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Originally Posted By TwoKidsMom

Any suggestions or comments on how to change the name of a 3 year old.

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Originally Posted By M

What I've always heard to to is combine the new mname with the old one, then start dropping the old name. so - if the 3 year old is named Mary and you want to call her Ann, start calling her Mary Ann, and then start dropping the Mary - I would guess it takes a couple of months at minimum.

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I guess it depends. Even toddlers recognize their name, so a three year old would definitely know his/her name. If the name you are choosing is similar to the one the child already has (such as American-izing the name of an international adoptee for example), it would be an easier adjustment for the child than to switch the name to something completely different. You might also consider choosing a new name that has the same meaning as the old name. There are a lot of baby name websites that allow you to search for a name by meaning. If you find one you like, you can explain to the child that both names mean the same thing.

You might also consider asking the child how he/she feels about getting a new name. I have heard of Russian adoptees whose names were frequently changed by orphanage caregivers because there were too many girls there named Svetlana or whatever, and it got confusing. So the child may not have a big attachment to his/her birthname. On the other hand, the child may have been named by his/her birthmother and have a strong attachment to the name.

In any case, you might consider using the child's current first name as his/her new middle name. That will make the switch an easier adjustment for the child and he/she will not lose a name bestowed at birth.

Good luck.