PCOS Message Board - View Single Post - Changing names of older children... have you done it?

ProudPCOMom · 03-27-2009, 01:30 PM

We changed our daughter's name but not our son's. Our son came with a name that we liked and felt suited him. Our daughter came with a name we truly disliked and really did not fit her, so we called her by a nick-name of that name while she was a foster child. So, she was her bio-name until 24 months (while she was with bio-family), she was nick-name from 24 - 34 months (while 'playing' with her and the new name the last 4 months once we knew she'd be adopted) and as soon as the CW gave us permission, we started using her new name full-time. She was named from a song - so we sang her that line of the song and she loved it. After a year, she no longer has a connection to her old name.

Many adoptive families change their children's names, several involve the children in what the new names would be. Most of the families I know who have done this have been for security reasons or to give the children a fresh start. Sometimes the child asks for a new name, they're usually older children though.

The most common way of getting the child used to the new name is to use it in combination with their current name, eventually dropping the old name. We however used a song with her new name in it and sang it with her often.

When picking our daughter's new name, we did run a few names by her - some she made a horrible face at, so I don't think she approved of them. She loves her new name and is very proud of it.

I think we had more issues from our family who didn't think we *could* change her name.

Susan