I have a 2 year old boy named “[name_u]Everest[/name_u]”.
When we chose his name, my husband really wanted to give him a unique name. My husband has a very common name (think [name_u]Michael[/name_u] or [name_m]Christopher[/name_m]) and wanted our son to have a more unique name to stand out and to be remembered by people. I also liked the nature imagery of “[name_u]Everest[/name_u]”, as well as the nickname “Ev” which is what we call our son.
Two years later, I’m really hating this name. I feel like it’s too lofty and aspirational to name your child after the world’s tallest mountain. People’s reaction to his name is usually to say “oh, what a beautiful name” and then to ask me why we chose that name, and I feel awkward not having any personal connection to Mt. [name_u]Everest[/name_u] or anything to say other than “we liked it.”
I want our son to stand out on his own merits, not because of a unique name. I want people to remember him because of his kindness or humor or his accomplishments, not because of a unique name.
I really want to rename our son to something more classic. My top pick for a boys names has always been “[name_m]Alexander[/name_m]”. But my husband still loves “[name_u]Everest[/name_u]”, and also thinks it’s too confusing for the kid if we change his name.
I agree that it is too confusing to rename your son after 2 years. At this point, your son knows his name and identifies with it. If you’re looking to change someone, I would think about nicknames.
I’m really sorry to hear you’re feeling this way. It must be really difficult to feel awkward or uncomfortable about your own child’s name.
However at 2 years old I do think it’s too late to change his name, especially such a radical change as [name_u]Everest[/name_u] to [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]. [name_u]Everest[/name_u] to [name_u]Everett[/name_u], perhaps, but even then it doesn’t really sit right with me on principle. It’s his name now — no longer yours to do what you like with, even though it was you who chose it originally (and with the very best of intentions, by the sounds of it).
It’s admirable that you want him to be remembered for his merits, but having a memorable name doesn’t preclude him from also standing out for being a great person. It’s not one or the other, and with all the thought and worry you’re putting into this, it sounds like he’s on track for picking up all those wonderful values and character traits from you.
As for the name itself, I think [name_u]Everest[/name_u] is great. As “unique” names go, it’s far from outlandish, and feels to me like a solid, strong, striking choice that will serve him well for a lifetime.
I think it might be too confusing for a two year old. He’ll know his name.by now
If it’s any consolation, I think Everest sounds great and people will remember your son for who he is, not his name. Sure, his name might make him stand out a little, but that won’t be what people value him for
Does he have a more classic middle that you could call him in conjunction with [name_u]Everest[/name_u]? That way his name would be more versatile?
[name_u]Everett[/name_u] or [name_u]Evan[/name_u] might be similar but less ‘lofty’ alternatives if you really want to change it though.
I don’t feel like [name_u]Everest[/name_u] is too much. It’s a lovely name. He won’t just be remember as the guy with the cool name. The name may make him a bit more memorable, but it will also be tied to whatever other experiences the person had of him. If someone met a lot of people in one day, [name_u]Everest[/name_u] might stand out because of his name but that would also help trigger other memories of him.
That said, if you really don’t like the name, you could switch to [name_u]Everett[/name_u] is [name_u]Evan[/name_u]. If you do, id suggest trying them for a couple of months before legally changing, to see if he likes it. Changing will not be easy.
Then when he grows up he can use his middle name instead of his first if he would prefer. Or when he starts preschool next year, we can ask his teachers to call him by his middle name and he would be “Ev” at home and “middle name” at school.
Thanks, I think the consideration that he knows his name by now is a very important one. Unfortunately I don’t like [name_u]Everett[/name_u] or [name_u]Evan[/name_u], and neither does my husband.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_u]Ever[/name_u] or [name_m]Rhett[/name_m]?
You could also ask the teacher just to call him Ev. People will generally stick to the wishes of the parent before the child mentions a preference. If you want to add a middle name to use, you don’t have to call him Ev at home. I know several people who exclusively use their middle name.
I also think it is too late to change his name as our names are part of our identify even at his young age. My feelings are pretty well ditto to what @katinka said and she said it so well.
I agree with others that at 2 years old he knows his name and it’d be confusing for it to be changed. I think it’d be confusing for a 9 month old honestly, by 2 year’s old I think it is actually beyond confusing and could cause an identity crisis of sorts.
I do think adding a middle name is a good idea. If you’re feeling anxious about his name (which is a great name. But I understand internet strangers saying that doesn’t really change your feelings.) I think adding a middle name could lessen your worries. If he gets older and finds [name_u]Everest[/name_u] lofty and thinks people focus more on his name than his traits then he has something to fall back on. You’re giving him a plan B. From your signature I think [name_m]Henry[/name_m] would be a great middle. [name_u]Everest[/name_u] [name_m]Henry[/name_m] is very handsome. Though if [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] is your all time favorite that’s a great option. And [name_u]Everest[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] gives him another nickname option of EJ.
At 2 years old you can even give him options. That might be fun. I see you have a daughter who has 2 names so you can say you know how your sister has 2 names? You don’t. I thought it might be fun to give you one. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] or [name_u]James[/name_u] better?
I’m really sorry you’re feeling this way. I hope you are able to feel better about this situation soon, whether that means taking action or not.
