Child changing her name?!?

Question

My stepdaughter decided to change her first name and is now telling all her friends and teachers to call her that. Her real name is not weird or offbeat and quite pretty. She chose an old fashioned name that is nice, but I find this concerning. Her birth Mom has been going through personal turmoil and I think this is the child's anxiety response? What do you think?

Answer 1

always follow the birth certificate.

Answer 2

everyoone goes through it i to this day still hate my name  

Answer 3

Is she trying to change it legally, or is she just telling people to call her by another name?  I had a friend who, at one point, for no apparent reason, decided she wanted to be called something other than the name her parents gave her.  She was a little younger than your stepdaughter at the time.  Eventually, she got tired of it and went back to her regular name.  I don't think your stepdaughter wanting to change her name is anything to be worried about in itself, but you may want to talk with her and help her deal with the trouble her birth mother has been going through.

Answer 4

I think a lot of kids would do this if their parents would allow it. Their identity is being formed and sometimes they want to change the name as a concrete sign of this. Often they revert back, sometimes they don't. I don't find it that strange of her.

Answer 5

Children like to change their names.  Yesterday my 3 1/2 year old grandson wanted to change his name to Nemo.  My 5 year old granddaughter changes her name a lot.  Elizabeth and Emma are her favorites.

I'm not sure about a 13 year old but I think they enjoy being called a different name also.  This is just another phase that she will get over.  If it continues for very long, you might have to but a stop to it.  

Answer 6

Well, it would help if you said;

1. her real name

2. her imaginary name

3. whether she has done this before

4. what your husband says

5. what the mom says

6. does she ever respond to her real name

ask her why shes doing this

if she wants a new name suggest have a nickname

like katherine would be katie.

Answer 7

How old is your step daughter?

If she is very young it may just be a faze