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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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Scottishskifun · 19/03/2025 21:08

There was a Lettuce at my school with a accent above the U apparently..... name was actually Lettice (le teese if pronouncing it out) she was always having to say my name isn't lettuce!

RamblingEclectic · 19/03/2025 21:07

I can see the frustration when working with a lot of names like this.

That said, I intentionally gave my kids traditional first names with only one way to traditionally say and spell them in English because how much my foreign name gets butchered (I've had it both nearly doubled in size in misspellings and I've previously worked places for years, had how to pronounce my name in my email signature, my icon for emails and Teams, and said at the start of any meeting & still was having people get it wrong) and still 3 out of 4 have ended up with their names being butchered at least a few times -- including people adding in random ys.

The next generation started phonics and are now having babies.

Phonics isn't recent. We have school readers used in the 18th century that used phonics to teach reading and many places never stopped using it.

LaughingCat · 19/03/2025 21:05

I love weird and unusual names but not spelt with a random assortment of letters. As an old editor once said to me, “You have to know the rules of English before you can break them.”

Names I love: Cadogan, Peregrine, Moss, Asha

Names I don’t love: Airwrecka (Erica, poor thing), Mhyke, Phalicia (even more poor thing) and Cynceer.

My number one pet hate is Nevaeh - it seemed to blow up when I was working on the phone line for the registrars. There were dozens of them. I’m sorry if anyone on here has a little Nevaeh but I was always hideously tempted to congratulate the parents on being so open about their Satanism just to release some of the pent-up frustration at hearing it yet again down the phone.

scorpiogirly · 19/03/2025 21:03

Roobee

Not2identifying · 19/03/2025 21:02

CaptainCallisto · 19/03/2025 18:31

I had to write a four year old reception child in the accident book at lunch today (primary school TA), and he didn't know his last name. Couldn't find Jack anywhere on the class list. I don't work in EYFS, so didnt know I should be looking for Dgaque!

If that's true it must be outing because it's so unusual. You might want to ask MN to delete your post.

Barney16 · 19/03/2025 21:02

Best name so far is Feebee. And by the way, did you know Kacper is actually Polish 😂

Crazybaby123 · 19/03/2025 20:59

tulippa · 19/03/2025 20:53

I am truly learning loads this evening!

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I wonder if they had the same conversations in ancient times as the name spellings evolved??

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 19/03/2025 20:58

EdithStourton · 19/03/2025 20:36

The one that got me was a small girl with a non-standard spelling of part of her name. I carefully learned it.
Then her parents sent her reading diary in and had misspelt it (to another non-standard spelling).

And there really are people out there who give their DC initials instead of names.

We had a family at school who called all their kids names starting with a particular latter-say L. But they got to the last boy and just called him -L. Head teacher was reading announcements out and said “L Smith is doing ‘something or other” he sighed and said “can I remind everyone to use students full names?” Someone whispered “that IS his name. He sighed even louder and rolled his eyes audibly.

Hoppinggreen · 19/03/2025 20:56

lifeonmars100 · 19/03/2025 20:49

I sometimes wonder if there is an app that generates these new style names, you type in your hobbies, favourite music,food, tv show, colour, etc and it conjures up a special moniker for your little one.

Business Idea?

BlackWhiteCircle · 19/03/2025 20:56

BarneyRonson · 19/03/2025 18:38

Where do you live that there are so many adopted unsafe children with identifiable names that need tweaking?

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I’d imagine in a support group for adopted parents? Not hard to think outside your own box really,

Speckyfourfries · 19/03/2025 20:55

Undethetree · 19/03/2025 18:26

I met an Evon last week

Son of Ray Von? A la Phoenix Nights?

Evenstar · 19/03/2025 20:54

I felt very sorry for this woman who was in the news a few years ago, it is easy for parents to forget that they are giving someone a name for the rest of their life and it can cause them endless problems and embarrassment if they make a poor choice https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/woman-forced-change-spelling-name-4171756

Woman changed unusual spelling of her name as it 'made life hell'

The woman has also said her mother has threatened to 'cut her off' over it

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/woman-forced-change-spelling-name-4171756

ohtowinthelottery · 19/03/2025 20:54

@HappyAsASandboy
And if I remember correctly, we also tested their understanding and progress in phonics by getting them to read a list containing made up words. So I suppose it's not really surprising they're now making up their own!

lifeonmars100 · 19/03/2025 20:53

Storynanny1 · 19/03/2025 18:33

As an infant teacher of 40 years I’ve seen many ….. the most interesting being a boy with apostrophes instead of vowels eg D’m’n’c - not that actual name but you get the idea. Didn’t want to get into trouble and write the actual name!

I know a D'vonte!

tulippa · 19/03/2025 20:53

Crazybaby123 · 19/03/2025 20:51

I looked it up...😂

  • The name Casper, or its variations, is believed to be derived from the ancient Chaldean word "Gizbar," meaning "treasurer".
  • Evolution:
  • "Gizbar" (Chaldean) > "Gasbar" > "Gaspar" > "Caspar" > "Kaspar".
  • The transition from "Gizbar" to "Caspar" and "Kaspar" is believed to involve a misreading of the manuscript "G" as "C" and "K" having the same phonetic value as "C".
Show quote history

I am truly learning loads this evening!

LBFseBrom · 19/03/2025 20:52

I agree and think it is dreadful, chavvy.

Crazybaby123 · 19/03/2025 20:51

RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:48

Good question. I wonder how the Celts spelt Kacper?

Show quote history

I looked it up...😂

  • The name Casper, or its variations, is believed to be derived from the ancient Chaldean word "Gizbar," meaning "treasurer".
  • Evolution:
  • "Gizbar" (Chaldean) > "Gasbar" > "Gaspar" > "Caspar" > "Kaspar".
  • The transition from "Gizbar" to "Caspar" and "Kaspar" is believed to involve a misreading of the manuscript "G" as "C" and "K" having the same phonetic value as "C".
RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:50

lifeonmars100 · 19/03/2025 20:49

I sometimes wonder if there is an app that generates these new style names, you type in your hobbies, favourite music,food, tv show, colour, etc and it conjures up a special moniker for your little one.

Moniker! That's a nice variant.

CaptainCallisto · 19/03/2025 20:50

thatsfunnybecause · 19/03/2025 18:37

There’s a Reignbeau at dds nursery

I've also taught a Reinebeau. She hated it!

loveyoutothemoonandtosaturn · 19/03/2025 20:50

I know a lady who has three children all
with normal nice names but she has randomly added accents to them where they have no need to be. Think Kátie or Lúcy. Really strange

lifeonmars100 · 19/03/2025 20:49

I sometimes wonder if there is an app that generates these new style names, you type in your hobbies, favourite music,food, tv show, colour, etc and it conjures up a special moniker for your little one.

RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:49

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 19/03/2025 20:48

Not any more.🤣

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😂

RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:48

tulippa · 19/03/2025 20:46

Piotr?

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Thanks. Piotr the Friendly Ghost it is. 👍!

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 19/03/2025 20:48

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 19/03/2025 18:31

It's floats your boat.
🤣

Show quote history

Not any more.🤣

RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:48

Crazybaby123 · 19/03/2025 20:47

What if the unusual spelling is actually the original and ancient british way to spell a name but nobody would know unless they looked it up. Asking for a friend....😂

Good question. I wonder how the Celts spelt Kacper?

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