Thoughts on non-standard spellings of names

Ms.Starry · April 2012

I don't really care what other people do, but there is no way I would go with a non-traditional spelling. I'm not talking about Sarah/Sara or Elizabeth/Elisabeth but more like Saira for Sarah or Jennipher for Jennifer (totally made that up). I haven't read Freakonomics but I guess there is a section in there about how naming your child can have a big impact on their life, and that misspelling a common name is a sign of being in a lower socioeconomic status.

Just curious... do you plan on using traditional spellings for your baby?

HarrietNJMommy · April 2012

I guess it depends on the name. I have an Elisabeth (with an s) and my son is named Loukas - Greek spelling, and not Lucas.........

ChrisG83 · April 2012

Yes because I have that issue. My name is Christin (like Kristin) but people have the hardest time with it. I dread people reading my name especially when I was in school. I know mine isn't so bad compared to others but now even my husband gets annoyed when people do it to me.

PolishWonder · April 2012

Abso-fuvcking-lutely no funky spellings here!! The name has to pass the resume test. Our daughter's name is pretty, feminine, and won't get eye-rolled at when she's in her 30s. Read Freakonomics, people!

Also, as a teacher I've seen: Cristal for Crystal, Cerenity for Serenity, and a menagerie of horrific names.

ETA: typos, grammar

Ms.Starry · April 2012

HarrietNJMommy:
I guess it depends on the name. I have an Elisabeth (with an s) and my son is named Loukas - Greek spelling, and not Lucas.........

This is an interesting point. I think with so many you-neek names these days cultural spellings are overlooked. We were briefly consider Piotr for a boy (Polish Peter) but decided it would be too much of a hassle (luckily I don't like the name Peter that much anyway).

elfchique · April 2012

Absolutely traditional spellings. Now I do prefer less common names, but properly spelled is a must.

kg_08 · April 2012

I guess it depends on the name and how common it is... and how annoying it would be to have to correct people on the spelling for your entire life.

We named DD Trista, but had toyed with the idea of Trysta.. it's not a common name anyway so we didn't think it would be bad, but still stuck with the "regular" spelling.

kplaxco85 · April 2012

HarrietNJMommy:
I guess it depends on the name. I have an Elisabeth (with an s) and my son is named Loukas - Greek spelling, and not Lucas.........

I love your names!

PolishWonder · April 2012

Ms.Starry:
HarrietNJMommy:
I guess it depends on the name. I have an Elisabeth (with an s) and my son is named Loukas - Greek spelling, and not Lucas.........
This is an interesting point. I think with so many you-neek names these days cultural spellings are overlooked. We were briefly consider Piotr for a boy (Polish Peter) but decided it would be too much of a hassle (luckily I don't like the name Peter that much anyway).

I don't think there's anything wrong with traditional, ethnic/cultural spellings. I LOVE the name Zosia, which is the Polish form of Sophie (my grandma's name). But DH won't go for it.

MrsRabb · April 2012

Traditional spellings here as well! DH and I both have names that can be said and spelled two different ways, both are the correct spelling.

Cara which is said Care-a, NOT Car-a

Stephen which is Steve-en, NOT Steph-en

I wouldn't want to intentionally make things more confusing than they have to be!

Ms.Starry · April 2012

kg_08:

We named DD Trista, but had toyed with the idea of Trysta.. it's not a common name anyway so we didn't think it would be bad, but still stuck with the "regular" spelling.

I am glad you used Trista! Hahaha! I like the name too (wouldn't work with our last name).

The_Jen626 · April 2012

I'm a big fan of Aadynn or Lynsey for names. (kidding, lol) I prefer classic names with conventional spellings, and I super judge people that give their kids fuccked-up names, and highly suggest they read Freakonomics, and pick a name that's not on the "top 10 poorest and least educated names" like Jasmine or Jasmyne or Destinee.

pansylane · April 2012

I, too, think it's silly to misspell a common name. Aiden, Ayden, Aidon, Aaden... hello, they are ALL Aidan! When the teacher calls the name out, you've still used a common name. Intentionally mispelling it does not make it more unique, it simply makes you look like you don't know the correct spelling.

