One in seven parents admit they made a “terrible mistake” with the name they chose for their child, according to a study.
Researchers found that despite parents loving their choice at the time, millions of mums and dads grow to regret it. One in five said this was because the name became “too popular” with other parents, but almost one in 10 were put off thanks to a celebrity choosing it for their own child.
The study of 2,000 parents by Channel Mum found one in three of those who regret their child’s name tried to choose something unique – but now can’t venture to the park without bumping into hoards of kids with the same name.
Interestingly, 28% of people have even told their child that they regret choosing their name – and more than one in ten said their children have told them they don’t like it themselves.
The study also found one in 20 parents call their child something different to the name on their birth certificate because they no longer like it. Just 14% had gone so far as officially changing their child’s name.
SJ Strum, baby names expert from ChannelMum.com, said: “Picking your baby name is one of the most important parts of becoming a parent – and it’s also something which everyone from friends and family to total strangers has an opinion on.”
Strum continued: “Celebrity trends mean there are an ever-growing list of baby names to choose from, but this also means more opportunities to choose a name which you, or your child, then learn to loathe.”
The study found one in two parents would be put off a name if a celebrity chose it for their child, with half saying they wouldn’t choose Bear, the name picked by Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne for their son.
Harper, made popular by David and Victoria Beckham came second in the celebrity baby names parents would least like their children to share, along with Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s choice of Kai and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Shiloh.
Top 10 reasons parents regret their child’s name:
1. It became really popular
2. I was pressured into choosing a name by my partner/ family member
3. I’ve just gone off it
4. I no longer think it fits them
5. My friend chose the same name for their baby
6. It’s too unusual
7. It’s difficult to spell
8. Someone with the same name became famous
9. A celebrity named their child with the same name
10. It sounds like something rude or awkward when you put it with their middle name/surname.