We will be adopting a beautiful, spunky, outgoing, very popular blonde female very soon. We felt that since we were adopting her and her current name will be changing anyway, that this is a great time to help (if you will) “re-brand” her name!
Dear Jennifer,
We will be adopting a beautiful, spunky, outgoing, very popular blonde female very soon. To give you a little detail to further assist us, we will be moving after the adoption. We felt that since we were adopting her and her current name will be changing anyway, that this is a great time to help (if you will) “re-brand” her name!
As it stands now, it would look horrible on a resume, for business, email etc when she is older…. Additionally, sometimes children make fun of her current name or nickname anyway… Sad – but, true! She does very well in school and is physically and spiritually beautiful… We are college grads and I believe that she will be as well!
We are very blessed to have this miracle coming our way: As our daughter we feel it is critical to give her a new name. The name she currently has does not fit her and/or do justice for her spirit and character. We are mostly of Celtic background. Since her last name will be very [Irish] we are considering some Irish names and would love some input or advice.
Thank You!
Savannah R.
Dear Savannah,
Although you didn’t mention the age of the child, it sounds like she is older, since she is already at school and is doing well. Congratulations.
My usual advice on changing a child’s name is that there’s no harm if the baby is one year or under, but if they’re older than one, they have already identified themselves with their original name. Changing their name might confuse a toddler. For an older child, it could feel like you’re rejecting them, personally.
But after reading the tone of your message, I was concerned about some of the language you are using to describe your future daughter: “Rebranding?” “Physically and spiritually beautiful?” Why you would feel compelled to mention she is blonde? This is a human you’re talking about, not a product or an accessory.
Not once in your message did you say your daughter wanted to change her name. You said YOU feel it is critical to give her a new name. How do you know her name will look “horrible” on a resume? Maybe her accomplishments will stand out. Also, I assume that you will be changing her surname to yours, so I wouldn’t advise changing her first name, as well.
So although I’m avoiding your original question – suggestions for Irish names, which you can find many on our site – my advice would be to collaborate with your child and ask her if she feels she would like a new name. Remember, it is possible to legally keep her original name from her original culture and just go by a nickname at school. If SHE would like to do so. Make it her choice, as she’s the one who has to live with it.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
Jennifer Moss is the founder & CEO of BabyNames.com. For almost 30 years she’s been a valuable resource on names and naming and has answered questions on social media and in her popular column, Ask Jennifer, which we are bringing back to our blogs! Have a question for Jennifer? Email names@babynames.com.
Jennifer Moss (she/her) is the founder of BabyNames.com, author of The Baby Names Workbook, and Producer of The Baby Names Podcast. Jennifer is widely regarded as the leading expert on popular baby name trends and the naming process, serving as the authoritative source on the subject for national and international media.
Jennifer entered the tech arena in the 80s as a software developer and database architect, and became a pioneer in the Internet industry. In addition to operating BabyNames.com, Jennifer owns a web development agency in central California.
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