Choosing a baby name is a tough task. So much so, that it’s common to hear of parents changing a name weeks later.
On the other hand, some parents stick to their guns only to regret it later.
A survey conducted by Mumsnet found 18 per cent of parents wished they had chosen a different name for their bundle of joy.
Reasons for the name change included being “too common” and it “just didn’t feel right.”
Surprisingly, 20 per cent of parents revealed they never liked the name but felt “pressured into using it.” In this way, a lot of the names that were regretted are actually quite common, or even family names.
Parents were then asked to share the names they regretted and the results might surprise you.
Most Regretted Baby Names
- Amelia
- Alex
- Anne
- Anthony
- Charlotte
- Daniel
- David
- Elsa
- Emily
- Frederick
- Jack
- Jacob
- James
- Jay
- Jayne
- Joseph
- Lily
- Louise
- May
- Megan
- Oscar
- Ruby
- Sally
- Thomas
When Do Parents Regret The Name They Chose?
While you might think that it takes a while to regret a name, it turns out that is not the case.
Nearly 1/3 of parents (32 per cent) regretted the name they chose within the first six weeks of birth. 12 per cent said they’d always known it was the wrong choice, from even before their child was born.
Interestingly, none started hating their child’s name as an adult, suggesting that a lot of the anxiety and regret around naming originates around the time and just after birth, it doesn’t tend to start after the decision has been made for a long time.
This article originally appeared on Practical Parenting
