is it cruel...

naflmj · August 2009

To use the traditional scottish/Gaelic spelling of Graeme for the name Graham?

FWIW, I hate when people add unnecesary letters to names or change a spelling.

I do realize it will cause him to have to correct people but it is not really out there and I am not creating a spelling. DH is 2nd generation american and we want to honor his Scottish heritage. I have heard both sides to this argument and have know people with both spellings in real life...I'd love some feedback.

starsmaycollide · August 2009

I think it is okay-it has meaning for you both, and is a real spelling. There is a pro golfer named Graeme.

Greyfaery · August 2009

Hmmmm...I have a feeling a lot of people are going to mispronounce his name. I would call him "Grayme" just because that's what it looks like, honestly.

erinms · August 2009

Greyfaery:
Hmmmm...I have a feeling a lot of people are going to mispronounce his name. I would call him "Grayme" just because that's what it looks like, honestly.

I agree. ?I think you should spell it whichever way you like better, but I don't think spelling it Graham lessens the meaning behind the name, kwim??

sunnyday016 · August 2009

That's the spelling of the guy in the book I just read (The Motion of the Ocean). It's kind of cool, but I think it'd get mispronounced a lot. While reading the book I was constantly reading it as "Grayme".

MLE_C2B · August 2009

It took me a while.... and scrolling to other people's responses to even figure out what that name was supposed to be. I'm usually pretty good at pronunciations, granted i have MAD pregnancy brain. If you're going to be offended by lots of misunderstandings about it and criticism then I wouldn't do it, nor would I want to put a kid through the headache.

epphd · August 2009

I don't think it's an unusual or archaic spelling at all - it's very traditional. I agree that changing it to Graham will lessen the meaning. It could be like spelling Sean as "Shawn" just to ease pronunciation for those who haven't heard of it.

Use it

naflmj · August 2009

MLE_C2B:
It took me a while.... and scrolling to other people's responses to even figure out what that name was supposed to be. I'm usually pretty good at pronunciations, granted i have MAD pregnancy brain. If you're going to be offended by lots of misunderstandings about it and criticism then I wouldn't do it, nor would I want to put a kid through the headache.

I don't think I'd be offended, I get it. I also feel like it isn't so weird because I know people with the spelling. Once someone knows, it's not a problem but I also don't want him to be picked on.

magsugar13 · August 2009

Ok im going to come at it from the other side. My son has an italian name, not a common italian name and not one that most people have ever seen or heard. He was named after his grandfather.

He has people destroy the spelling and pronunciation his whole life, he is a teen now. He loves his name, he loves that it is differnnt and shows his heritage and he loves that it was not changed to "fit in". He doesnt allow people to nickname him either.

The point is having a name that is hard for some to spell and pronounce is not a devestating thing for a child! He isnt going to suffer from any trauma.

If you love then name and want it ti show his scottish heritage than spell it the original way!

userdeleted · August 2009

I think it's just fine

naflmj · August 2009

magsugar13:

Ok im going to come at it from the other side. My son has an italian name, not a common italian name and not one that most people have ever seen or heard. He was named after his grandfather.

He has people destroy the spelling and pronunciation his whole life, he is a teen now. He loves his name, he loves that it is differnnt and shows his heritage and he loves that it was not changed to "fit in". He doesnt allow people to nickname him either.

The point is having a name that is hard for some to spell and pronounce is not a devestating thing for a child! He isnt going to suffer from any trauma.

If you love then name and want it ti show his scottish heritage than spell it the original way!

Thanks...this is helpful! I am glad he likes his name.

shanBmcg · August 2009

Go for it! I don't understand why people think it's a headache to have to spell and pronounce your own name. I have a very common name with a very common spelling and am constantly asked to spell it and sometimes have to correct the pronunciation. Let's face it - we're not living in a very literate world anymore. Even the easy stuff isn't so easy for every day folk anymore, especially when it comes to reading and spelling. And I think your spelling can lead into a very interesting conversation that would educate people on different naming heritages.

lisa5201 · August 2009

I personally hate when people "dumb down" a traditional name for pronunciation purposes

Schuyler = Skyler

Michaela = Mikayla

Ect....

So I am on board with your desire to spell it traditionally.....That being said, I prefer Graham to Graeme, so i'm sorry but I'm not much help!

GulfCoaster · August 2009

I'm generally not a fan of unique spellings. But when the spelling is to honor a heritage, that's a bit different than just randomly adding a Y to a name or making a spelling YoU'neek. I think "Graeme" is fine, since it's to honor your DH's Scottish heritage. People may have to be corrected, but I doubt he'll suffer much trauma for it.

mlf625 · August 2009

Unless you live in Scotland, I think it's a bad idea. ?He'll have to do a lot of correcting- I would have had no idea how to say Graeme. ?Gray-me?

Megcheer2 · August 2009

I would also think it was pronounce Grayme until corrected, but I like that you'd honor your H's heritage by spelling it the Scottish way.

qtpa2t · August 2009

I'm with you on hating it when people add unnecessary letters or make up spellings, but I personally don't think Graeme is as out there as some others.

BeckyS1211 · August 2009

I like it, one of the groomsmen in our wedding was named Graeme : )

kegallagh · August 2009

I actually LOVE Graeme. I think it's great, and when he's older I think he'd appreciate the heritage associated with his name.

shannm · August 2009

I really dig that spelling. Makes it less Graham cracker.

Also- I don't think that it will be mispronounced that often. I am not that bright but I knew what it was.

FutureMrs.Steen · August 2009

I don't like that spelling regardless that it's the traditional spelling. It will always be mispronounced/misspelled. I would find it annoying if people constantly butchered my name. Just my 2 cents.

EastCoastBride · August 2009

naflmj:

I also feel like it isn't so weird because I know people with the spelling.

I consider myself to be relatively "worldly". I know a lot of people w/ many different backgrounds, etc.

NEVER seen that spelling until this post.

however, I can go either way on this. On one hand, I think "go w/ the Americanized spelling for his sake", but then I also think, as you said, once people know - they know.

mrsmegs06 · August 2009

I think it's a nice way of spelling it, however, he'll have to go through his entire life spelling his name for everyone in my opinion. They'll always assume it's the Graham spelling.

Marie Konwinski · August 2009

I think you should go for it! I love that it is a traditional name with great meaning. I do not think it should ever be viewed in the same light as people just adding letters to make common names more unique. This is a name that has been around for centuries AND has been spelled like that for centuries!!

There is something to be said about having a name that is traditional yet refreshing! Plus people with common names i.e Sarah have to correct people every day... big deal!

carrotcake06 · August 2009

GulfCoaster:
I'm generally not a fan of unique spellings. But when the spelling is to honor a heritage, that's a bit different than just randomly adding a Y to a name or making a spelling YoU'neek. I think "Graeme" is fine, since it's to honor your DH's Scottish heritage. People may have to be corrected, but I doubt he'll suffer much trauma for it.

This exactly.

Making up your own spelling = not cool.

Honoring your heritage with an uncommon (in America) spelling = very cool.

mgra328 · August 2009

i think it could cause some difficulty for him....

IlOVEbOpRINCE · August 2009

If you are from a proud Scottish family background then go for it. If you are just looking for unique names but like the name, then its a lil harder to defend the spelling of it and you bacome one of those all too trendy spell my babies name special kindof moms

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