Choosing a baby name is often perceived as a straightforward task, yet it can become surprisingly complex. In my case, despite having nine months to prepare, I found myself in a peculiar situation. When my daughter was around four weeks old, I looked at her adorable, tiny face and realized, “This child is not a ‘Presley’.” It dawned on me that we had selected the wrong name.
Initially, I kept my thoughts to myself, assuming I would gradually adapt. My husband, along with our family and friends, would call her Presley, while I silently cringed. I started referring to her as “the baby” or occasionally experimented with names like Lily or Harper when I was alone with her.
Broaching the Subject
As time passed, I casually broached the subject with my husband, saying, “What do you think about changing Presley’s name?” His reaction was one of disbelief, given that our daughter was already six months old. However, knowing my tendency to overthink, he shouldn’t have been too shocked. After two more months of deliberation, we finally started calling her by a new name when she turned eight months old.
A New Name: Summer
And so, “Presley” became “Summer”. Interestingly, I took inspiration from a character in the now-defunct TV series, “The O.C.” While some parents opt for names inspired by athletes or movie stars, I prefer the charm of characters from nostalgic teen dramas.
The Name Change Process
Changing a child’s name isn’t a simple process, especially in a post-9/11 world, particularly in New York City. The authorities scrutinize each application to ensure there’s no hidden agenda behind a name change. It took six visits to civil court to finalize her name change to Summer. Each visit to the courtroom revealed a variety of interesting cases: there was a man wanting to switch his name to “Wo Woo”, a transgender individual seeking a more feminine name, and a woman who couldn’t recall what her middle initial stood for.
Through this experience, I realized two key things: being a judge in New York City must be incredibly entertaining, and I’m not as unconventional as I thought.
Resources for Expecting Parents
For those contemplating baby names, be sure to explore the Scary Mommy baby name database for a plethora of options and inspiration.
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Conclusion
In summary, the journey of selecting a baby name can often lead to unexpected realizations and changes, and it’s a journey that many parents navigate, sometimes more than once.