I wanted to be [name]Emily[/name], [name]Anne[/name] [name]Shirley[/name] wanted to be [name]Cordelia[/name], what did you want to be? [name]Even[/name] though I’m very pleased with my name now and my parents could not have done a better job, I was still an ungrateful child and wished I had been called [name]Emily[/name]. [name]Emily[/name] skyrocketed in the years after my birth to number 1 so I was very on-trend. My guess is that the names people wanted to be called as children were one of the top names from their birth year or just after. What name did you want?
I do have to say I like my name, [name]Rachel[/name]. Though it is a little too popular… I have met so many people the same name. I would rather have my name than a “weird” name. So I think My parents did a fine job ;).
[name]April[/name]. My mom told me she had considered it, and about the time I started to learn to write my name ([name]Stephanie[/name]) I was upset that it was too long.
I wanted to be a [name]Katie[/name]! I loved the name [name]Katie[/name]. Instead I got a “mom name” that I would prefer not to reveal on here. Think along the lines of a [name]Deborah[/name] or a [name]Barbara[/name] born in the late '80s. 
Now, though, I actually do like my name when paired with my single-syllable middle name–sounds cutesy and different. But all I wanted as a kindergartener was a name that sounded NORMAL, like [name]Katie[/name].
I might ruin your theory- I wished my name was [name]Cleopatra[/name]!
I figured she was the most beautiful and a queen…plus I loved cats and the name made me think of a cat! I called my doll [name]Cleopatra[/name] instead.
I did always wish my name was [name]Sarah[/name]. It’s [name]Tara[/name] so I would sometimes get mistaken for a [name]Sarah[/name] & always wished it were right when people said it. That one probably fits your idea- [name]Sarah[/name] was pretty popular in the 80s/90s
As a child I don’t remember wanted a different name, but now I wish it was [name]Calla[/name].
I wanted to be called [name]Bianca[/name]. There was a [name]Bianca[/name] in my kindy and i just thought it was the most beautiful name… i still love the name actually
When I was five, I wanted to be named [name]Darlene[/name]. 
I always wanted to be called [name]Cinnamon[/name]. Now that I’m older, I realize that could pass for a hooker name.
I remember liking the names “[name]Robin[/name]” and “[name]Monica[/name]” as a child. I thought they sounded grown up. It’s funny to think about now:-)
I’m probably still considered a kid and currently would love to rename myself [name]Eleanor[/name]. I also remember a stage a few years ago I wanted to be [name]Cassandra[/name], and before that [name]Jessica[/name]
I had cycled through [name]Julia[/name], [name]Natasha[/name] and [name]Ren[/name]ée before grade 4 and then [name]Hanson[/name] came out and my friend nicknamed me [name]Lucy[/name], and I knew that should be my name. I’ve gone by [name]Lucy[/name] ever since.
My legal name is [name]Kristin[/name], and I tried going by [name]Kristy[/name] when I was really young because I pretty much idolized [name]Kristy[/name] [name]Thomas[/name] from the [name]Baby[/name] Sitter’s Club, haha, but that never stuck.
I’ve firmly been a [name]Lucy[/name] for the past 15 years; I just don’t think my legal name suits me.
I wanted to be a [name]Stephanie[/name]. Not really sure why, but I guess even as a little girl I was attracted to names spelled with a “ph”. I love [name]Daphne[/name], [name]Ophelia[/name], [name]Phoebe[/name], [name]Seraphina[/name], [name]Sophia[/name], [name]Josephine[/name]… And yes, I still even like [name]Stephanie[/name], even if some people consider it “dated”.
I’ve always loved my name, [name]Francine[/name]. It was unique and I loved always being asked if i was French. I did always like the name [name]Leigha[/name] though when I was little. [name]Leigha[/name] was one of my best friends.
I wanted to be an [name]Anna[/name] when i was young. But i like my name now, [name]Bethany[/name]
I am an [name]Emily[/name] that wanted to be [name]Emmeline[/name]. I liked my name, but wished it were just a little different from the 4 other Emilys in my class.
[name]Samantha[/name], i have a weird name '(that i still dislike)so i always wanted a more conventional name/
I don’t know if I ever wanted to officially change my name but, my friends and I would role-play TV shows/video games. I always wanted to be [name]Coco[/name] from [name]Crash[/name] Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, [name]Lora[/name] Croft and [name]Raven[/name] from Teen Titans. [name]Ah[/name], those were the simple days.
My dad still reminds me that I wanted to be called a name I made up, Colosophie (cul-ah-suh-fie)… weird kid, haha.
[name]Suzanne[/name] & a couple years later [name]Kimberly[/name]