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Original poster

To not use proper spellings when naming your child

934 replies

Catterpillarsflipflops · 19/03/2025 18:17

Am I being unreasonable to think it's ridiculous to use a funky spelling of a normal name. I spent today dealing with lost paperwork for a child as the person that took the details didn't think to check the spelling as there is no other spelling of the name.

It looks silly and just causes no end of problems for the child. It also disadvantages them as straight away people get an image of what the child is like.

I've seen

Jaymz
Ezmay
Lil-leigh

OP posts:
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10
ThisFluentBiscuit · 20/03/2025 00:26

Destiny123 · 19/03/2025 23:40

What reasoning do I possibly have to lie?! You see all sorts on labour ward - nevaeh is quite common (later explained to me as heaven spelt backwards

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Yes, and the dash (as in -) in a name, to be pronounced as "dash", is pretty common in some Black communities. Might be a Caribbean-diaspora thing, I'm not sure.

MrsSunshine2b · 20/03/2025 00:26

tellmesomethingtrue · 19/03/2025 22:07

Aamie
Isa (pronounced Eesa)
Ava (pronounced Arva)

Isa is quite a common abbreviation for Isabelle in Spain.

MissRoseDurward · 20/03/2025 00:23

Educating yourself would save embarrassment

Reading the thread would save embarrassment @ClairDeLaLune

Ilikeadrink14 · 20/03/2025 00:21

Rachie1973 · 19/03/2025 18:54

I have custody of 2 granddaughters. I really did have to argue with their parents to not register them Fayth and Ope.

You have GOT to be kidding!

Spareincoming · 20/03/2025 00:21

I met my first Jaymez this week.
I thought it was Spanish, like Jose etc. but no. James.
The headteacher said they’ve a whole key stage of unique spellings.

Mnetcurious · 20/03/2025 00:13

People think it makes them yoouneek, in reality it just makes them look tacky and/or stupid. I saw an Amerlie on a class list recently. Not sure if that one was a deliberate spelling mistake or not but either way it’s not good.

Stravaig · 20/03/2025 00:13

EnfysPreseli · 19/03/2025 23:26

Because DH is English and we wanted his side of the family to be able to pronounce their names easily we went for Welsh names that have similar English equivalents, followed by overtly Welsh middle names for all four DCs. And, yes, they have been mistaken for you-neek, or pretentious spellings. I
One DD may have the same name with a "y" in it as your DD. I had to convince PIL that it was an actual name, not me being awkward.

Show quote history

In my parents generation it was common to have a Gaelic or Scots first name, then English middle name, often a direct translation, not always obvious. So my father was, eg. Iain John X. He had two equal parallel identities, and he switched between them at will, Iain X at home in Scotland, John X out in the world. Documents could be in either or both.

In these days of security paranoia we're pinned to one formal identity for pretty much all administrative purposes. No more flexibility. So I do a lot of (hopefully invisible) wincing at pronounciation and spelling attempts, and offer up a nickname instead.

ItsUpToYou · 20/03/2025 00:12

Another2Cats · 20/03/2025 00:08

I haven't RTFT so I'm not sure if somebody else has already mentioned this.

This reminds me of a US sketch from a comedy show where, rather than normal names being given unusual spellings (as in this thread), common names were given unusual pronunciations.

For example, the name "Aaron" being pronounced as "A A Ron" or "Blake" pronounced as "Balockee" or "Denise" as "Dee Nice" or "Mr O'Shaughnessy" as "Mr O Shag Hennesy"

From Key & Peele "Substitute Teacher"

The joke here isn’t about unusual spellings or pronunciations, it’s that white teachers are known for mispronouncing “ethnic” names. It’s a recurring joke in minority communities in white-run countries.

CrystalSingerFan · 20/03/2025 00:11

PluckedOutOfThinAir · 19/03/2025 23:32

Anna

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Oooh! I have a friend called Anna! So that's English covered. What are the others? Russian, presumably? (Anna Karenina, Anna Netrebko). Italian? French?

Foostit · 20/03/2025 00:10

tulippa · 19/03/2025 18:34

I work somewhere where there is a sign to contact Kacper if you need a certain thing doing. I spent months thinking that's an unusual name until I realised it was a funky spelling of Casper. Parents obviously didn't know the letter c only makes 's' when followed by i, e or y.

Edited

@tulippa I taught a Kacper years ago. I mispronounced his name and you could tell by his reaction that this was a regular occurrence.

JudgeJ · 20/03/2025 00:08

BeholdOurButterStinketh · 19/03/2025 22:03

We know somebody with an Isaac - except it's spelled Issac. She's never off her phone, but she apparently still didn't think it worth taking 5 seconds to check the spelling of a name before giving it to her child for the rest of his life.

