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A Rose by Any Other Name: Parents 'Rebrand' Kids

More are switching names after birth
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 2, 2008 4:23 PM CST
A Rose by Any Other Name: Parents 'Rebrand' Kids
Experts recommend switching kids' names before age two. Making the change any later risks triggering an identity crisis.    (Shutterstock)

Naming a baby is a big deal, and some parents can't seem to settle on one. They may have picked "Emma" at birth, but months later decide she looks more like a "Caroline" and navigate the sticky legal system to make the change official. It's a growing phenomenon that CNN calls "namer's remorse"—but its effect on kids remains unclear.

One author compares the endeavor of baby-naming today to "naming a product—there's this huge national drive now not to be like anyone else." If "Sophie" seems too common, it's OK for parents to "rebrand" her, but experts recommend making the change before the child turns 2. After that, it could lead to an identity crisis. (More baby stories.)

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