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Just to add our experience, our kids were 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 when they came to live with us. They obviously knew their first names and were familiar with last names - didn't really know their middle names. We really didn't consider changing anything but the last names. We felt like their names belonged to them, it was something they came to our family with. We certainly have pet names and nicknames - but our son resists going by the shortened form of his name, even though there is a relative in our family with his same name. There is something special about picking out a name for a child, but I also felt like our children already had identities and we needed to respect that. Fortunately, our son has a name that has meaning in our extended family, and girls in our extended family don't usually get "family" names, so they fit in quite well. Obviously every circumstance is different and some children are named by birth parents who come up with wild stuff. My personal philosophy - think about it, come up with a decision, pray about it - if you feel good about the decision, go for it.
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