The making up your own spelling of a name trend

emmasue18 · August 2013

I know a girl from HS that has an Olivia and a Lucas. Great, classy names. But she spells them Alivia and Lukas.

The girl across the street is having a Kennedy. Spelling it Kynedy.

As a former teacher, I really dislike this. Why am I seeing this more and more? In my personal opinion, it just looks like you didn't have access to a book for the correct spelling.

What are everyone's thoughts on this? Is this a younger generation thing, I don't recall this at all growing up. I think you should name your kid whatever you want but I just can't imagine walking around Amma instead of Emma. Lol!

Tashalynn1986 · August 2013

I feel the same way. People are going to wonder if that poor kids parents can spell. I like unique names but wouldn't want my kid judged for it later.

ziggy903 · August 2013

I HATE this new thing. I think it's one of the dumbest name trends I've seen.

emmasue18 · August 2013

I swear Car, I almost typed my whole post like that to make my point. Lol!

halfthetree · August 2013

I can't stand this. If I was a teacher it would annoy me even more haha really your child will have to correct EVERYONE who has to spell their name. I get the desire to be unique, but Alivia? It looks like a contraceptive device.

cdsmith714 · August 2013

My younger sister is 15, she says she is going to name her child SP92xp$.
I asked her how the heck you would pronounce it.

She said "Sarah"...

MoxyByProxy · August 2013

Have you taken a good look at your fb lately? I dont mean you specifically just anyone in general.

Its a wonder some of these people made it past 6th grade the way they "type"

I'm not sure if my SIL has a reading/writing issue or is just stupidly lazy. I need a decoder ring to read her posts.. If I had to pick someone to spell a perfectly normal name into something bizarre .. i choose her lol

Its just setting the kid up to have to constantly correct any and every customer service rep they come across.. why do that to your kid.

On an equally frustrating note, I spell my 11yo's name - Nicholas - Which I am pretty sure is the MOST commonly spelled way. My step mother.. spells it Nickolas.. just annoys the hell out of me

thusain7712 · August 2013

i like it but only with some names. my first name ends an i when most have a y. i have spent my entire life having to explain it...but as an adult id have it no other way. i like that somthing made me different.

my middle son is Jaxon. which is becoming rather common.

Madelyn0713 · August 2013

I can't stand this fad! As someone who previously worked in Admissions at a very reputable college, I have seen my fair share of ridiculous names. And trust me, people don't forget them.

Tashalynn1986 · August 2013

My personal favorite made up name may be nevaeh (remember heaven spelled backwards) I mean c'mon people.

emmasue18 · August 2013

car seat said:
I remember sifting through resumes to hand over to my director when we were hiring. They didn't even want to look at any with ridiculous names because they felt it was embarrassing to the firm to have people with bad names meeting with government officials and captains of industry.

So those people's parents really didn't do them any favours.

So true! The teachers would talk about this and if we see something ridiculous on the roster, you can't help but assume the parents are still in school themselves. It does put a stigma on the child walking into the classroom, walking into an interview, etc.

emmasue18 · August 2013

Tashalynn1986 said:
My personal favorite made up name may be nevaeh (remember heaven spelled backwards) I mean c'mon people.

With as much as I see Nevaeh these days, that is one name I hoped would grow on me but never did. I am having a February baby, let's name her Enitnelav and everyone will just know that is Valentine backwards. It's festive, duh! Lol!

MoxyByProxy · August 2013

My sister has a niece named Miracle.

I guess its cute.. for a baby.. They call her Mi-Mi though.

I just cant imagine her being an adult and going for a job interview and them coming out of the office and saying.. Miracle such and so?

I totally dont mean this offensive but its not all that different than naming your kid cinnamon or sapphire.. some names are meant for the "stage"

gucciman3 · August 2013

I invented/ changed the spelling of a name...my 4 year old daughters name is Matison, basically we took her fathers name (Matthew) and my name (alyson) and combined them...totally weird but he was in the military and scheduled to deploy after the birth so he really wanted her named after him...we call her Mattie for short

dorismomma · August 2013

I HATE this... It's just ridiculous to me.

LetoileDuNord · August 2013

I feel differently than most of the posters so far. I don't really care what other people choose to name their children as long as it isn't blatantly horrible (I'm talking like naming a kid Devil or something crazy like that). If people want to take a common name and spell it in a new way, that's fine by me.

