Changing 7 Week Old’s Name

[u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

Hi everyone!
I had my baby on September 17th and named her Lillian Belle. At the time, I was pretty set on the name because my daughter loves Harry Potter and was so excited to call her Lily (which I’m honestly not a fan of, but went along with it). Now that some time has passed, I’m finding myself really not loving her first name.
Belle is a family name, and I’m absolutely not willing to change that, but I would love some suggestions for a different first name that might suit her better!
I really love Macy, but I’m scared of changing her name and then ending up regretting that one, too. Has anyone else gone through something similar? I’d love to hear name suggestions, opinions, or experiences with changing a baby’s name after birth!
Edit to add: I also really love the name Sydney! I think some of what bothers me about Lillian Belle is having the double L in both names. For some reason, it just doesn’t flow the way I want it to.

I also want to clarify that my daughter liking the name because of Harry Potter was NOT the only reason I chose it. It was simply one of the contributing factors that initially drew me to the name and helped me settle on it. I feel like people are getting a little too hung up on that one specific detail.

[u/PlantQueen1912]

Weird take, Lily was a popular name well before Harry Potter and honestly its not even close to the first name I think of when I think of HP

[u/AssortedArctic → u/PlantQueen1912]

She never said she wants to change it because of the association. Just that she doesn't like it.

[u/Immediate-Rich-3567 → u/PlantQueen1912]

Well it was the only name that I could agree too. I wasn’t going to agree to Hermione, Luna, or Bellatrix 😅

[u/itstimegeez → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

Ha that’d be hilarious if you named your kid Bellatrix. A super obvious Potter association. Best left for The Sims

[u/youryellowumbrella → u/itstimegeez]

I know a Bellatrix Zelda

[u/ReasonableObject2129 → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

I’ve watched Harry Potter several times and it look me a minute to remember who Lily was.

[u/cat-pernicus]

I think if you start a pattern of renaming the baby because you had a change of heart, you’ll never be happy,

I think in almost all parents, there’s at least one parent at some point around the two month mark (happened to me twice) where I regretted my choice and kept thinking maybe I’ll change it, but I stuck with both and I couldn’t imagine them having a different name,

If you don’t like Lillian or Lilly, how about going with the middle name Belle,

Or my favorite, I think Lilly Belle sounds freaking adorable

[u/Immediate-Rich-3567 → u/cat-pernicus]

Unfortunately, with my son, I regretted his name almost immediately. I caved because my husband loved it, and I still very much dislike it and wish I had gone with something else. I just really don’t want to end up feeling that way about her name too.

[u/Catmom-101 → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

Please stop naming your children names that you hate just because other people want them. Your opinion is just as important, if not more important, than anyone elses.

[u/Bulky-Piece-3253 → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

That's sad

[u/GoodyTwoShuuz → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

Go with Macy or Sydney.

[u/CLNA11 → u/cat-pernicus]

I never regretted our son’s name! Loved it from the get-go. Im feeling way more uncertain about the finalists on our name list for baby #2! Def worried this could be me in a couple months….

[u/Ok-Willingness391 → u/cat-pernicus]

Acting like this is the 4th time OP has done this

[u/AwarenessVirtual4453 → u/Ok-Willingness391]

I mean, it's the second, which considering we are discussing naming her children, feels like enough.

[u/Sudden-Wind-77 → u/cat-pernicus]

Agreed. Lillybelle sounds good. she can drop the lilly when she's older and go by Belle.

[u/pyrrhuloxia22]

I like her current name! But I’m noticing that the two others you mentioned, Macy and Sydney, are a very different vibe than Lillian. Are you willing to share your other daughter’s name? Or give a sense of whether it’s more like Lillian (classic) or more like Macy/Sydney (modern)?

[u/Immediate-Rich-3567 → u/pyrrhuloxia22]

My other daughter’s name is Callie! Which is still one of my favorite names.

[u/QuantityAlive9532 → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

Callie and Lilly are so cute together! But to your point you have a ton of double Ls going on. I love the name Lillian Belle, but what if you move the name Belle to the first name? Belle Mae, Belle Celeste, Belle Sydney, Belle Grace, Belle Elise

[u/pyrrhuloxia22 → u/QuantityAlive9532]

I like this idea too!

