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Technically speaking, in the United States, a child is not allowed to change their name without the consent of a parent or guardian until they turn 18.
But occasionally the opportunity arises where your child wants to change their name, and you, as a parent, have to make a choice, which is what this Twitter user faced unexpectedly.
My daughter’s name is Klaire, she’s 12. She hates her first name and wants it to be “Ace”. She wants it legally cha… https://t.co/XOvsozlBvu— Jason Ernst (@Jason Ernst)1600723781.0
"My daughter's name is Klaire, she's 12. She hates her first name and wants it to be 'Ace.' She wants it legally changed. Both her mother and I are against that," wrote Jason Ernst, Twitter user @Geranthrimin.
"I hate it. I said it'd be ok as a nickname but she's not okay with that. What do I do?"
Twitter's advice was to do some more investigating into why Klaire wanted her name changed to "Ace" in the first place:
@Geranthrimin Get to the root of why she hates it. Could be someone poked at her (not that it's a bad name, but twe… https://t.co/cGTIXLioyk— WernerKlopek (@WernerKlopek)1600742222.0
@DrWernerKlopek She said people mispronounce it (not sure how) and they misspell it (I understand). 🤷🏻♂️— Jason Ernst (@Jason Ernst)1600742304.0
@Geranthrimin Consider the possibility that she feels rejected in school or by her self. Or perhaps it is healthy… https://t.co/WxYgJ5TIlY— Brad Norris (@Brad Norris)1600777251.0
@Geranthrimin I despised my name at that age to. Mainly because my class had way too many Jennifer’s! When I asked… https://t.co/lfE30vTi90— Bozz The Resister🌊🏳️🌈🐾❤️😷 (@Bozz The Resister🌊🏳️🌈🐾❤️😷)1600787189.0
@Geranthrimin Say no. Being a parent is not a popularity contest. She can change it when she’s an adult.— Fix 👏the👏System 🇺🇸🇺🇸🌈❄️ (@Fix 👏the👏System 🇺🇸🇺🇸🌈❄️)1600815105.0
Others shared stories about how they, or someone they knew, were aware at a young age that their name did not fit them and the change was for the best:
@Geranthrimin Girl I used to babysit was 6 when she asked to go by “cole” & only wear boy clothes. #shes12 NOW + v… https://t.co/YH0sO8QY3l— Zeda Grace (@Zeda Grace)1600832305.0
@Geranthrimin Klaire is a very feminine name, Ace is masculine. She's trying to tell you something. A little girl n… https://t.co/mjhcvNW9TG— 🍅🍅things that make you say WHAT? #StillWithKap (@🍅🍅things that make you say WHAT? #StillWithKap)1600779391.0
@Geranthrimin As a parent of three kids, now 17, 19, and 24 I'd let Ace know that legally changing a name is an big… https://t.co/x7t8JkCx6C— Sean Hotchkiss (@Sean Hotchkiss)1600727828.0
@Geranthrimin Just call her Ace. I'm NOT kidding. My kid changed his name at 15 and I didn't go along at first. Our… https://t.co/kQB2CRxbem— Y'all hurry up🏳️🌈 (@Y'all hurry up🏳️🌈)1600745764.0
Not all commenters approached the situation with compassion for Klaire/Ace.
@Geranthrimin Tell her to wait until she's an adult and is living on her own. Then she can do what she wants...and… https://t.co/Sy1EXBuehR— Ingrid Guthrie (@Ingrid Guthrie)1600737507.0
@Geranthrimin When I was a kid I wanted my name, and would have legally changed it, to be Strawberry Fields. Not ev… https://t.co/V1vi6Dn3vg— Fakakta South (@Fakakta South)1600733359.0
@Geranthrimin Make her wait until she’s 18. Call her her preference because that’s just basic respect. But you go t… https://t.co/NdZ0oMs68m— Lisa Dissents (@Lisa Dissents)1600727296.0
@Geranthrimin She is testing you. Hold strong you and your wife. No. Period.— Dyan Sohn (@Dyan Sohn)1600726961.0
@Geranthrimin You just don't do it. As a child, I was insistent my name would be changed to Petunia when I switched… https://t.co/ojf4Ge3ekG— Alaska Resists *No More Lies*⚖️🗽 (@Alaska Resists *No More Lies*⚖️🗽)1600748611.0
Ernst says that, for the time being, he plans to call her Ace without legally changing her name.
@EveryoneLies17 I am. I was closed about it to start but have opened up to what she’s trying to tell me. She wants… https://t.co/sWPiR1pq9R— Jason Ernst (@Jason Ernst)1600793406.0
@HedwigGraymalk That’s the idea!— Jason Ernst (@Jason Ernst)1600872538.0
One thing we can be sure of on Twitter is that not everyone will agree upon which solution is best. But we hope this solution works out for Ace and her family.