Should we change my adopted sisters name?

Question

My parents adopted a baby that is already named. Her name is just like my other sisters, just one letter different. It is so annoying!!! One is Delaney and the other is DeLacey, not to mention that my other sister is named Dacelynn. DeLacey is like both names smushed together. Whenever they call out to them it is like (Laney, Lacey, Dacey.....Whatever your name is, come her!) They have talked about changing her name, but feel bad cuz she is adopted and that she might be mad at us later. Is that true

Answer 1

You should keep her name the same.  If you want to give her a nickname, that is ok.

Answer 2

I would recommend using a nickname.

Answer 3

I would say it depends on how old she is and if she all ready knows/responds to her own name.

You could always NOT change her name legally, and just come with a nickname for her like DeeDee.... that way later in life she will have the option of using her birth name.

Answer 4

I think you should change her name to Squishy.  Either that or Fred.

I like Squishy better though.

ETA:

Or MAYBE you should change one of your other sister's names.  Why is it the adoptee who has to have their name changed?  

I wonder how you would feel if someone wanted to change your name because it's "annoying".

Yes, I've changed my mind, it's the other sisters' names that must go.  Keep the adoptee's name.  And you should change yours too while you're at it.

Answer 5

Why do adoptees always have to be the one to change everything about themselves in order to fit in with a new family? I think that in order to get a small sliver of what it's like...she should get to choose ALL of your new names and then you should have those legally changed. How would that feel?

Answer 6

I actually think its neat that all of your names are similar.  I wouldn't change anything!  :-)

Answer 7

I really don't like changing the name of an adopted child.  I am of the opinion that a child's name is one of the few things an adoptee has that is completely theirs and if the child's first family named her, that's an even more important connection.

I see nothing wrong with adding middle names or nicknames, but unless there is a seriously compelling reason to change a child's given name, I don't think it's a good idea.

Answer 8

If she is not old enough to realize her name I would change it so anyone of the other family that she came from does not try to track you down years later.

Answer 9

keep her name its HER name and her right to have that name

Answer 10

Why are your parents so obsessed with the letter D? Changing her name will only bring more confusion and less security into her life. She's already been shuffled into a new home and had her name changed once. Just nickname her Lacey or Dee Dee or something.

Answer 11

You should probably keep that name, If she is old enough to understand her name.

Answer 12

If the child is old enough to say "My name is _____, " it's too late to change it. I believe there is a window between where the child learns that and when s/he is old enough to chose if they want to keep their name or change it.  

I've known of kids who walked into their adoptive homes and decided their name was something else.  I met one in one of my adoptive training class who walked into her new home and announced that her name was now Elizabeth.  It was seven years after that day when she introduced herself to the group as Liz, and had no regrets of changing her name!

Answer 13

If you do, use her first as the middle

Call her for a while  ______ DeLacey

I might change her name to Lacey to give her her own name, but close to her given name