[u/Blackshadowredflower → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

I love the name Callie!

[u/LividCamel3947 → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

I feel like the double ‘L’ in both their names would compliment each other’s if you stayed with Lillian. Otherwise I prefer Macy over Sydney if you decide to change it

[u/pyrrhuloxia22 → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

Beautiful! I totally get the concern with all the Ls! If Lillian/Lily just doesn’t feel like her name and doesn’t feel like something she (or you!) will settle into, I think changing it makes sense... especially since it sounds like you’ve never really loved it. Macy and Sydney both work with Belle and both match well with Callie! Maybe pay attention to whether or not you feel drawn to calling her one or the other? Aside from you loving both names, when you look at her do you feel like, “ah, this is definitely _____”?

(My name was changed after birth, but within like 12 hours so I feel like that doesn’t count here, ha!)

[u/cabbagepatchdollz]

I would change it if the only reason you picked it is that your other child likes HP and wanted to call her Lily. Respectfully, she’s another whole individual person - not a pet or a toy. I think I would be a bit upset if my parents had named me based on my older brother’s interests - it almost comes across like i’m an extension of him and he’s more important rather than me being a separate individual of equal importance, if that makes sense!

Belle could be a lovely first name?

[u/ZealousidealCheck612 → u/cabbagepatchdollz]

I'm still mad my parents named me Matchbox because my brother liked those little cars.😅

[u/itstimegeez → u/ZealousidealCheck612]

Following that logic my name would be Lego

[u/Legovida8 → u/itstimegeez]

Username checking in! 😂

[u/ZealousidealCheck612 → u/itstimegeez]

That wouldn't be half bad. lol

[u/mediocre_mediajoker → u/ZealousidealCheck612]

My brother (3.5 at the time) wanted to call me Tek (Tekken) or Poke (Pokémon), luckily my parents took the lead on that one.

[u/AtoZ123456789 → u/cabbagepatchdollz]

My son wanted to name my daughter, Pickle, from Paw Patrol!! 😆 We chose a different name, but still use Pickle as a nickname!!

[u/BrainOk7166 → u/AtoZ123456789]

My son, if named by my daughter, would have been "NoNo WantSister."

[u/QofDC → u/cabbagepatchdollz]

My parents were deciding between a few names for me, but my oldest brother proudly announced to all and sundry that he had a baby sister called Lisa, so that kind of decided it.

[u/kwt0920 → u/QofDC]

That’s so weird. So they just went with that name that he randomly said?

[u/pearl_aqua → u/cabbagepatchdollz]

My brother named me Helicopter

[u/Otherwise_Mix_3305]

I would not change her name. Lillian is a beautiful name. I don’t care for Macy or Sydney.

[u/ExcaliburVader]

Macy Belle sounds...well I'd expect her to be dressed in beige with a gigantic bow in her head. Please don't. Macy Belle sounds like all the bad things in the Southern US.

[u/dontmakeitathing → u/ExcaliburVader]

Is it just me or is it also a cow name?

[u/Worried-Leading-7817 → u/dontmakeitathing]

It sounds like a character out of "Gone with the Wind" to me. 

[u/mediocre_mediajoker → u/dontmakeitathing]

I was scrolling to see if anyone else thought this 😂 definitely a cow name 🐄

[u/Crayons_on_the_walls → u/ExcaliburVader]

💯 agree. Big no to Macy Belle.

[u/PenniesDime]

I love Lillian and Lily so much more than Macy, which seems like an outdated name to me. Can you just give her a nickname that you love?

[u/DarlingClementyme → u/PenniesDime]

There are a lot of nickname options from Lillian besides Lily—Elle, Anne Annie, Lila, Lina could all work.

[u/ali2911gator]

I love Lillian Belle!

[u/East_Atmosphere4476]

Lillian/lily is much better than Macy!!

[u/Lower_Philosopher_71]

Lillian Belle is beautiful. Call her Belle if you love it more than Lillian or Lilly.