I’m sorry you’re having such a difficult time with your name choice! I personally don’t find [name_u]Everest[/name_u] to be over the top; I think it’s lovely and unique without being unrecognizable. I also don’t think it matters if you don’t have a connection to the mountain and just like the name. (I’m sure everyone named [name_f]Savanna[/name_f]/h wasn’t named so because her parents went on safari, for example.) I also like how both [name_u]Everest[/name_u] and [name_f]Luna[/name_f] are nature related.
I feel it’s too late to change his name entirely, but I think it’s a great idea to give him a middle name. You can introduce the idea to him by explaining that you wish you’d given him a middle name too, like his sister.
I think [name_u]Everest[/name_u] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], [name_u]Everest[/name_u] [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_u]Everest[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] all sound great together.
If, having added a middle name, you wanted to try calling him by it (e.g. [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], nn [name_u]Alex[/name_u]) then maybe you could start calling him [name_u]Everest[/name_u] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] in conversation with him, then [name_u]Everest[/name_u] [name_u]Alex[/name_u], then just [name_u]Alex[/name_u]/[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] sometimes, and finally [name_u]Alex[/name_u]/[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] most of the time if he and you are happy with it. Because then you’re not removing his name, just adding to it. And by the time he’s old enough for school, you can register him under whichever name is used most.
I know 7 people that I can think of offhand who go by their middle name. One of them goes by her first name sometimes, her middle name sometimes, and a combination of both other times. (Think something along the lines of [name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] as [name_f]Anna[/name_f]/[name_f]Katherine[/name_f]/[name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Kate[/name_f].) Another goes by his first name to family and his middle name to friends and coworkers. I myself go by my given first name as well as an unrelated nickname. I feel connected to both names and happily respond to either.
Im so sorry you’re having second thoughts about your baby’s name, but I absolutely love the name [name_u]Everest[/name_u]!! I don’t personally think it’s too over the top or anything. However, I do think it’s too late to change his name entirely though. It would cause a lot of confusion at 2 years old. I hope you are happy with whatever you decide to do!
Thanks for the kind words about the name, everyone! [name_m]Just[/name_m] FYI, at home we almost never use [name_u]Everest[/name_u], we’ve always called him “Ev” and that’s how he refers to himself also.
Yes that was one of the reasons we picked those two names! I loved the nature connection of both when we picked them, and how the two names sounded together.
I still absolutely think [name_f]Luna[/name_f] is a beautiful name and the right choice for my little girl (although we never actually call her that, we call her [name_f]Lulu[/name_f]). But I’ve been having regrets about [name_u]Everest[/name_u] for a year now. However, since my husband still loves it and my son happily calls himself Ev maybe I just need to deal with my feelings on my own!
I don’t know why people in that thread are so harsh about [name_u]Everest[/name_u]! It doesn’t seem pompous to me in any way, and in relation to climbing Mount [name_u]Everest[/name_u], it’s a historical, celebratory thing, and often done for charity. Nothing bad there at all.
[name_u]Everest[/name_u] also makes me think of pine woods, maybe because of EVERgreen forEST. Peaceful and full of life. Believe in it, I say! It’s beautiful. I found some other info on the origins of the name here: Surname Database: Everest Last Name Origin .
I was in school with an [name_u]Evan[/name_u], and 90% of the time he simply went by Ev.
It’s a whole lot better to do it at 2 than at 5 or 7 or 9. I think that if you are seriously considering it, you should change it sooner rather than later. Personally, I don’t think a name change as a baby or a toddler is as big of a deal as people make it out to be - especially if the name change is not just a change of heart but serious reflection on what is in the child’s best interest.
I think your best bet, at his age, and due to his dad not being too keen on the change, would be to keep [name_u]Everest[/name_u], continue calling him Ev as you have been, and, add your favourite, [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], as his official middle name. [name_u]Everest[/name_u] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] would be great, and as he grows, he can either tell people to just call him Ev, decide himself that he loves [name_u]Everest[/name_u] and go by that, or begin using [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] (or [name_u]Alex[/name_u]) due to his middle (but, unless he informs you otherwise, he can still always be your little Ev).
By the way, some of the comments on [name_u]Everest[/name_u] on the site you linked are just plain nasty. I mean, I’m all for people giving their opinions when they don’t like a name, but at least do it in a more respectful and helpful way. Honestly, [name_u]Everest[/name_u] is a lovely name, and I don’t think the mountain associations make it ‘too pretentious’ or ‘try hard’ at all! In fact, my first thoughts upon hearing the name [name_u]Everest[/name_u] and due to the mountain association are of bravery, fearlessness, adventure and determination - all fantastic qualities for a young man to have! Perhaps changing your own associations with the name would help you to be ok with, or perhaps come to enjoy, the name - try reading some positive stories about [name_u]Everest[/name_u] climbers and their experiences, take a family trip to the mountains to solidify your initial [name_u]Everest[/name_u]-as-a-nature-name interest, or just try to concentrate more on those positive traits aforementioned, rather than the negatives of a few unhelpfully judgmental online strangers.
I do agree with your husband - by 2, your child well and truly knows their name and is connected to it. Changing it would be very confusing.
For what it’s worth, I really like [name_u]Everest[/name_u]. Very handsome! I think “we wanted a unique, naturey name” is a perfectly reasonable explanation. Also, that it’s your hubby’s favourite is a big thing. I don’t think the name is too big to grow into or too over the top. It’s quite lovely.