I'd understand if she was trying to spell it phonetically, but Issac really does not sound like the name Isaac is pronounced.

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You're assuming that she knows the difference in the pronunciation of Is and Iss ,which is she is surgically attached to her phone I doubt she would know.

Satsuma2 · 20/03/2025 00:08

Someone I know has a great grandson called ’JayCub’. It seems so contrived.

Another2Cats · 20/03/2025 00:08

I haven't RTFT so I'm not sure if somebody else has already mentioned this.

This reminds me of a US sketch from a comedy show where, rather than normal names being given unusual spellings (as in this thread), common names were given unusual pronunciations.

For example, the name "Aaron" being pronounced as "A A Ron" or "Blake" pronounced as "Balockee" or "Denise" as "Dee Nice" or "Mr O'Shaughnessy" as "Mr O Shag Hennesy"

From Key & Peele "Substitute Teacher"

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQaLic5SE_I

ClairDeLaLune · 20/03/2025 00:07

tulippa · 19/03/2025 18:34

I work somewhere where there is a sign to contact Kacper if you need a certain thing doing. I spent months thinking that's an unusual name until I realised it was a funky spelling of Casper. Parents obviously didn't know the letter c only makes 's' when followed by i, e or y.

Edited

It’s not funky, it’s the correct Polish spelling of the name. Educating yourself would save embarrassment @tulippa

Foostit · 20/03/2025 00:07

craigth162 · 19/03/2025 18:24

Yep I know a jaymz too. Mind-boggling

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What? There’s more than one? 😂 Poor little bastards 😂

JudgeJ · 20/03/2025 00:05

largeprintagathachristie · 19/03/2025 18:27

If I’m remembering it correctly, the first Freakanomics book - years ago now - correlated “unique” spellings with low levels of high school attainment in the parent/s in the US.

I would imagine that there would be a significant correlation in the UK too, the pupils with 'normal' names tended to have more intelligent parents.

ItsUpToYou · 20/03/2025 00:05

Turmerictolly · 19/03/2025 23:58

I think a previous poster is right about increasing US cultural influences on names here. It’s quite a big thing in the Caribbean too.

Perhaps this is why these threads annoy me so much. I’m from a Caribbean island but grew up in the UK, and all of the snooty “Lynisha? That’s a ridiculous made up name” attitudes on MN just make me think how deeply rooted racism here is. We can’t even have our names without people looking down their noses and laughing at us.

atmywitsend1989 · 20/03/2025 00:04

ThisFluentBiscuit · 19/03/2025 22:33

People actually roll their eyes? I would judge you so hard for your "really unconventional spelling" but I wouldn't SHOW it!!!

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I can think of two times when someone visibly rolled their eyes at my son's name which really isn't as out there as his sister's 😅 His sister has had more eyerolls but the most comment reaction is people asking her how it's spelt which isn't so bad. Son has also been asked why he has a girls name on a few occasions since he was little.. I should have thought the Y through in retrospect!

YourEarsCouldWinPrizes · 20/03/2025 00:02

I know a Meeah and a Demiiee

I wish I wasn't joking

Stephenra · 20/03/2025 00:00

Look what I've just found. 'Knalij.' Right? Get ready - 'Knowledge.'

Turmerictolly · 19/03/2025 23:58

I think a previous poster is right about increasing US cultural influences on names here. It’s quite a big thing in the Caribbean too.

ItsUpToYou · 19/03/2025 23:56

Destiny123 · 19/03/2025 23:40

What reasoning do I possibly have to lie?! You see all sorts on labour ward - nevaeh is quite common (later explained to me as heaven spelt backwards

Show quote history

Yes, Nevaeh is a given name and I can think of three people I know with the name. Yes, it’s heaven spelt backwards, no, it’s not traditional and no, you’re not obliged to like the name, but it’s a name nonetheless. All of the “dash-a” stories, on the other hand, only ever seem to be urban myths. Usually rooted in classism and racism as a PP pointed out.

Blankscreen · 19/03/2025 23:52

Some parents are just thick and no doubt their poor children will grow up to be just as thick.

CrystalSingerFan · 19/03/2025 23:49

Trying again for @ThisFluentBiscuit's forgiveness, and for my actual PP to make sense. (Photo from long yet fascinating post by @RedToothBrush)

Nice Beaver! (Other vulgar jokes are available).

To not use proper spellings when naming your child
Mydadsbirthday · 19/03/2025 23:46

bonbonours · 19/03/2025 23:07

Not quite the same as dodgy spellings but as a French speaker it really bugs me when I hear girls being named Beau. I met an Isla-Beau today. Beau is literally the masculine version of beautiful. The feminine is Belle (like the princess!!)
I think parents are trying to look posh by choosing something French but actually just look ignorant.

God. Isla-Beau is horrific