Naming a child can be a daunting task, and it often requires considerable thought, even up to nine months of gestation. However, in my case, that time still wasn’t sufficient. When my daughter was merely a month old, I gazed at her adorable, squished face and realized, “This little one is definitely not a Presley.” The name simply did not fit her.
Despite my internal conflict, I kept quiet, believing that either she would adapt to her name or I would. Family and friends referred to her as Presley, leaving me to silently bristle. In truth, I often resorted to calling her “the baby,” or trying out alternative names like Lila or Harper when no one was around, hoping to find something that resonated.
As time passed, I casually broached the subject with my husband: “What do you think about changing Presley’s name?” He looked at me as if I had just suggested something outrageous—after all, our daughter was now six months old. But he knew my personality when he married me, so wasn’t this somewhat his fault too?
After two more months of contemplation, we finally decided to start calling her by a new name at eight months old. Yes, eight months. This surely must happen to others too, right? Thus, “Presley” transformed into “Summer.” I confess, I borrowed the name from the now-defunct television show, “The O.C.” While many parents choose to name their children after famous athletes or actors, I believe that characters from nostalgic teen dramas offer a unique charm.
Changing a name legally, especially in a post-9/11 environment, can be quite the undertaking, particularly in New York City. Authorities wanted to ensure that my child wasn’t connected to any illicit activities or identity fraud. While I can’t account for every nap she’s taken, I’m fairly confident she’s lived a straightforward life.
The process required six visits to civil court before we could officially rename her Summer. During one of those sessions, I observed as individuals petitioned for name changes. There was a man wanting to switch his name to “Wo Woo,” a transgender person seeking a more feminine identity, a father wishing to Americanize his children’s names, and a woman who couldn’t recall what her middle initial “H” stood for—Harriet or Hazel. It dawned on me that perhaps I wasn’t as outlandish as I thought.
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In summary, naming a child can be a complicated and sometimes humorous journey. Whether you end up loving the name or needing to change it, know that you’re not alone in this experience.
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