What to do if Your Child HATES Their Name

Many parents put a lot of thought into what to name their child. They may consider family history, meaning, and pronunciation. But sometimes, despite their best efforts, their child ends up hating their name. So, what if your child hates their name?

If this is the case, there are a few things you can do. First, try to find out why they don’t like their name. Is it because they are teased by other kids? If so, assure them that the teasing will stop eventually and that they can always use a nickname if they want.

If they don’t like the meaning of their name or think it’s too “girly” or “boyish,” help them to see that names are just labels and that they can choose what they want to be called. Finally, if all else fails, let them pick a new name for themselves. It may not be traditional, but at least they’ll be happy with it!

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Kids hate stuff for no reason at all. It’s a fact of life. And your child hates their name, too.

One day they love the red cup, the next day they hate it. One minute they will eat nothing but peanut butter on toast, the next thing you know they absolutely despise it. So of course – your child hates their name at some stage too? It’s bound to happen, right? They’ll get over it though, surely?

But what if it is more than just a passing phase?

According to a BabyCenter survey, 11 percent of parents experience baby name remorse. So kids are more than likely to have similar feelings, too. So it’s true when your child hates their name, too.

3 percent of parents reported switching their little one’s name after birth.

Four year old hates his name

A mum has found herself in a tricky situation after her four-year-old son admitted he really isn’t keen on the name that he thinks is ‘boring’ and wants to be called something else.

The mum shared on Mumsnet that her son, Jake, hates his name so much that he even cries over it.

“My son (4) hates his name. He says it’s boring and he has actually cried about it.

“He was named for my cousin and also has the same name as a close family member. He says he wants his name to be his own name and not somebody else’s.

“I also really don’t like his name, it isn’t anything awful (Jake). It wasn’t my first choice and his dad decided on it, his dad is no longer in our lives and every time I say it I’m reminded of his dad.

“His name just seems to have bad connotations. I haven’t told son my feelings towards his name, I always assure him it’s HIS name and it’s lovely but it’s been over a year since he really started hating his name and it hasn’t changed.

“I thought it was a typical kid thing but it really distressed him.”

The little boy wants to be known as Evan.

The mum shared that she is more than happy with this and is wondering whether she should just start calling him Evan.

However, the little boy is due to start school later this year and she’s not sure what she should put down as his name on the paperwork. What if your child hates their name, too?

“Or shall I keep encouraging him to be called by his real name?”

So what can she do? Well, there are actually a few ways around it.

Here are a few things you can do

Create a nickname

Psychologist and relationship expert Dale Atkins says, “If your child’s name leaves a bad taste in your mouth every time you use it, it’s probably a good idea to look for alternatives. Nicknames can offer some great choices.”

A nickname can be anything. Something cute, or something totally different to their birth name.

Jake could be replaced with similar names like Jackson, John, or Jacob.

Middle name

If your child likes their middle name, consider using that as their name for a period of time to see if it suits them better.

Name change

See if your child hates their name. There’s no law that says you have to stick with a name you hate. Consider a legal name change to something that you both agree on.

Encourage the love

Name expert Sabrina Rogers-Anderson shared that according to several studies, including one conducted in the UK and another involving 304 pairs of Chinese twins, name-liking is actually associated with high self-esteem.

She advised parents the best thing to do is work on your kids self-love, “Instead of worrying too much about which name to give your child, do your best to ensure they’re happy and well-adjusted.”

So have you ever really asked your child if they like their name? What was the response? Now, what if your child hates their name?

(Mine aren’t overly keen on their middle names, which are family names carried down.)

So, your child hates their name. Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool.

First, try to understand why your child hates their name. It could be that they don’t like the sound of it, it’s too common, or it reminds them of someone they don’t like. If you can identify the reason, you may be able to help your child come to terms with their name.

For instance, if your child hates their name, you could suggest nicknames or alternative spellings. If their name is too common, you could help them find a way to make it more unique. Finally, if their name reminds them of someone they don’t like, you could talk to them about how everyone has different experiences with the same name and help them find a positive association for their name.

If you can’t identify the reason your child hates their name, try not to take it personally. Instead, focus on helping your child find ways to feel good about themselves regardless of their name. reassure them that you love them no matter what and that they can always change their name when they’re older if they really hate it.

Lastly, don’t forget that your child is ultimately the one who will have to live with their name, so try to respect their wishes