At a Glance
- Amanda and Dan Biddle will legally change their daughter’s name from Margaret Olivia to Maisie Margaret-Olivia as her 6th-birthday gift.
- The girl has rejected “Margaret” since she could talk and never responds to it at school or doctors’ offices.
- Why it matters: The couple says honoring their child’s consistent wish shows that young kids’ feelings about identity are valid.
Michigan parents Amanda and Dan Biddle are turning their daughter’s 6th birthday into a milestone she has requested for years: a legal name change from Margaret Olivia to Maisie Margaret-Olivia.
In a now-viral Instagram Threads post, Amanda explained that the child, nicknamed Maisie since birth, has always disliked her formal first name. The couple will surprise her with court documents and a scrapbook celebrating her identity.
A Name Rejected Since Toddlerhood
“She’s hated her name since she could talk,” Amanda wrote online. “I hate that doctors and stuff use it.”
The mother told News Of Losangeles that teachers and medical staff call the girl Margaret, but the child does not react.
“It wasn’t out of spite or disrespect,” Amanda said. “She just genuinely doesn’t think of it as her name.”
- At appointments, the girl will not look up when staff say “Margaret.”
- During preschool roll call, she ignored the name entirely.
- Amanda often had to clarify, “She goes by Maisie.”
Why They Chose Margaret Originally
Amanda discovered the name Maisie while pregnant and loved it. A late-night worry that the nickname might sound “too cutesy” for an adult led her to research formal options.
She found Margaret, which connected to Dan’s late grandmother, Margarit, pronounced “Margaret.” The grandmother had been a major influence in Dan’s life.
“We grew to like the name,” Amanda said. “We still planned to call her Maisie day-to-day.”
Years of Consistent Requests
From the moment the girl could speak, she corrected anyone who used Margaret.
“If we ever called her ‘Margaret,’ she would instantly say, ‘I’m not Margaret. I’m Maisie,'” Amanda recalled.
The parents tried to soften the name:
- Amanda sang playful songs featuring “Margaret.”
- They used the full name only when emphasizing discipline.
- Family members were reminded to default to Maisie.
None of it changed the child’s mind.
The Decision to Legally Switch
Conversations between Amanda and Dan intensified over the past two years as the girl became more aware of identity.
“We have regular talks about how she doesn’t want the name Margaret,” Amanda said. “Her answer has never wavered.”
They concluded that waiting longer would only prolong frustration. The legal shift will make “Maisie” her first name and retain “Margaret-Olivia” as middle names to keep the family link.
“She has always and will always just be Maisie,” Amanda told News Of Losangeles. “We don’t think she will ever change her stance.”
Birthday Surprise in the Works
The parents have prepared a scrapbook filled with photos, drawings and notes that highlight the child’s personality and preferred name. They will present it alongside the court paperwork on her birthday.
“I am certain that she will be overjoyed,” Amanda said. “When she’s excited she makes a little squeal, claps her hands and jumps around.”
The scrapbook will include:
- Handwritten reasons she loves the name Maisie
- Pictures from family trips where she introduced herself as Maisie
- A copy of the official name-change order once processed
Message to Other Parents
Amanda hopes the experience encourages adults to take children’s preferences seriously.
“Just because she’s young doesn’t mean her feelings aren’t valid,” she said. “Treat kids as humans too.”
She plans to apply the same open approach when raising the couple’s 10-year-old son, Jack.
“Their thoughts and feelings matter,” she said. “I can’t wait to see how having the right name brings new joy when people call her Maisie the first time.”
Viral Response
The Threads post exploded with likes and comments from parents who faced similar name conflicts. Some shared stories of kids who changed their own nicknames, while others debated the right age to let a child decide.
Amanda replied to several comments, clarifying that the family kept the grandmother’s name in the middle to preserve heritage while giving the girl daily peace.
“Having the right name can bring peace and joy,” she wrote. “We’re simply honoring who she already is.”
