When adopting a child, is it okay to change their name...or do you leave it the same?

I was adopted as a baby from South Korea. I was given the name Kim Mee Ja. Once my adoptive parents got me they renamed me Aimee because my korean name fit in.

You can rename your child whatever you want, but I always loved knowing that I was extra special because I had two names instead of just one.

It depends on your reason for wanting to change their name and how old they are. For instance, a parent adopting a child from foster care may change the child's name as a safety precaution to make it harder for a dangerous biological parent to find the child. A child who was given a ridiculous or inappropriate name at birth (ie, Tequilla), or who is being adopted into a family with a naming pattern already in place (ie, 5 older sibs whose names all start with J) might benefit from a name change, but an older child may not want their name changed. If you do change their name, under no circumstances should you hide or alter papers with their birth name - it is a part of their story. Simply explain your choice the same as the child gets older as any birth parent must do.

It really depends on how old the child is and your reasons for changing it. I usually say do not change it........I have changed spellings when the biological mother did something silly like "Devtay" when it was "Devontay" or tried to be fancy "Na'Tasha" to "Natasha"

I've had young boys stuck with names like Harold, Eugene and Authur, that requested a change, and we worked with them to find one they liked.....but nothing stupid like after a celebrity.

I work in special needs adoptions, I recall a little girl who was named after her father who molested her and her sisters. She was 6 and wanted her name changed. Although we all discussed that changing her name wouldn't undo what was done, this man was not worthy of the honor....

In many cases, the name is the only thing the child has, I wouldn't take that away. I also hate when people destroy a culture aspect....We had a caucasian woman (I never placed with her) who was a racist in the worst sense...she only adopted African American children and honestly said to me "I feel called to save them from being a product of that culture." She whitewashed all their names....even the children who were like 8 and 9....made me ill.

I would leave it, unless there is a real reason to change it.

Yes, it's perfectly fine. If the child is over 3 then you should ask then how they like the name. If they don't like it, respect their opinion and pick a new one. My family recently adopted 5 and 6yr old out of foster care and changed their names. They were fine with it. Good luck with the adoption! Adoptions are very nice and have a special place in my heart! <3

You can change it but i would keep it unless-

-the child wants to change it

-there r safety reasons like keping her parents away if they abused her

- Also if she was named something innapropriate or mean.

I think u should keep it if none of the reasons apply or if he/she is young wait till' she's older and she can decide then. Cause how would u feel if u had ur parents taken away? wouldn't u at least want to remember them by the name they gave u?

My mom just shortened mine by taking out the two middle names.

Speaking as an adoptee, I'm so very grateful that I had at least one part of my name intact, even if I didn't have the other.

You are by all means allowed to change the child's name... the child you adopt will also carry your last name...so you are more than welcome to change his/her name.

Now it depends on how old is the child you're adopting, if you're adopting a much older child that knows his/her name and is also known by that name... you may want to keep it.

You need to use your discretion-and good common sense...

It depends on the age & kid really. Some kids even though they are older want a fresh start & a new name.

I ran into a unfortunate foster case of someone naming they child "dragon balls (lame name)" Luckily he was adopted out before he started school. Poor kid.

if it's an infant I would say you could change it but an older child probably not unless you asked them if they would like a different name and they say yes My aunt adopted a little girl who was very abused as a child and they even gave her a terrible name so she and my aunt choose a new name for her and she was very happy

I personally have a friend who is a foster parent and she kept her first name and put it as her middle name and made up a new first name and her name is Faith Daria she is from Russia