I'm planning on pretty traditional, easy to spell and pronounce names for myself. I just don't find it annoying when other people choose something different.

ziggy903 · August 2013

emmasue18 said:

My personal favorite made up name may be nevaeh (remember heaven spelled backwards) I mean c'mon people.
With as much as I see Nevaeh these days, that is one name I hoped would grow on me but never did. I am having a February baby, let's name her Enitnelav and everyone will just know that is Valentine backwards. It's festive, duh! Lol!

I like it. Festive and not ridiculous at all.

emmasue18 · August 2013

gucciman3 said:
I invented/ changed the spelling of a name...my 4 year old daughters name is Matison, basically we took her fathers name (Matthew) and my name (alyson) and combined them...totally weird but he was in the military and scheduled to deploy after the birth so he really wanted her named after him...we call her Mattie for short

I have another friend that did something like this. The story is cute, but that doesn't fit on a class roster. You don't walk into an interview and say, "My name is Matison and my parents named me this because....." You just say, "I am Matison." and unfortunately the reason why is left up to the imagination.

I think Mattie is a cute nickname though.

versed · August 2013

Agree! Random K's and Y's especially get me.

gucciman3 · August 2013

emmasue18 said:

gucciman3 said:
I invented/ changed the spelling of a name...my 4 year old daughters name is Matison, basically we took her fathers name (Matthew) and my name (alyson) and combined them...totally weird but he was in the military and scheduled to deploy after the birth so he really wanted her named after him...we call her Mattie for short
I have another friend that did something like this. The story is cute, but that doesn't fit on a class roster. You don't walk into an interview and say, "My name is Matison and my parents named me this because....." You just say, "I am Matison." and unfortunately the reason why is left up to the imagination.

I think Mattie is a cute nickname though.

I agree, I really wanted to name her Madison but eventually caved and let him have his way...it's a sweet story but she always goes by Mattie

ETomko · August 2013

If my acquaintances are any indication, it's the teens having children who are giving them ridiculous spellings of names. It's born of a narcissistic need to both make your child stand out and make a stand for yourself as "edgy", not just KU at 17. Every "uniquely" spelled child's name I personally know has a mother under the age of 20. Every mother I know over the age of 20 is fine with "Amelia" instead of "Imylyeah". Maybe I'm being too harsh on my generation, but I knew 3 different girls in high school with kids named Cayden... None of them were spelled the same.

ziggy903 · August 2013

car, the only one i understand on that one is Macee. because i'd still pronounce that one correctly on the first try.

Madelyn0713 · August 2013

car seat said:

This thread on the baby names board today was awesome:

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12023839/i-want-to-cry/p1

lrachelle80 said:

This discussion just makes me want to rip my eyes out. (I know some people don't like talking about already-named kids, but since this was in a public posting where they were specifically talking about spelling, I think it's okay.)

https://www.facebook.com/theparentsroomishere/posts/678401122189979

Some highlights:

Our daughter is due in Nov, we liked the name Charlette Beth, one day before we wrote it down I typed it into the computer when my partner came home she tells me i spelled it wrong.... Charlette is supposed to be spelled Charlotte, I told her the way i spelled it is the way it is going to be because that was natural for me , I never made it past the first round of the spelling bees in school. What strange ways did you come up with your childs name?

- My daughters name is Emalee.. The simple spelling "Emily" just don't feel right to me..

- My 2nd son's name is Blaque instead of Blake

- Maycee instead of Macey.

- my daughter is Desyrai instead of Desiree

- Mine are Jaykob and Jaxyn

- My girl is Crimsyn & my son Kaeden

- Instead of spelling my youngest daughter's name Sienna, I spell it Cyanea and my oldest I stead of Brylee, I spell it Bryle

- My oldest son is Johnathin!

- Kloi Marie... It is as unique as she is....

- Jazmyn. Jayde.

- My daughters name is spelled Deziray

And that was just 1/5 of the way down...I had to stop reading.

BLAQUE!?!? Oh my word.

BlueEyedDreamer · August 2013

From last month's issue of "American Baby," which I happened to be reading earlier today:

"Name experts agree that bizarre spellings typically are not good things. People with conventionally spelled names were perceived as more successful, more popular, and more caring than those whose names had unusual spellings."

JordyInIndy · August 2013

The meaning behind the name you choose (if you even pay attention to the meaning) is totally lost when you want to make the name 'uneek'. It's no longer an actual name and just a bunch of letters thrown together.

coralreefmom · August 2013

luckily if the children are unhappy with the spelling of their name, they can change it when they are older, that being said I am not a fan of the unique trend.