I don't feel this way for legitimate alternate spellings (Catherine, Katherine, Kathryn).

PolishWonder · April 2012

I know a girl who named her daughter Desire. Nope, not Des-er-ray, but Dee-zire. Ugh. If her second child had been another girl, it would have been Charisma. Indifferent

jennadoll87 · April 2012

not that there is anything wrong with a unique name, It just isn't for us. I watched freakonomics on netflix (very interesting) and yes there is a huge correlation between the type of names that we give our children and the type of person they become.

We're going with traditional spelling. I work in administration for several insurance carriers and it really is a nightmare spelling names that are unusual (their ID cards are messed up quite often!)

Ziegeficker · April 2012

We're sticking with traditional spellings...Creative spellings of names is actually a huge pet-peeve of mine, because as someone who grew up having to constantly spell my last name (luckily it was my maiden name, and that's over with), I know it gets old super fast. But that was a last name...

My neighbor named his son Zachory, and the misspelling in his name is because his dad seriously didn't know how to spell Zachary. So now he gets to walk around with a funky spelling of a name because his dad had a brain fart in the delivery room...

mork · April 2012

I'm another believer in traditional spellings, although I will say that one of our top names looks funny to the general public (and is pronounced much different than expected), but it's a cherished family name. Other than that though, all of our names are traditional and spelled in the traditional manner.

AadensMommy2010 · April 2012

KimberlyMav:

I, too, think it's silly to misspell a common name. Aiden, Ayden, Aidon, Aaden... hello, they are ALL Aidan! When the teacher calls the name out, you've still used a common name. Intentionally mispelling it does not make it more unique, it simply makes you look like you don't know the correct spelling.

I don't feel this way for legitimate alternate spellings (Catherine, Katherine, Kathryn).

We spelled our son's name with double As after my husband - his name is Aaron. We did not do it to be you-neek or to make it sound differently. And honestly, I don't feel that it is misspelled because I feel that there are many alternate spellings for Aaden. And I have seen far more Aidens than Aidans. I honesly think it's one of those names that has alternate spellings - just like you mentioned with Catherine.

That being said, I am not a fan of misspelled names.

Ms.Starry · April 2012

Ok I know we are a nice board in general but I am glad to see that when someone posts they are are naming their daughter Jennipher I'll have some back up

AadensMommy2010 · April 2012

Ms.Starry:
Ok I know we are a nice board in general but I am glad to see that when someone posts they are are naming their daughter Jennipher I'll have some back up

And especially if it's Gennipher! Wink

misscheapandchic · April 2012

Hate hate misspelled and trendy cutesy names.

PolishWonder · April 2012

Ms.Starry:
Ok I know we are a nice board in general but I am glad to see that when someone posts they are are naming their daughter Jennipher I'll have some back up

Yes

MKMcMahon · April 2012

I remember reading the Birth Announcements in my local newspaper and was shocked to see that someone had named their daughter Quartney.

I couldn't believe it and felt so bad for her!

Randaliw · April 2012

Well I'm going to disagree (respectfully) with all of you. I have a super unique name and I LOVE it and it's spelled funny too. I grew up hating it and I had to spell it all the time (and people still misspell it) but I'm so happy I don't have a super common name like Ashley. I plan on giving my kids unique names too. It gives a person character. There's no preconceived ideas about what the person will be like. If you know a person named "Ashley" (since I already used that name as an example) and she was a horrible person and then you learn about a baby named Ashley you already have your ideas about what that little kid will be like. I haven't met anyone else with my name and that suits me pretty well. I also disagree with not being able to use cultural names that have nothing to do with your family. What if a person spent time abroad in Spain or Ireland or wherever and it had a special meaning to said parent-to-be. They should have every right to name their kid after a place they love without judgement from everyone else.

daronsmommy · April 2012

My son has a different spelling for his name because it is a combination of family names. Donald/David + Aaron = Daron. It was very important for us to incorporate Aaron into his name. I am not a fan of crazy misspelled names just to be unique.

