One letter can make a difference

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

eg. I like the names Chery and Meryl but destest Beryl

[AwfulBeryl]

[AwfulBeryl]

[AwfulBeryl]

[SanityClause]

When I was a child, saying someone was "a real Cheryl" implied they were a bit common. I wasn't in the UK, though.

[PelvicFloorClenchReminder]

I love Beryl. Beryl is awesome.

Meryl is frightful.

[AwfulBeryl]

[PelvicFloorClenchReminder]

[TheCowThatLaughs]

I don't like any of them (sorry Awful)

[stoopstoconker]

I love the name Beryl.

Comes from the same origins as Ruby and Pearl....Beryl,Beryl,Beryl,Beryl

[AwfulBeryl]

Beryl,Beryl,Beryl,Beryl.

[marshmallowpies]

Yes a beryl is a semi precious stone. It's definitely a name I'd like to see reclaimed - if you can have a Pearl or a Ruby why not a Beryl? (Or why not Emerald come to that)

I agree about the 1 letter thing though.
Like Clara but not Clare
Julia but not Julie
Maria (or Mary) but not Marie

[Arsenic]

Balonz but not Balony

[AwfulBeryl]

I prefer Lara to Tara and Zara to Sara.

[Doilooklikeatourist]

Seren looks as if the parents forgot the A at the end of Serena

[Doilooklikeatourist]

[FirstAidKitten]

Important for gender too:

Martin / Martina
Justin / Justine
Paul / Paula
Luca / Lucy

[AwfulBeryl]

I like Summer not Bummer.

[stoopstoconker]

Banal not anal.

[Ham69]

Joe not toe

[Loyse]

Absolutely

Julia not Julie
Joanna not Joanne

Beryl beats Cheryl though!

Lydia and Linda/Lynda and Lynn not miles apart in terms of letters but far apart in terms of niceness.

[iklboo]

Meryl's right up my streep.

[DrElizabethPlimpton]

Wasn't Meryl one of the Osmand brothers?

I don't like Beryl much either.

[ScaryChicken]

Hank not Wank

[AwfulBeryl]

Kelly not Jelly

[BaronessBomburst]

Twan.

It's a Dutch name.