How did you go about the name change? Did you just start using the new name right away or phase it in? Also, did you get to change the name while in country, or have to do it when you got home?
It was suggested to us that we use his original name and tack Samuel on to the end of it, slowly phasing the old name out. That just seems to me like it would confuse him! We're going to be speaking a different language than he's used to anyways, so he's really not going to understand anything we say.
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DD Isabelle Caiyi(5) - Adopted from China
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Zach was 9.5 months when he came home, and we just started using his new name. (Marvin was his birth name) After a couple of days, he would look at you when you said Zach. Just because I was curious, I tried calling him Marvin about 3 weeks later. He wouldn't even look at me. Then I said Zach and he turned immediately.
Zach's Foster parents spoke only Spanish, so he didn't hear English either. We spoke to him in English from day one and it was no problem.
As for 'officially' changing his name, that will have to happen when we readopt him here. For now, his name is listed as Marvin Moises (DH's last name) (My maiden name). However, we plan to keep Moises as part of his new name.
I honestly think that however you decide to do it will be fine. Either phasing it out or just calling him Samuel.
Can't wait to hear about your little Samuel!!!!
__________________ Jen
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We called Emily her Chinese name in China and once in a while would say "Emily" too. She never responded to Emily (of course!) but did know her Chinese name so we stayed with that in China.
Once home we phased Emily in and to this day (nearly 6 months later!) she will occasionaly respond to her Chinese name instead!
We put her CN as her middle name, btw. It sounds beautiful together!
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Although, I myself have never adopted, others in my family have. Brianna was orginally named Dianna but it was changed for a family reason. They used the new name right away. She was 3 when they changed her name she also only spoke Bulgarian. The name change was flawless, she did not seem to react unfavorably to it and it didn't seem like an issue. Her launguage improved within a week. Children seem to learn lauguage easier than adults. Although she tried to teach me bulgarian when she first came here! I think age has a lot to do with this.
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We did not change our baby girls name - Her give name was Raquel Elizabeth, that is the name left on birth certificate, but we call her Rachel. Rachel is the English version of her name. I have done alot of research about adoptees and their feelings regarding having their name change. My dh and I had a name picked since we first got married. But when it came time to use it we couldn't. I never want my daughter to feel that took her identity, the only thing that she has left of her birth parents. I guess having met her birth parents and knowing that they truly loved her, but could not care for her, I just could not do that to them as well.
I think depending on what adoptee you talk to, they don't all feel the same way. My BIL is adopted and he doesn't care about what his given name was. I've talked to some that wished it hadn't been changed and other that wished it had, so I really think you should go with what you feel most comfortable with.
The way I see it, if someday Zach wants to change his name back to Marvin, then I'll be MORE than happy to pay to have it changed back.
__________________ Jen
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We changed our sons name at 15 months...I guess becuz he had to learn English and everything all at once it made sense that we would be calling him something different as well ?
His 'mama's' in the orphanage called him "Dima" which is alot different than Aerik and it wasnt a hassle...just took a day or two for him to figure it out...
But we started incorporting it right away so he didnt get confused...
HTH,
Amy
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Our twins were named Miguel and Estuardo. We kept those names as their middle names and added new first names. For awhile we just called them by their first and middle name and then phased into calling them by just their first name. Although, I do still call them "Miguelito" and "Estuardito" - but more as love names (pet names) than anything else.
On a side note...the boys know their name changed at two years old when we brought them home. Recently my sisters' little boy turned 2 and the boys wanted to know what his new name would be after his birthday...don't all babies change their names at 2?
Also, if you were to ask them where babies come from...I can assure you they would tell you "Guatemala". Their babysitter had to take some time off because she had a baby. While explaining they would be going to a new sitter because Deann had a baby...one of the twins promptly asked..."When did she go to Guatemala?"
Our "Zhenya" has been home less than 2 weeks and already responds to Alex... yesterday I called him Zhenya and he didn't respond but he came when I said Alex. Babies adapt so quickly....
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Question for anyone who changed their baby's name 
