Were you Adopted & Was your name changed?

StacieG

I wasn't adopted, but have two adopted daughters. We adopted them internationally.

We found out five minutes before we met them that they wanted new names. We hadn't even CONSIDERED changing their names (they were 7 & 10). We told them that we'd call them nicknames and then when we got back to the US, we'd discuss what we'd do when we re-adopted them in our state.

About six months later is when we could re-adopt them, so a couple months before that, we revisited the name thing. They still wanted new names, so we made a list of about five names each that were VERY close to their birth names (basically derivatives of their birth names) and included their actual birth names also. We allowed them to choose from the list what they wanted their names to be.

They both have beautiful names that they love. Our oldest daughter want to legally change her name to her nickname when she's 18, though...LOL. She will likely change her mind by then (another 5 years).

florida gal

I was adopted, but my adoptive parents named me from birth. Do I like my name...NO. But then a lot of kids are not happy with the names given to them.

goodquestion

If you go to adoption forums where adult adoptees are posters, you'll find that the majority do NOT appreciate losing their original names. It's usually the only thing tying them to their first family. The only exception seems to be if the original name REALLY is too difficult to pronounce or in some other way would expose the child to ridicule.

Angela R

We adopted both of our children from Korea at around 6 months old. We chose new first names for them, and but kept their original first and middle names as their middle name now. We've said that if they decide to go by their middle name when they get older then that's fine with us.

Stunnah

I was adopted, over-seas. I live in the U.S. now, but that's not where i was born.
I was adopted at 3 and a half. And no, my parents never changed my name. I'm glad they didn't!
Take care,
xx

Alexa's Mommy

I was with a foster family growing up (from 13 mths on) my sister and I later got adopted when I was 12, by the same family. They were older. 57 and 67. I did get my name changed (hyphenated) I wanted it at first but after a while I hated it because my sister and I were being abused and by 15, social services came and took me out of the home and into a new one. I regret the name change AND have really bad memories of my earlier life.

Helpless mother of seven

I have friends who adopted their son from Ethopia and he had a very difficult and long name. They did kept the Ethopian first name but what they did was cool. they name him with the first they had chosen for their next child used his Ethopian first name as the middle and it fits together like it was a name made in haven........I think he will be pleased when he grows up.

Takarie K

I was adopted very young along with my twin brother. We kept our names but got new middle names. So I guess we kept are name and got a new one at the same time.

MsScarlet

Adopted as an infant and I thank God everyday that my sweet little Yankee mama changed my name to Donna cause it would have just been awful to live in the South with the first name Scarlet!!! I did retain it for my yahoo name though.

Proud

My youngest brother is actually my nephew. My parents adopted him at about 2 months old because my sister couldn't take care of him. She had named him Brandon Damion. It was after the actor from that movie "the crow". When my parents adopted him, they changed his name to Peter Isaiah. Not for any particular reason, it was just that his birth name was meant to be morbid and satanic. (No, my parents aren't religious). He's 12 now and knows all the details. He sometimes says that he wants to change his name back to Brandon.....

SlothMom in Slothburgh

My father was adoped as an infant and my grandparents named him.

kikintina

I was an infant, but I had another name already. I'm glad that my parents changed my name because, to me, it's part of what binds us together as a family. Had I been older and known my biological family, I may have felt differently. Then I'd think that the last name should be changed to reflect the new family, and perhaps keep the former surname as a middle name.

Making a family with an adopted child is a huge responsibility and a leap of faith; I think the parents deserve a chance to contribute to the name. If the child is older (over two), I think s/he should be involved.

Torrejon

I'm adopted and thank goodness my parents changed my name! It used to be Baby Girl No Last Name...no kidding!

george_wink2005

yes i was adopted i would like to chat about it with you so can you please chat with me about it please

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