A couple from the Kansas City area has shared their experiences regarding the decision to legally alter their baby daughter’s name just a month after her birth. Monica and Jeremiah Ellis, who already have five children, documented their journey in a TikTok video that has attracted over 100,000 views, igniting discussions about the complexities of naming children.
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In the video, the couple is seen making their way to the courthouse to officially change their daughter’s name from Elodie to Everly. The decision came after they frequently found themselves calling their little one by the name Everly, prompting them to reconsider their initial choice.
Monica, a mother of five, explained that the couple originally intended to name their daughter Everly but opted for Elodie in the hospital. Jeremiah, who prefers traditional names, suggested Elodie, and Monica accepted. However, upon bringing their daughter home, they began to unintentionally call her Everly instead, which raised questions about their original choice.
The transition from Elodie to Everly was not without its challenges. Monica shared that they faced difficulties with pronunciation, both from family and hospital staff. The nurse mispronounced Elodie, and family members often stumbled over it. To simplify matters, Monica had developed a method of explaining the name by saying it sounded like “melody” without the ‘M.’ However, they soon realised that they wanted to avoid spending their daughter’s life correcting others.
In her TikTok commentary, Monica candidly expressed her frustration with constant mispronunciations of Elodie, stating, “Everyone would call her El-LOAD-ee… and I HATED it.” After deliberating further, Monica and Jeremiah contemplated other names before settling on Everly, which they felt better suited their daughter.
Despite their joy in making the change, not all reactions were positive. Some TikTok viewers pointed out that Everly is a more common name than Elodie. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Everly was ranked as the 91st most popular baby girl name in the United States for the year 2025, while Elodie was at 310th. Comments ranged from concerns about multiple children named Everly in a classroom to praise for the beauty of the name Elodie.
Monica, however, feels confident in the new name. She recounts a particularly poignant moment when Everly smiled for the first time at the age of two months, just after being called by her new name. This, she believes, was a sign that her daughter felt a connection to her identity. “It felt like, okay, you know your name,” she remarked, affirming that Everly truly embodies the essence of her child.
The couple, now parents to three sons and two daughters, continues to embrace the joy and challenges that come with raising a large family. Their children include Seth Jason, age 13; Jaden Michael, aged 11; Joshua Arrow, aged 2; and the latest additions, Everly Dove, who is 15 months old, and Banner Pierce, who is just three months old.
In reflecting on their journey, Monica holds no regrets regarding their initial choice of Elodie. “I still love it,” she asserts. “It just wasn’t her.” This experience highlights the careful consideration that many parents put into naming their children and how instincts about what suits a child may change over time.
The Ellis family’s story serves as a reminder that the journey of parenthood is filled with learning and adaptation, as well as the importance of finding a name that feels right for both parents and their child. As they continue to navigate life with their growing family, Monica and Jeremiah can look back and appreciate their decision to embrace Everly as their daughter’s true identity.