Blaque sounds and looks like plaque and makes me want to brush my teeth

eta: I have spelling issues

shashonie · August 2013

Not a fan of made up spelling of names that don't make phonetic sense. As a teacher, it's always fun to guess the name or the spelling depending if I hear the kid's name or read it. My daughter has a Greek name and it's Phoena. Everyone calls her Fiona when they first see it, because of Shrek I'm sure instead of thinking, 'hey this looks like Phoenix!' Oh well, the LO's name will be French friendly due to my DF being Quebecois.

On a side note, some names do come from different language origins, so I would be respectful of that, but never Monee (sounds like money).

And as for grammar police issues that I have, my pet peeve is the use of 'your' for 'you're'. I want to hide newsfeeds of people who do that on FB.

MoxyByProxy · August 2013

I work for att doing the click to chat.. so when you are adding your unlimited messaging or want to upgrade your phone and you click that "chat with a rep" button.. im who you get

IT IS A PAIN IN THE ASS TO SPELL YOUR SCREWED UP NAME! not to mention my spell check always goes off because even the the spell checker is like wtf?!

I see some crazy ass names though.. I can tell when I see a name that is from other cultures and im cool with that.. but im talkin about names that are like what Car posted.

try typing Jazmyn or Blaque out into a normal conversation!

Welcome to AT&T how can I assist you!

Hi! Thank you for chatting with me today! I'll be happy to assist you with that today Jazmyn/Blaque!

Thank you for chatting with me today! It was my pleasure to assist you today Jazmyn/Blaque!

It's a pita.

MoxyByProxy · August 2013

DisneyPeanut said: MoxyByProxy said:

On an equally frustrating note, I spell my 11yo's name - Nicholas - Which I am pretty sure is the MOST commonly spelled way. My step mother.. spells it Nickolas.. just annoys the hell out of me I'm a teacher and one time I had three Nicholas in my class. Even their last names started with the same 2 letters. Thankfully they all spelled it differently, all legitimate spellings. There was a Nicholas (anglophone parents), Nicolas (francophone parents) and Nikolas (Greek parents). Does your step-mother have any Greek in her heritage?

Nope, she's just lazy.. she also spells my name Jessie.. (this gets death glares lol)

ziggy903 · August 2013

bepandnick said:

I'm a big fan of the CEO test. Can you picture a CEO with the name you're thinking of using? If not, keep looking.

I was talking to friends about this last week and they said that on the flip side they use the pole test.
I've done the pole test and side-eyed a lot of names that friends have given their children.

I call it the doctor test. if i wouldn't trust someone with that name as my doctor, i won't name my child that.

Winnieella · August 2013

As a teacher I'm against the make up your own name thing. The one that really bugs me is La-a (pronounced Ladasha). I am a firm believer of the pole/Dr test. If I think the name sounds like it would belong on a pole, don't use it.

Kedra231 · August 2013

BlueEyedDreamer said:

From last month's issue of "American Baby," which I happened to be reading earlier today:

"Name experts agree that bizarre spellings typically are not good things. People with conventionally spelled names were perceived as more successful, more popular, and more caring than those whose names had unusual spellings."

Some names are pretty messed up, but it's also kind of sad that so many people feel it's ok to judge someone by their name. Most of them didn't choose it (unless they changed it in a court of law), & you don't know their background, their education, or their values by a name.

That's the same as judging someone automatically as lazy or a pig b/c they're a little heavy, or whispering that someone's a bulemic b/c they're on the thin side.

I have very easy names, both first & maiden/married last names, & people still can't get them right. If we talk about unprofessional names in the workplace, how about all the people in the workplace that can't spell for the life of them, nor apparently read well?

DD has a child in her class whose name is pronounced Anika, but it's spelled Onikia. I tripped over that name repeatedly mentally & verbally, but, she's a very smart, very popular little girl, & her name doesn't seem to bother anyone else, including her parents, so, I don't care.

Satan, Hitler, Manson...names that are tasteless or have a very negative past, those I disagree with b/c it's hard for anyone to look past those names, but as to not hiring a "Macen" over a "Mason" b/c their name is different...that's immature & discriminatory, & THAT is the crap we're (as a society) teaching our children to overcome. Kinda sends the wrong message when mom & dad are sitting in the living room dissing half the names of the kids in Kindergarten b/c "they aren't spelled right according to my name dictionary of appropriateness." To each their own, but why the Hell would any adult side-eye a child just b/c of their name?????

MoxyByProxy · August 2013

I think daisy is cute.. i'd use it more as a nickname

BlueEyedDreamer · August 2013

Kedra231 said:

BlueEyedDreamer said:

From last month's issue of "American Baby," which I happened to be reading earlier today:

"Name experts agree that bizarre spellings typically are not good things. People with conventionally spelled names were perceived as more successful, more popular, and more caring than those whose names had unusual spellings."

