Baby Name Regret... How Common is it?

After reading an article about an Australian mother who named her twins Callum and Ari, I had a look into Baby Name Regret and it's more common than you might imagine. 

Naming a baby is one of those beautiful decisions but a decision that comes with high stakes and it's reported that about 1 in 10 parents say they wish they had chosen a different name.

Of those, about 6% went ahead and legally changed their child's name.

Most parents who regret their choice note the feelings arise within the first year, about 15% within the first month, and 21st by the child's first birthday.

So, while the majority are content with their choice, name regret is real — and, in many cases, much more common than people expect.

Here are some of the recurring reasons parents give:

The Popularity Surprise

A name that feels unique today might skyrocket tomorrow leaving you unexpectedly among many share-the-name children.

"We thought it was rare, then we moved and there were three other children with the same name in her daycare!"

Spelling, Pronunciation, and Constant Corrections

Intricate or creative spellings can lead to mispronunciations, misspellings, and the child (or parents) having to repeatedly correct others.

"We named our baby “Emmaleigh” and found people kept writing “Emily” — it just became exhausting to correct."

It Just Doesn't Feel Like Them

Once you spend time with your child, their personality, appearance, or energy may not seem to match the name you picked. 

"Every time someone said his name, I cringed. It just didn't feel right."

Pressure From Others or Compromise

Sometimes names are chosen to satisfy in-laws, tradition, or compromise — and later you might wish you went with what you loved.

"The name meant so much to my husband's parents so I felt like I had to go with it but now I wish I had hadn't."

Unintended Nicknames or Initials

Initials forming awkward words, nicknames you didn’t plan for, or teasing rhymes are surprisingly common regrets

"Our son is Oliver (our favourite name) Michael (my father-in-law) George. OMG!"

Whatever name you give your little one, you can record memories of how you choose it, or changed it, in The Baby Book of You.