Mrs.G123 · April 2012

I am mad judgey when it comes to made-up (NOT ethnic or religious) names.

They drive me crazy!!!

Calabaza78 · April 2012

I hate "creative" spellings for names. As a teacher, I saw my fair share of weird names and spelling varities, and it is not my cup of tea. If you plan on having a name sound the same as a traditional spelling, save your kid the hassle and spell it correctly.

Ms.Starry · April 2012

Randaliw:
Well I'm going to disagree (respectfully) with all of you. I have a super unique name and I LOVE it and it's spelled funny too. I grew up hating it and I had to spell it all the time (and people still misspell it) but I'm so happy I don't have a super common name like Ashley. I plan on giving my kids unique names too. It gives a person character. There's no preconceived ideas about what the person will be like. If you know a person named "Ashley" (since I already used that name as an example) and she was a horrible person and then you learn about a baby named Ashley you already have your ideas about what that little kid will be like. I haven't met anyone else with my name and that suits me pretty well. I also disagree with not being able to use cultural names that have nothing to do with your family. What if a person spent time abroad in Spain or Ireland or wherever and it had a special meaning to said parent-to-be. They should have every right to name their kid after a place they love without judgement from everyone else.

Interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing.

PolishWonder · April 2012

Randaliw:
Well I'm going to disagree (respectfully) with all of you. I have a super unique name and I LOVE it and it's spelled funny too. I grew up hating it and I had to spell it all the time (and people still misspell it) but I'm so happy I don't have a super common name like Ashley. I plan on giving my kids unique names too. It gives a person character. There's no preconceived ideas about what the person will be like. If you know a person named "Ashley" (since I already used that name as an example) and she was a horrible person and then you learn about a baby named Ashley you already have your ideas about what that little kid will be like. I haven't met anyone else with my name and that suits me pretty well. I also disagree with not being able to use cultural names that have nothing to do with your family. What if a person spent time abroad in Spain or Ireland or wherever and it had a special meaning to said parent-to-be. They should have every right to name their kid after a place they love without judgement from everyone else.

I agree that a name has nothing to do with who you are as a person. But I think that a person with the name "Katherine Jones" is more likely to get a second interview than a person with the name "Catharynne Jones". It portrays a preconceived notion of less education. I'm NOT saying that is true of you! This is what the book Freakonomics discusses and devoted a great deal of research to.

Vegasbb · April 2012

I hate this and feel like there is nothing worse than a popular name that is spelled incorrectly. I do subscribe to the Freakonomics view that it's trashy. People are entitled to name their kids whatever they want, but as someone who has looked at resumes and whatnot... first impressions matter!

seedsngarlick · April 2012

I like nonstandard spellings, as long as there is a cultural or ethnic basis. Ex. Erzabet = Hungarian form of Elizabeth. If you are just trying to be creative, I feel like a nonstandard name would be more appropriate, as opposed to a common name with a nonstandard spelling.

klowery678 · April 2012

My opinion is that any name (traditional or non-traditional) is fine as long as it's a name that can grow with your child into adulthood. My parents named me Katherine because I could be Katie as a little girl, and then Katherine as a professional, if I chose. My sister is Marnie (a family name)...she hated it as a kid because nobody could spell it, but she loves it now. I think that if a non-traditional name has meaning and will suit your child as they grow, then it's fine! As a teacher, I saw so many weird ones: TheOne, Amiracle (pronounced A Miracle), and Princess are just the ones on the tip of my brain. When those kids grow up, they'll definitely be calling themselves something different!

emiannie · April 2012

I prefer traditionally spelled names as well. We named our son Miles and spelled it like that because we felt like that was the traditional way to spell it. You would not BELIEVE the number of times I have had to correct someone's spelling of it. More often than not it gets spelled "Myles" or I have to spell it for someone or say "like the distance measurement".