Some names are pretty messed up, but it's also kind of sad that so many people feel it's ok to judge someone by their name. Most of them didn't choose it (unless they changed it in a court of law), & you don't know their background, their education, or their values by a name.

Satan, Hitler, Manson...names that are tasteless or have a very negative past, those I disagree with b/c it's hard for anyone to look past those names, but as to not hiring a "Macen" over a "Mason" b/c their name is different...that's immature & discriminatory, & THAT is the crap we're (as a society) teaching our children to overcome. Kinda sends the wrong message when mom & dad are sitting in the living room dissing half the names of the kids in Kindergarten b/c "they aren't spelled right according to my name dictionary of appropriateness." To each their own, but why the Hell would any adult side-eye a child just b/c of their name?????

Well, you can't deny that someone's name makes a first impression. If it's okay for "Manson" to create a first impression, why is it so terrible that La-a might create a first impression, too?

And FWIW, I would be side-eyeing the parents way more than the kid.

Kedra231 · August 2013

car seat said:

Kedra231 said:

BlueEyedDreamer said:

From last month's issue of "American Baby," which I happened to be reading earlier today:

"Name experts agree that bizarre spellings typically are not good things. People with conventionally spelled names were perceived as more successful, more popular, and more caring than those whose names had unusual spellings."

Some names are pretty messed up, but it's also kind of sad that so many people feel it's ok to judge someone by their name. Most of them didn't choose it (unless they changed it in a court of law), & you don't know their background, their education, or their values by a name.

That's the same as judging someone automatically as lazy or a pig b/c they're a little heavy, or whispering that someone's a bulemic b/c they're on the thin side.

I have very easy names, both first & maiden/married last names, & people still can't get them right. If we talk about unprofessional names in the workplace, how about all the people in the workplace that can't spell for the life of them, nor apparently read well?

DD has a child in her class whose name is pronounced Anika, but it's spelled Onikia. I tripped over that name repeatedly mentally & verbally, but, she's a very smart, very popular little girl, & her name doesn't seem to bother anyone else, including her parents, so, I don't care.

Satan, Hitler, Manson...names that are tasteless or have a very negative past, those I disagree with b/c it's hard for anyone to look past those names, but as to not hiring a "Macen" over a "Mason" b/c their name is different...that's immature & discriminatory, & THAT is the crap we're (as a society) teaching our children to overcome. Kinda sends the wrong message when mom & dad are sitting in the living room dissing half the names of the kids in Kindergarten b/c "they aren't spelled right according to my name dictionary of appropriateness." To each their own, but why the Hell would any adult side-eye a child just b/c of their name?????

Because they do. Really, when they're still children, we side-eye the parents who give their kids bad names, but these types of names tend to say something about the people wearing them. The simple fact is that our names are part of the first impression we make on people. Misspelled names speak volumes, whether it's fair or not.

And I'm simply saying, isn't that on us to start changing? That'd be like me listing off every name I hate b/c the girls/guys I knew with that name were horrible, so I won't ever be friends with them, hire them, rent to them, or encourage my kids to make friends with someone of that name. It's unrealistic, it's unfair, and it paints everyone with a judgmental brush. Your kid might have their name spelled right, but if you posted asking for honest opinions, you might find 75 out of 100 totally despise that name, & think kids named that are bad. How'd you feel about it then? Would it be fair to have to worry that your kid won't get a fair shake in life b/c people out there think they have a snotty name, or something else negative?

A name cannot tell you who will steal from you, or who would save your grandma from a house fire. You cannot honestly think that a name will either twist a child b/c it's spelled differently while someone who has the traditional spelling deserves to earn $50,000 more a year for the same job simply b/c their name is normal.

We're supposed to be working towards men & women having more pay equality in the same career, etc., & now instead of separation between the sexes, we get to single out or separate kids/people b/c their names are not traditional, and yet, norms and traditions are constantly changing.

That's like my 66 year old mother insisting that's NOT the way to do things, & "we NEVER put babies on their backs" b/c she doesn't believe in progression. Names are personal, but a name in itself doesn't doom a child; people's perceptions, however unfounded, can.

slwprincess · August 2013

OMG, DH and I just had this conversation at dinner. DS started school today and there's another Gavin in his class- spelled Gavyn. WTH? I thought I had it rough growing up with Stacie- the IE was fairly unusual but not absurd. But some of the stuff I'm seeing these days drives me bonkers. Parents think they are being cute and creative but it really just looks stupid. Makes me want to go back to old lady names like Ethel and Maude :-)

MoxyByProxy · August 2013

megash113 said:

All I can think of in this entire conversation is the episode of Friends where Phoebe goes to change her name after getting married, and realizes she can change it to anything so she becomes Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock.

