13% of parents in the East Midlands would rename their child

The research, conducted by name label manufacturer mynametags.com, found that two-fifths of parents in the region (40%) regret the name they gave their child because they were pressured into it by their parents. The other most common reasons for people regretting their child’s name are because it was their partner’s choice (40%), they don’t think it suits them (20%), or they wish they had been less adventurous with their choice (20%).

When it comes to the process of naming their child, almost a third (30%) of parents in the East Midlands said it was a stressful experience, and 40% said they fell out with their partner or family over the decision.

The pressure parents feel when naming their child is significant. According to the research, 14% felt pressure from other people including their friends, whilst 21% admit they cared too much about other people’s opinions when choosing a moniker for their newborn.

Nationally, just under a quarter (23%) of parents would rename their child, meaning parents in the East Midlands are among the least likely to be dissatisfied with their child’s name in the UK.

The most regretted baby names in the UK:

1. Jack

2. John

3. Katie

Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at mynametags.com, comments: “After tracking baby name trends for over two decades, we were interested to discover how parents' opinions of their child’s name change over time.

“Our research shows a surprising number of parents have some regret over their child's name. It’s also interesting to find that the name Jack is the most regretted name in the UK, despite the name featuring in the top 15 boy names since yearly ONS records began in 1996.

“The pressure to pick the perfect name can be immense, with parents battling external influences and internal worries. Despite this, we hope our research gives parents the confidence to ignore external pressures and choose a name that feels right for them and their child, both now and as they grow up.”