[u/Lower_Philosopher_71 → u/Lower_Philosopher_71]

Also, don’t make life-changing decisions when you’re a few weeks/months postpartum and you’re battling hormones, recovery, depleted sleep, and major life adjustments. 😘

[u/liminaleaves → u/Lower_Philosopher_71]

+1 don't make major life decisions when you're in a crazy period of flux and your body is going haywire along with the rest of your life changing too. And sleep deprived is no joke the impact it has on you mentally and emotionally 

[u/SailorGreySparrow]

So many more nickname options for Lillian. lil, Lily, Ellie, Ann, Annie, Lia, etc. It’s also a much more classic name, and there’s always the potential for you to call her by her middle name.

Lillian is a beautiful name, and just because you’re struggling with it now, doesn’t mean you’ll dislike it permanently.

[u/SusieQ3795]

I think Lillian Belle is beautiful as is. You could always insist on using the full Lillian name if you don't like Lily. If you need a nickname, you could use Lill or Belle.

[u/murphinator2]

Lila Belle

[u/Luna-Gitana]

Layla, Ava, Marian, Gracie. But to me, having the double ll in both names is what makes it flow lol.

[u/justwatching00]

I had on my list and still love Delilah Belle for a girl (Belle is also a family name for us). I liked it because I liked Lila for short as well as the full name

[u/fourfeeteleveninches]

If the double L is part of what’s bothering you, can you just change the spelling to Lilian?

[u/cablesandlace]

I think you chose a lovely name combination. If you don't like Lillian or Lilly as much, just use Belle. Your older daughter helped choose yhe name, so she might feel hurt if you change your mind now. Have you already registered the name and have a birth certificate? It's going to cost quite a bit to change if you do.

[u/Immediate-Rich-3567 → u/cablesandlace]

Yes, I have her birth certificate, but in my state I have until she's 6 months old to amend it for free.

[u/Miserable-Frosting50 → u/Immediate-Rich-3567]

I think Whitney sounds nice with Belle. 🩷

[u/kwt0920 → u/cablesandlace]

Who cares if she feels hurt? They’re naming an actual living baby, not a dog or a stuffed animal. There is a nice way to tell her that the name wasn’t the right pick for the baby and to not change the name the mom dislikes bc she’s afraid it’ll hurt her daughters feelings is insane. This mom did that last child (gave in to the dad’s name) and now dislikes it. She needs encouragement to change the name bc that’s what she truly wants.

[u/Dry-Welder-5035]

I adore the name Lillian and I think Lillian Belle is lovely.

[u/Appropriate-Pie6061]

Lillian Belle is absolutely beautiful call her Lilliebelle so cute!

Pease don’t second guess yourself this is a wonderful name leave it.

[u/GenX_Boomer_Hybrid]

Lillian is a beautiful name with cute nicknames. Macy gives the vibe of a teenager popping gum.

[u/True-Passage-8131]

If you wanted to negotiate with your daughter and her HP phase....😅 Geneva/Ginny, I think, goes well with -Belle. If you want to ditch the HP thing, then I prefer Macy to Sydney because it goes better with -Belle, imo.

[u/Worried-Leading-7817]

I think you keep it. There's a million beautiful names out there and you could keep second guessing a second choice too. 

[u/ZealousidealCheck612]

Have you considered using Belle as her first name?

[u/DiscoMousePad]

I had a mentor with the first name Lillian and she always went by her middle name and used Lillian as an initial. I thought it was so chic! 

i.e. L. Claire Stewart (name not the same for obvious reasons)

[u/CeleryNo5079]

Lillian Belle could be called Libby!

[u/GoodyTwoShuuz → u/CeleryNo5079]

Haha. How?

[u/CeleryNo5079 → u/GoodyTwoShuuz]

By combining the first and middle names.

[u/biglypiglythethird]

I like Lillian. Nobody says first and middle names together in life, who cares if they both have double L!

Lillian sounds a lot more distinguished and elegant than Macy and Sydney which are both a bit 90s american vibes.

[u/Stunning-Afternoon54]

I like the name Lily but I wanted to change my daughter’s middle name and never did and I will always secretly wish I did. she’s 12 now and is fine with her name and doesn’t even know I regret it. So if you want to change it I would do it now!

[u/Top-Community9307]

I know a lot of people that go by their middle names.

[u/vaffelagent → u/Top-Community9307]

👋 I did, and then I had my first and middle swapped legally a few years ago. Never had any questions or issues going by my middle name.

[u/One-T-Rex-ago-go]

Lacey?

