could have been a different name but no I don’t think he could. I might use the name I wanted for a pet in the future. I don’t regret not changing his name even though I don’t always love it. Now he is three and is very adamant about his name. So I love it for that reason. I love that he loves it and that I put so much love and effort into naming him that I still, after years don’t think its enough. He is everything I thought. It is still very soon and your feelings about it might change. I don’t have any issue with my name but love it when my dad calls me pumpkin. So maybe a nn for her would help for a while?
It’s normal to long for the name you didn’t get to use. Especially if you think you aren’t likely to have any more children. My advice is to give it a little more time. See if you fall in love with [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] all over again. I had a similar response after naming [name_f]Gemma[/name_f], but she’s 4 months now and I love her name. I kept falling back in love with it despite having oh so many more name loves. As I said, it’s hard knowing you won’t be having more kids and that this is the last chance to use a favorite name.
I personally think that [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] is a gorgeous combination and is just fantastic on it’s own, but when you add it to the sibset it’s perfection.
Stick with [name_f]Alice[/name_f]. As previous posters have pointed out, [name_f]Alice[/name_f] goes fantastically well with [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]George[/name_m], and [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] is a beautiful combination. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is beautiful, too, but it may come with too many spelling and pronunciation issues, especially if you’re in the U. S. [name_f]Alice[/name_f] is simplest and you shouldn’t worry about popularity because it’s a classic that is coming back into style, not a brand-new trendy name that will date quickly (a la [name_f]Miley[/name_f]).