I do agree with the majority though - keep it simple.

Totally changing my name to this next week! LOL

I think its a trend like anything else honestly. Im sure there were a group of women gathered up 20-30 years ago talking about how crazy the names were then and they were pretty mild in comparison. We just happen to live in the age of Designer everything.. including names.

Kedra231 · August 2013

car seat said:

Kedra231 said:

And I'm simply saying, isn't that on us to start changing? That'd be like me listing off every name I hate b/c the girls/guys I knew with that name were horrible, so I won't ever be friends with them, hire them, rent to them, or encourage my kids to make friends with someone of that name. It's unrealistic, it's unfair, and it paints everyone with a judgmental brush. Your kid might have their name spelled right, but if you posted asking for honest opinions, you might find 75 out of 100 totally despise that name, & think kids named that are bad. How'd you feel about it then? Would it be fair to have to worry that your kid won't get a fair shake in life b/c people out there think they have a snotty name, or something else negative?

A name cannot tell you who will steal from you, or who would save your grandma from a house fire. You cannot honestly think that a name will either twist a child b/c it's spelled differently while someone who has the traditional spelling deserves to earn $50,000 more a year for the same job simply b/c their name is normal.

We're supposed to be working towards men & women having more pay equality in the same career, etc., & now instead of separation between the sexes, we get to single out or separate kids/people b/c their names are not traditional, and yet, norms and traditions are constantly changing.

That's like my 66 year old mother insisting that's NOT the way to do things, & "we NEVER put babies on their backs" b/c she doesn't believe in progression. Names are personal, but a name in itself doesn't doom a child; people's perceptions, however unfounded, can.

Yeah, okay, get into a position of power and hire all the Quyyntynns and Rainbows and elevate them to the highest echelons in your organization.

But there's never going to be a President Rainbow. The fact is, some names will be taken seriously and some never will.

LOL. If I'm ever lucky enough to own a corporation, I would definitely do so if their work ethic, history, & capabilities showed that they'd help my company climb. I'm more ashamed of sh!tty, dishonest, scamming behavior than sh!tty names. If you want to work & you stand behind your work, I'd hire you regardless of extra K's or weirdly placed vowels. And Secret Santa might be a lot more fun that way, too, who knows.

And as for the President...well, there's plenty more esteemed careers I'd hope people would aim for, regardless of their name. (Not getting into a political argument of who I like/hate), but I can't say I found "Barack" in any of my name books, & he was still hired for the position, so...while Rainbow might be too hopeful for people to swallow, I don't think there's any guarantee that there won't be some more original names popping up over the next 10 presidents.

missperky · August 2013

Yes I always feel bad when I sub and I pronounce the names on the roster and it's completely wrong, poor kiddos. I think Lukas might be the Russian spelling? We have a lot of Russians in our school district and the children have traditional names Alexander, Nicholas, etc but with different spellings and I'm pretty sure it isn't, because they're trying to be "unique."

southerngal07 · August 2013

Tashalynn1986 said:
My personal favorite made up name may be nevaeh (remember heaven spelled backwards) I mean c'mon people.

Oh my gosh! I had to file out a form for a girl at my school today with this name! It never even dawned on me that it was heaven spelled backwards!

As a teacher I have seen some truly creative spellings, including 4 different versions of 'Jada' last year. I don't get this trend AT ALL!

emmasue18 · August 2013

missperky said:
Yes I always feel bad when I sub and I pronounce the names on the roster and it's completely wrong, poor kiddos. I think Lukas might be the Russian spelling? We have a lot of Russians in our school district and the children have traditional names Alexander, Nicholas, etc but with different spellings and I'm pretty sure it isn't, because they're trying to be "unique."

And if she was Russian I may understand. She just had a new baby, I had to check out the name on FB, it's Ryleigh.

I am pretty sure she is going for the "made up spelling trend" and that is just annoying to me. I do understand what you're saying though. Some different spellings are the norm in other cultures. I am more talking about throwing and removing whatever letters you want to, what is the point?

I have a Noah and a Gabriel. If this is a boy, he will be Ezra. Sure, I get the "naming your kids after the bible side eye" but I have yet to have anyone mispronounce or misinterpret why I gave my children those names. They are classic, about as classic as one can get.

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