# Help me rename my daughter **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018 "2005-09-23T05:27:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/1 "2005-09-23T05:27:28Z")
Thing is, I don’t like her name as much as I used to. She only has one. We didn’t give her a middle name because we didn’t want to. But now she wants one. Her name is Natalie. So, I want nominations for what I can replace that with, _and_ suggestions for a brand new middle name. I really appreciate your help, and would post a photo except I don’t know how to use the new digital camera besides pointing it at things and pressing the button. Which reminds me - if you’ve got any ideas of what I could call my digital camera, as well. It’s a Canon Powershot, I think. Silver, anyway. And quite small. But not as small as the really small ones. Does bits of video too. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/2 "2005-09-23T05:31:56Z")
Zonimae. That’s what Dad wanted to name me, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/3 "2005-09-23T05:36:51Z")
How old is she? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/4 "2005-09-23T05:39:38Z")
I think Natalie Elizabeth sounds nice. With Elizabeth as a middle name, she’d have tons of nicknames to choose from. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/5 "2005-09-23T06:03:18Z")
> [@Millit the Frail](#): > > How old is she? She’s 9. Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I like them all, especially Zonimae and Elizabeth. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/6 "2005-09-23T06:10:02Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I like them all, especially Zonimae and Elizabeth. Especially especially as they are the _only_ suggestions so far 🙂 I’ve always liked **Alathea** , from the Robin Trower song of the same name. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/7 "2005-09-23T06:10:21Z")
Alexandra Beth Charlotte Deirdre Eleanor Francesca Gemma Hannah Isabella Jane Katherine Louisa Miranda Nora Orla Philomena Quinn Rowena Serena Theodora Una Veronica Wynona Xanthe Yelena Zoe ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/8 "2005-09-23T06:12:06Z")
Carissa ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/9 "2005-09-23T06:14:17Z")
Angelique . . . what? I need an heir, damnit! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/10 "2005-09-23T06:23:28Z")
I’m assuming her last name is Thornhill? It makes a difference in the flow, you know. 😉 Alexandria Rose Thornhill Sophia Katharine Thornhill Kate Thornhill Frankie Elizabeth Thornhill Beulah Gertrude Thornhill [sub]just kidding[/sub] Hannah Kate Thornhill ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/11 "2005-09-23T06:35:37Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Carissa That’s amazing. Just yesterday I was challenging my daughter about one of her classmates who she said had this English name. (Her classmates are 100% pure Chinese, case you wonder why I say “English” name.) “Clarissa?!” I yelled at her. “Yes, actually, _Carissa_,” she replied in that you’re-so-wrong-about-everything…and-so-uncool-with-it manner. Then she had the cheek to show me some piece of paper with Carissa’s name on it. Dear, dear. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/12 "2005-09-23T06:39:58Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > I’m assuming her last name is Thornhill? It makes a difference in the flow, you know. Absolutely. I thought of providing you with the surname before, but demured on security grounds. I do feel safe in saying that it’s a double barrelled name. Initials T-D. PS I love all the names you suggest. Very Laura Ashley. Beulah is the standout so far. Wasn’t there a film about her day off? ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/13 "2005-09-23T07:20:45Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > Absolutely. I thought of providing you with the surname before, but demured on security grounds. I do feel safe in saying that it’s a double barrelled name. Initials T-D. > > PS I love all the names you suggest. Very Laura Ashley. Beulah is the standout so far. Wasn’t there a film about her day off? Well if you like Beulah, I’ve got plenty more along those lines. Are you hoping she never dates? 😉 [sub]no offense to anyone named Beulah[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/14 "2005-09-23T07:38:29Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > Well if you like Beulah, I’ve got plenty more along those lines. Yes please. > [@](#): > > Are you hoping she never dates? What, like Dorian Gray? ---
**Author:** ![Sarah\_Woodruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sarah\_Woodruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah_Woodruff)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/15 "2005-09-23T08:09:44Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > I do feel safe in saying that it’s a double barrelled name. How about **Elizabeth Regina**? ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/16 "2005-09-23T08:33:02Z")
> [@Sarah Woodruff](#): > > How about **Elizabeth Regina**? Elizabeth, I like. But I think she’d never forgive me if she unwraps her brand new middle name and finds it is shared with a place in Saskatchewan. And what trouble she’s going to have finding anything to rhyme with it! ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/17 "2005-09-23T08:38:04Z")
Er…does she _want_ a new _first name_, too? ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/18 "2005-09-23T08:38:32Z")
My 7 month old granddaughter is named **Alice.** I think it’s a lovely name and I’d like to recommend it to you. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/19 "2005-09-23T08:47:35Z")
ALICE!! What a coincidence. I’m just reading _Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland_ with her at the moment. I like that a lot! _Ranchoth_, no _I_ want to give her a new first name. I thought I’d dealt with that. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018/20 "2005-09-23T09:09:01Z")
Wait–she doesn’t want a new name, but you want to change it for her? At age 9? Might this be kind of difficult for her? When I was a school-aged kid, if my parents had told me they didn’t like my name anymore and planned to change it, I would have felt kind of like an object. I mean, your name is your identity, one of the first things you learn about yourself. As a kid, I felt very close to my own name. Your daughter would have to teach the new name to all her friends, and she’d have to learn to write it differently…the permanency of a name is something a child of that age usually takes for granted. I’m not trying to chastise you or flame you or anything, just wondering how you decided to make the change and how you’re going to get your daughter used to the new name. I rather prefer the option of just giving her a new middle name and letting her go by that if she likes. What kind of names do you like? Any that come to mind? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-rename-my-daughter/323018.md?page=2)