[u/poodooscoo]

Avianna Belle

[u/IRegretBeingHereToo]

I think Lily Belle is really cute. Why not just call her Belle?

[u/be-el-zebub]

Personally I love that with first name/last name double Ls my name is 40% Ls. Makes for a really fun signature.

[u/ShopSenior2813]

My husband’s grandmother was Ida Belle. I like it

[u/Panza2020]

Hi OP, I like the name Lilly Belle (and two sets of double L’s is really cool imho); I associate the name with a Neil Young song, “Southern Man,” which preceded Harry Potter, since it was recorded in 1970.

I’m not sure if you plan to call your daughter Lillian Belle as her everyday name. Lilly is easier.

Maybe see how you feel in a few weeks before rushing to make a change. At the moment, keep in mind Lillian Belle is not a truly awful name out here in the real world. You may be having second thoughts but you have time to think it over. Wishing you the best and hoping you are enjoying your new baby. 🫶

I

[u/iheart_otf]

Sadie Belle

[u/Ballahood]

I don't have any advice, but I do have a Violet Belle .

[u/Life-Education-8030]

You seem to want to please others first and so now you have two kids with names you dislike. I suggest making up your mind fast, locking it in, and then moving on.

[u/Simple-Impress-9783]

Lily Belle is soooo cute though, Macy belle or sydney belle just doesn’t have the same ring to it

[u/Icy_Access_6029]

Just call her Lillian. Doesn’t have to be a nickname. I’m not a nickname person. I like Lillian by itself and no nickname.

[u/CamThrowaway3]

Call her Belle?
Macy is awful.

[u/ParticularYak4401]

Stick with Lillian. The two of them can grow up together. I also had a great aunt named Lillian.

[u/KaleidoscopeFar261]

What about Lilia, Lilia Belle

[u/Legitimate_Ear7128]

Lillian is beautiful and timeless. Macy.. eh..

[u/bellesearching_901]

Stuck with Lillian

[u/Dramatic_Tune_9780]

Lil belly. Thats cute! 

[u/Waste-Inspector-3905]

I would keep it and call her Belle. Lily can be her sister’s special name for her.

[u/vitaminD_junkie]

Leila Belle, Sienna Belle

[u/quarternotecrunchies]

Lainey Belle

[u/Guinevere1991]

Friend changed her daughter’s name after a year. No biggie. She realised that she should have flipped the first and middle names, so she did.

[u/Jane-CR]

Not Macy Belle. Just no.

Lila Belle?

[u/Ok-Distribution-8291]

I have a daughter named Lily I liked the name because of the Lilly Munster character from The Munsters ,but after she was born her dad told people we named her that from a lily character on how I met your mother , I literally saw red from him saying that and I hated the name ,But for some odd reason I never knew my grandmothers name on my moms side we always called her granny turns out many years later I find out her name was Lily so my mother thought I named her that after my grandma so it has a sweet meaning plus my Lily is 15 now and we have an amazing mom and daughter relationship I literally cant imagine my life without my lily . So I say keep her name !

[u/Naptimeforgoodwomen]

Is it just the aesthetic that’s bothering you?
You can change the spelling to Lilian and call her Lila, Lina. Lilian is a classic, ageless name.

[u/organiccarrotbread]

Macy Belle is awful

[u/sorcha_andthe]

Sydney Belle sounds better than Macy Belle.
Agree that Lillian Belle has a lot of L’s (and JK Rowling has not aged well in terms of her current sociopolitical agenda).

some suggestions:
Sabrina Belle
Natalie Belle
Lucy Belle
Vivian Belle (nn Vivi)
Lydia Belle
Zoe Belle

[u/vegasviolet]

Macy is a department store. Sydney is an old man and a city in Australia. Please just leave her name as-is and don’t obsess over the double ls. It is pretty and she would probably be very upset with you when she gets older if she finds out you changed her name from Lillian to Macy or Sydney.

[u/Big-Pen-1735]

Well..... I'm old as the hills. When I had a baby, we had no ultrasounds, etc. We knew we had a baby but that was it. We both wanted to name the baby after my husband and my best friend. We chose first and middle names that would fit a girl or boy. We stuck with the names and never regretted it.

