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I have a diliema that I am looking for advice on. I am adopting a 2 year old little girl in which her mother has severe mental health issues and rights have been terminated in addtion her dad (my maternal uncle) is an sex offender who served 19 years in jail and been released just 4 years ago. Dad is willing to surrending his rights in order for me to adopt and to keep the little one from a life of foster care, since he knows that he not capable of ever caring for her ever.(the little one has been in foster care with a maternal step grandmother since 2 days old) but step grandmother is elderly and cannot continue to care for the 2 year old and other kids, this is where i come in, so far all the above surrending rights and therefore has been going fine, but meaning the child is being transfered from nyc to md for adoption proceedings a question has been raised by both courts am I gonna change her name taken in count of the parents status and issues. The mother is 30 and the father is 52 years old. The child and me has the same surname so its really the first and middle name. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE ........
Two year olds do know and recognize their names. You might try giving her a different first name and using her given name as her middle name. You can still call her by the name she knows but if someone were to look up Brooke Smith for example and you renamed her Haley Brooke Smith, they won't know it is her. And if you really love the name Haley, you can call her Haley Brooke and as she gets used to it, eventually drop the Brooke and just call her Haley.
Unless you have some specific reason for wanting to change the name, I would leave it. I was going to suggest you change her last name to yours, but that is a non-issue, I guess. And, good for you for stepping in for this little girl!
My grandson is 2 1/2. He would easily accept a name change. Like the other poster suggested, call her by her name now mixed with the new name and then eventually drop her current name. If it works better for you, in the long run, it will probably work better for her as well. She is beginning a new life.
I repped you, but wanted to say again how wonderful it is to you make a family for this little innocent girl who deserves all the love you are willing to give her.
I would personally leave the name the way it is since the adoption is occurring within the family and you both have the same last name. More importantly I would seek to have the court order that a new social security number be issued. No need in risking the chance that one of the former parents/guardians may decide to commit identity theft.
If you would prefer a different name it is certainly your right to change it. At this age it will make no difference. I adopted 3 international children and changed their names to something more American sounding but many try to retain some culture by keeping or modifying internationally adopted kids' names. It is certainly your own decision.
Good luck
I have a diliema that I am looking for advice on. I am adopting a 2 year old little girl in which her mother has severe mental health issues and rights have been terminated in addtion her dad (my maternal uncle) is an sex offender who served 19 years in jail and been released just 4 years ago. Dad is willing to surrending his rights in order for me to adopt and to keep the little one from a life of foster care, since he knows that he not capable of ever caring for her ever.(the little one has been in foster care with a maternal step grandmother since 2 days old) but step grandmother is elderly and cannot continue to care for the 2 year old and other kids, this is where i come in, so far all the above surrending rights and therefore has been going fine, but meaning the child is being transfered from nyc to md for adoption proceedings a question has been raised by both courts am I gonna change her name taken in count of the parents status and issues. The mother is 30 and the father is 52 years old. The child and me has the same surname so its really the first and middle name. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE ........
You are the parent. Name her a name that you like. A name that makes her a part of your family.
She is your child. I am guessing that you are not crazy about the name.
Or you wouldn't be posting it a thought.
The first name was given to her by people who are no longer her parents. That's a heavy reminder to have in your home and in your lives. I say start fresh.
Same issues though, always a good time to share opinions.
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who served 19 years in jail and been released just 4 years ago. Dad is willing to surrending his rights in order for me to adopt and to keep the little one from a life of foster care, since he knows that he not capable of ever caring for her ever.(the little one has been in foster care with a maternal step grandmother since 2 days old) but step grandmother is elderly and cannot continue to care for the 2 year old and other kids, this is where i come in, so far all the above surrending rights and therefore has been going fine, but meaning the child is being transfered from nyc to md for adoption proceedings a 
question has been raised by both courts am I gonna change her name taken in count of the parents status and issues. The mother is 30 and the father is 52 years old. The child and me has the same surname so its really the first and middle name. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE ........
