Changing a child’s given name at birth can be a heated debate within the adoption community. Some believe that parents should name the child when adopting, others believe that if the birth parents have named the child then the name ought to remain unchanged. Some people strongly believe that you ought to maintain any and all possible connections, including the given name, that a child may have to their birth family. How do you know when it is appropriate to change your child’s name, and when you should keep the given name?
To be honest, there is no rule set in stone regarding what to do in these situations. If there were an actual rule written somewhere, it would lighten the stress load for adoptive parents who are not sure what they should do. Then, they could look to the rule book and follow along. Or, if they are the rebellious type, they could break the rules and welcome the judgment that follows.
But, as we all know and have heard many times, there is no parenting manual.
There are no rules in parenting. Nobody can tell you what is right or wrong. We are all just winging it and hoping we are making the best decisions. As long as the best interest of the child is at the heart of your decisions, you are doing a good job! And, no matter what you do, there will be those who disagree. So, the truth is, you need to decide if you feel it is appropriate to change your child’s name at
adoption.
When Is It Appropriate to Change Your Child’s Name?
