This mom changed her baby’s name at 18 months—and she’s not alone

When we were naming our first son, I had one big insecurity: I loved the name Henry, but it didn’t have an anchor back to a meaningful family name or some deep personal connection. It was just a name I liked—was that enough? My husband reassured me, saying we would give the name meaning by raising our baby Henry. And he was right. Now, as a mom, I couldn’t imagine Henry as anything else.

But not every mom feels that certainty—and that’s okay. Name regret is real, and if you feel it, you’re not alone. BabyCenter survey found that 9% of moms have experienced regret over the name they chose for their child. One of the key reasons for this regret is that 10% of moms feel their child’s name simply doesn’t match their personality. Whether due to changing preferences or unexpected associations, baby name regret is more common than many might think.

Just ask TikTok creator Jen Hamilton, who recently went viral for sharing her journey of renaming her son when he was 18 months old. Hamilton, who has four million followers, posted a video that struck a chord with many parents questioning their baby name choices.

The TikTok shared by a mom that started the conversation

Hamilton’s viral TikTok starts with a simple question: “Do you ever regret what you named your kid?” She then answers herself, saying, “That would be me.”

She goes on to explain that when she was pregnant with her second child, she wanted a name that reflected adventure and nature—something that fit the outdoorsy spirit of her husband and eldest son. After scouring Pinterest for “outdoorsy boy names,” they landed on Aspen.

Related: My baby’s name is not up for discussion

But as Aspen grew, it became clear he had other plans. As Hamilton describes, he “gets carsick in the Chick-fil-A drive-thru,” “gags at the thought of a blueberry,” and prefers “air conditioning and sitting down” over any sort of rugged adventure. “Whereas most kids have a stuffed animal or a blanket they’ve really enjoyed their whole life, he has a comfort mole,” she adds, pointing to a tiny mole on his body that he finds soothing.

As Aspen’s personality emerged, Hamilton felt more and more that his name didn’t suit him. She first confessed her feelings to her sister, who immediately encouraged her to change it. But even with that support, she hesitated. “Nobody does that,” she thought. “I figured I was just going to have to live with it.”Finally, after months of feeling disconnected from the name, Hamilton and her husband made the change official. Aspen became Luke—a name meaning ‘light,’ which felt far more fitting for their sweet, comfort-loving son. The legal process took nearly a year, and by the time he was 18 months old, his new name was official.

It’s okay to evolve with your baby

Many parents feel pressure to pick the perfect name before their baby is even born. But in reality, you’re choosing a name for a tiny person you haven’t met yet. Some cultures expect name changes—many Jewish families wait until a baby’s bris or naming ceremony, while in China, a child might receive a “milk name” before settling on their lifelong name. There’s no universal rule that says you have to get it right on the first try.

Hamilton’s video has opened up an important conversation about baby name regret. While some people might be shocked at the idea of changing a name so late, others see it as an empowering decision—one that embraces the fluidity of parenthood itself.

So if you’re struggling with baby name regret, take a deep breath. Maybe your child’s name will grow on you, or maybe you’ll decide a change is best. Either way, it’s your family’s story to write. And as Hamilton’s journey shows, sometimes a name change is just what you need to fully embrace the child in front of you.

Related: Nearly 1 in 10 parents wish they’d chosen a different name for their child