Tmakes3 · April 2012

PolishWonder:

Also, as a teacher I've seen: Cristal for Crystal, Cerenity for Serenity, and a menagerie of horrific names.

This. I've butchered way too many kids names on the first day of school and hurt their feelings by doing so, that I will never misspell a child of mines name intentionally.

IAM3Bs · April 2012

I am not a fan. My cousin named her baby Adeline, finally, but was originally going to name her Addylyyne. No joke.

I hate what I call "dart board" names- like where it seems the parents just thew darts at an alphabet board stuck with whatever letters came up.

kegerator · April 2012

I've lurked on baby names and that board drives me crazy lol.

I have an irish boys name and I love it! I've never been mistaken for a boy (clearly) lol but yes people misspell my name all.the.time. It's spelled "correctly" but it doesn't stop me from having to correct people. So you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. I gave DD a boys name and with a "y", she was named after a female family friend but that doesn't stop people on here (general) from assuming I did it for youneek purposes or I'm uneducated or I'm a teen mom lol

lildolcebaby · April 2012

Another traditional fan, here. However, our top choice for a girl is Giuliana, the less traditional spelling. We're planning on using that version for the Italian roots & the G is to honor my mom (whose name starts with a G, also).

I just don't get the unique spellings. If you want your kid to stand out, use a less popular name. You're not doing them any favors by making their name difficult to spell!

Randaliw · April 2012

Hmm....that interesting. I may have to read up on Freakonomics. I believe you are right, since I have not read it myself, but I have to say that I'm hugely disappointed in the greater population for believing that (and thus providing the basis for the research). It's not the kid's fault their parents named them that. It should not be believed they are less educated. Catharynne could have went to Yale and perhaps Katherine went to a state school (since Ivy League schools are perceived as higher class) and yet they have the same credentials. I'd be very disappointed to hear that Catharynne didn't get the interview based on the spelling of her name. But I suppose prejudices come in all forms. But I will look into this now. Thanks!

PolishWonder · April 2012

Randaliw:
Hmm....that interesting. I may have to read up on Freakonomics. I believe you are right, since I have not read it myself, but I have to say that I'm hugely disappointed in the greater population for believing that (and thus providing the basis for the research). It's not the kid's fault their parents named them that. It should not be believed they are less educated. Catharynne could have went to Yale and perhaps Katherine went to a state school (since Ivy League schools are perceived as higher class) and yet they have the same credentials. I'd be very disappointed to hear that Catharynne didn't get the interview based on the spelling of her name. But I suppose prejudices come in all forms. But I will look into this now. Thanks!

This is exactly what the book did! They put out the exact same glowing resumes to the same companies, just changed the names. The more traditional names were called for an interview more often than the non-traditional names.

Freakonomics is a great and easy read, I HIGHLY recommend it.

milesc · April 2012

emiannie:
I prefer traditionally spelled names as well. We named our son Miles and spelled it like that because we felt like that was the traditional way to spell it. You would not BELIEVE the number of times I have had to correct someone's spelling of it. More often than not it gets spelled "Myles" or I have to spell it for someone or say "like the distance measurement".

My maiden name was Miles... I couldn't agree with you more!! People would not only spell it wrong, but PRONOUNCE it wrong!! Mill-ays, Mills,... You name it.

However, if LO #2 is a boy, his name will be Miles- spelled the same just as your DS. I believe it to be the 'traditional' spelling as well

Mackfarm · April 2012

Well sue me. My daughters name is Emmalee. I like unique spellings. Especially since my name is Jessica. Its traditional and everyone has this name. There was nothing unique about my name.

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