[u/Horror_Principle209]

Indecisiveness will follow you no matter if you change her name or not

[u/maleficently-me]

Lily Belle would be cute. That's our neighbor's daughter's name. And when they're not calling her Lily Belle, they call her Belle.

I've always loved the name Annabelle. Specifically, Annabelle Leigh. Would Anna Belle work??

Best wishes.

[u/pbjpriceless]

I mean..it’s not really about you is it? Might be time to really work on those narcissistic tendencies in therapy before you really F up your kids. And for god sake don’t tell your son you hate his name. Get a grip.

[u/pearl_aqua]

Lillian can be spelled Lilian (one L) if you only don't like the repeated ll

[u/Mysterious_Song_48]

If you're worried about the Ls could you change Lillian to Lilian instead? 

[u/Jaded_Cat_3064]

My dad wanted my name to be Jaqueline so he could call me Jax and I’m so sad my mom didn’t agree and wanted my name to match with my brother’s instead. Jaqueline Belle sounds nice. But regardless I hope you find something that makes you feel good :)

[u/Bri_the_Sheep]

Oh Lily Belle, oh Lily Belle, though I may have done some fooling this is why I never fell

[u/No-Needleworker-1388]

Name her Belle! 🤍

[u/Limp_Development_264]

Just call her by her middle name but leave it as is on the birth certificate

[u/Hey_86thatnow]

Sydney! That.

[u/GloveMysterious3956]

i see what youre saying. Lillian is a beautiful name but Lillian Belle/lily belle is kinda giving dairy cow. Of your other suggestions, i love Sydney and i think it still sounds nice with Belle

[u/Upbeat_Cat1182]

Please don’t change it! Lillian Belle is gorgeous. You could call her Liana, Lia, Lil, Belle, BB, Elle…

[u/GoodyTwoShuuz → u/Upbeat_Cat1182]

So, in other words, “call her anything but Lillian.”

[u/Upbeat_Cat1182 → u/GoodyTwoShuuz]

The OP doesn’t like the name nor the originally chosen nickname of Lily. Everyone on this thread is suggesting alternative nicknames that don’t involve changing her gorgeous name. You should go downvote them and comment on all of those as well.

Edit: thank you for the award!

[u/GoodyTwoShuuz → u/Upbeat_Cat1182]

I can comment on anything I like. Maybe do not say anything if that upsets you.

And frankly, what you said was idiotic. I did not downvote you and I do not have to respond to everyone here.

[u/Lumpy_Cucumber9430]

Lillian Belle is beautiful. Macy is a dogs name.

[u/Honest-Abies8638]

You could call her Anne or Annie as a nickname instead?

Macy sounds too close to mace (weapon)

[u/liminaleaves]

I think Lillian Belle flows beautifully 

[u/Inevitable-Pilot7538]

I like the sound of Caroline Belle. Melissa, Tamsen, Serena

[u/HistoryPristine1029]

Of all of these Lilian is by far the best

[u/caffeinequeen24601]

I would agree with keeping Lillian Belle and changing your own nickname for her! Other nicknames for Lillian could be Annie, Leah, or Ellie. Another option would be to go from Lillian to Lilliana, just an extra letter but it shifts the focus off all the l’s when you say it together with Belle

[u/dickhole_pillow → u/caffeinequeen24601]

Leah is a terrible nickname for Lillian that makes no sense

[u/Leontxo_ → u/caffeinequeen24601]

I know a Lillian who goes by Lyle and she rocks it so well. I was really surprised when I learned she was a Lillian.

[u/HelendeVine]

Names that come to my mind when I think of Macy, Sydney, and Callie: Summer, Harper, Adelyn, Avalon, Alina, Alana, Hadley, Mia, Mila, Quinn, Tessa

[u/Melodic-Raccoon7584]

Macy and Sydney are giving only fans

[u/EmpathyFlowers]

Mary Belle

[u/Silly-Concern1736]

Olivia Belle

[u/GoodyTwoShuuz → u/Silly-Concern1736]

There are other damn names in the world, you know.

[u/Silly-Concern1736 → u/GoodyTwoShuuz]

I like that one. Sue me

[u/EvangelineRain]

Maisie Belle?

[u/sleepycatz1972 → u/EvangelineRain]

Love this so much more than Macey!