why do so many people have a problem...

Danalyn13 · May 2010

with "made up" names? All of our names were "made up" at one point.

I agree, I don't like insane spellings that are impossible to pronounce but I don't think it's a bad thing to not want your kid to be one of 15 Olivias or Avas in her class.

I'm curious what the aversion is to being a little different...

CourtneyRDH · May 2010

You can name your child a real name and not be overly popular like Olivia and Ava. Made up names sound uneducated to me. They have zero appeal to me.

MrsBraun · May 2010

I think sometimes (depending on the name) it can make the child stand out in a bad way...like the parents were being selfish by using some odd ball spelling in order to make themselves feel better about not giving their DC a "common" name.

Plus I think some spelling variations just make the parents look dumb.

AimeeL85 · May 2010

It's true that all of our names were made up at one point, but honestly I think that most decent sounding names have already been made up, and that the names that are made up now are 90% of the time not very appealing.

juangela · May 2010

1. Made up spellings look ridiculous.Think about how that spelling will be perceived by potential employers. I have worked with people who would pass over a highly qualified resume because the name is crazy.

2. If it is just to make your little Olyvya different so she isn't one of 6 Olivia's in her class...you aren't accomplishing anything. It is still pronounced the same way, thus she'll be Olyvya S. anyway.

3. Generally, ridiculous made up names come a specific socioeconomic class. It goes back to that "first impression" that pps have mentioned.

BlueRidge8 · May 2010

I think, and this would be my personal issue with the trend, is that words and names have actual meanings and history. Through etymology we can trace names' specific meanings from different cultures and languages. When you 'make up' a name, it's not a real word.

As far as spelling, the very parts of names have meanings and purposes, through various languages, for why they are there. By throwing in random 'y's' where there should be an 'i' or 'e' you are breaking this chain of reasoning - and often changing the pronunciation unintentionally.

Also, because of this trend of 'made up' names and alternative spellings, the parents fail at accomplishing their goal of being different/unique and the child is stuck with a name that will probably scream a specific time period.

Danalyn13 · May 2010

all interesting thoughts...thanks. I really was curious, not trying to start trouble!

HappyMrsK · May 2010

CourtneyRDH:
You can name your child a real name and not be overly popular like Olivia and Ava. Made up names sound uneducated to me. They have zero appeal to me.

I agree. When I see "made-up names" it just makes me think the parents are uneducated. It's one thing to choose a name that isn't very popular, but to just make up a name out of thin air is just a bad idea imo and you are setting your kid up for a lifetime of jokes and not being taken seriously.

dionnemd10 · May 2010

i don't know-i think our daughter's name is somewhat "made up" as i never heard the name before and it is probably more of a nickname than anything--Liddy. I have only heard it a few random times and it was after we named her.

i think you can do something "made up" like combining names etc and still have something come out okay

ten1010 · May 2010

BlueRidge8:
I think, and this would be my personal issue with the trend, is that words and names have actual meanings and history. Through etymology we can trace names' specific meanings from different cultures and languages. When you 'make up' a name, it's not a real word.
As far as spelling, the very parts of names have meanings and purposes, through various languages, for why they are there. By throwing in random 'y's' where there should be an 'i' or 'e' you are breaking this chain of reasoning - and often changing the pronunciation unintentionally.
Also, because of this trend of 'made up' names and alternative spellings, the parents fail at accomplishing their goal of being different/unique and the child is stuck with a name that will probably scream a specific time period.

I totally agree with this. Any name I consider I like to look up the origins of the name, meanings in different languages, etc. If I google a "name" and all I can find is a bimbo reality star (e.g. Tenley) then it's not a real name and I think my child deserves better.

mcadams1 · May 2010

juangela:

1. Made up spellings look ridiculous.Think about how that spelling will be perceived by potential employers. I have worked with people who would pass over a highly qualified resume because the name is crazy.

2. If it is just to make your little Olyvya different so she isn't one of 6 Olivia's in her class...you aren't accomplishing anything. It is still pronounced the same way, thus she'll be Olyvya S. anyway.

3. Generally, ridiculous made up names come a specific socioeconomic class. It goes back to that "first impression" that pps have mentioned.

yah this is pretty much what comes to mind for me. additionally, creative names come with spellings that make no sense grammatically. I'm not being the grammar police, its just that if you look at a name on paper and it looks like a whole lot of wharrgarbl, its probably not even going to be pronounced the way you made it up. Further, I think the uniqueness of a child should come from the child and that a name is something that is supposed to get them through all stages of life- not make a crazy statement.

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