Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Thread gallery
10
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....😂

tulippa · 19/03/2025 20:46

RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:43

In which case, I have a friendly ghost.
Would you have a name suggestion for him, please? We have Polish heritage.

Piotr?

Delphiniumandlupins · 19/03/2025 20:45

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!

I am adversely judging the parents who haven't taught a 4 year old child, in Reception, their full name.

atmywitsend1989 · 19/03/2025 20:43

Lol I think it's fine as long as it's not too overboard. My son has an arabic name that isn't obviously Arabic, spelt with a Y instead of an I, and people have rolled their eyes at the spelling before. Same with daughter, I chose a really unconventional spelling for hers. But it never really matters in most in their lives unless people are seeing their legal documents

RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:43

tulippa · 19/03/2025 20:40

I'm currently waiting 40 minutes for another delayed train having missed my original connection so it's keeping me occupied!

In which case, I have a friendly ghost.
Would you have a name suggestion for him, please? We have Polish heritage.

Bluebellysmell · 19/03/2025 20:42

I have recently seen both Feebee and Sofier

Offtobuttonmoontovisitmrspoon · 19/03/2025 20:41

@tulippa you are an absolute legend.

tulippa · 19/03/2025 20:40

LittleBearPad · 19/03/2025 20:26

@tulippa you’re a complete star!

I'm currently waiting 40 minutes for another delayed train having missed my original connection so it's keeping me occupied!

FcukTheDay · 19/03/2025 20:40

Gymnopedie · 19/03/2025 20:34

I think - but I'm sure someone will be along to correct me if I'm wrong - that it might be Kacper.

But don't take my word for it.

Maybe? If only there was a way we could read about it...multiple times. I think that there are things in life that we just have to accept we won't know the answer to.

VictorianBigot · 19/03/2025 20:39

LittleGreenDuck · 19/03/2025 20:18

Does anyone know how to spell Caspar in Polish?

I named my cat Kasper with a K because I was really, really into Borgen at the time.

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.

MuchasSmoochas · 19/03/2025 20:36

There was a KayCee baby beside me when my daughter was born. KayCee mum explained it was a play on his initials as his surname began with a C. Which was very confusing and I didn’t want to say hold on this is like saying PIN number.

Hoppinggreen · 19/03/2025 20:35

Conversely I worked with a Janice who insisted it was pronounced "Ja - nice"

Gymnopedie · 19/03/2025 20:34

FcukTheDay · 19/03/2025 20:32

I think someone will explain it to is soon. Its a head scratcher that's for sure!

I think - but I'm sure someone will be along to correct me if I'm wrong - that it might be Kacper.

But don't take my word for it.

MesmerisingMuon · 19/03/2025 20:34

I had two girls called "Emily" in the same class.

One of them introduced herself as the Emily with the ridiculous spelling! Spelt Emaleigh. She absolutely hated it!

Decorhate · 19/03/2025 20:33

@FrodoBiggins Interesting as our Indian friend called his son Kiran and it sounds exactly as I would pronounce Kieran (not Ciarán)

FcukTheDay · 19/03/2025 20:32

RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:31

I think you put Ll in front of it. Or is that Welsh?
I love Welsh and Polish names, they float my goat.

I think someone will explain it to is soon. Its a head scratcher that's for sure!

2025willbemytime · 19/03/2025 20:31

Catterpillarsflipflops · 19/03/2025 19:53

It's not jydhingvtge child. However, multiple studies show that there is a correlation between names and social class and educational outcome and also how school/ employers view you.

Which is wrong and unfair as the kid didn't name themselves..

Bright kids can be the product of less than bright parents or come from being in care.

SnoozingFox · 19/03/2025 20:31

RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:25

I once worked with a woman called Caroline, who insisted it was pronounced Caroleen.

Similarly, I worked with a Karen who insisted on Kay-ren.

RominaDina · 19/03/2025 20:31

FcukTheDay · 19/03/2025 20:28

I really don't know? Maybe if someone could explain it, I would get it...

I think you put Ll in front of it. Or is that Welsh?
I love Welsh and Polish names, they float my goat.

Saz12 · 19/03/2025 20:29

@Tulippa, are you aware that's a Polish spelling? Just mentioning it so you can learn something new today. Being wildly unable to rtft floats my goat. 😆

Wilfrida1 · 19/03/2025 20:28

I have seen Chervawn.

FcukTheDay · 19/03/2025 20:28

LittleGreenDuck · 19/03/2025 20:18

Does anyone know how to spell Caspar in Polish?

I really don't know? Maybe if someone could explain it, I would get it...

LittleBearPad · 19/03/2025 20:26

@tulippa you’re a complete star!

viques · 19/03/2025 20:26

GeordiesWonTheCup · 19/03/2025 18:43

Goat floater here!! 🙋‍♀️

Love this! 😆😆

I am another goat floater convert. But I am going to be a ghowtte phlouterre because I wanna be speshul.