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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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BeholdOurButterStinketh · 24/03/2025 11:38

I recall reading an article in a trashy magazine many years ago by a woman who called her DD KVIIIlyn, pronounced Caitlyn (as in the 8 sound spelled in Roman numerals).

I wonder if that was actually true or made up rubbish for a cash payment an 'artistic fictional interpretaton'.

BeholdOurButterStinketh · 24/03/2025 10:40

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 24/03/2025 08:58

IMO that counts as child abuse! I do sometimes think that registrars should have the right to veto the truly daft ‘youneek’ names some parents come up with.

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Or force the parents to change their own names to the ridiculous monstrosities that they want to inflict on their poor children.

After all, they truly believe it to be a beautiful name, so they'll be over the moon with that, won't they...?

AuntyAgony · 24/03/2025 10:38

RaraRachael · 24/03/2025 10:20

We once had a German exchange student staying with us. He was bemused by some of the names of his classmates. Apparently in Germany you can only choose from a list of approved names.
Far more sensible and would stop children being given ridiculous and embarrassing names that they're going to hate for the rest of their lives.

In my northern European home country it's the same. You can come up with new names but they will then be approved or rejected by the officials. I'm sure they're more lax these days, but I still feel that it's a good thing that you can't name your child something utterly ridiculous.

Having said that, my child's name has an unusual spelling here in the uk. As the child has dual heritage I wanted them to have a name that reflects it, and because they have a bog standard British surname too so the first name would be a nod to their "other home country". It's not too out there, but it does end with an i when the UK version would end with a y. Think Luci instead of Lucy. I sometimes feel it's a bit awkward, but the name is a normal name in my home country and doesn't stand out when we visit, and it's easy for my parents, family and friends to say. I just sometimes feel that I have to explain myself that I didn't go for a weird spelling just to be quirky and that it's just a boring normal name where I'm from. 😅 My child loves it though so I'm happy.

RaraRachael · 24/03/2025 10:20

We once had a German exchange student staying with us. He was bemused by some of the names of his classmates. Apparently in Germany you can only choose from a list of approved names.
Far more sensible and would stop children being given ridiculous and embarrassing names that they're going to hate for the rest of their lives.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 24/03/2025 08:58

MrsSunshine2b · 19/03/2025 21:59

The worst one I've ever seen was T'Kila, pronounced Tequila. As in, I wanted to name my baby Tequila but was too drunk to spell it.

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IMO that counts as child abuse! I do sometimes think that registrars should have the right to veto the truly daft ‘youneek’ names some parents come up with.

lolacherricoke · 24/03/2025 07:50

Neight instead of Nate (both equally awful imo)

bonbonours · 24/03/2025 06:59

Hoppinggreen · 21/03/2025 08:11

I understand from HK Chinese friends that some people even pay a consultant to choose an English name for their Children when they send them to The UK for their education.
I was at Boarding school in the mid 80's with a HK Chinese Kenneth, Susan, Monica, Edward and Lawrence amongst others

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I went to school with loads of Hong Kong boarders, lots had old fashioned English names. There was definitely a Kenneth, and a Queenie!

RominaDina · 23/03/2025 14:08

RaraRachael · 23/03/2025 13:09

We had a Kio in nursery and we asked how it was pronounced as it could have been Kye-oh or Key-oh.
The mum told us very indignantly that it was Kye-oh "Cos it's got an I, innit?"

I can never get Mia, Maia, May, Mya right. I know what I think they should sound like but that's not always the same as the parents.

I always get that wrong. I know 2 Mayas, a My-ah and a May-ah and I always get it wrong

RaraRachael · 23/03/2025 13:09

We had a Kio in nursery and we asked how it was pronounced as it could have been Kye-oh or Key-oh.
The mum told us very indignantly that it was Kye-oh "Cos it's got an I, innit?"

I can never get Mia, Maia, May, Mya right. I know what I think they should sound like but that's not always the same as the parents.

x2boys · 23/03/2025 13:06

Back in the day when chloe wasnt such s popular name i was reading a book with someone with the name and couldnt work out how to pronounce it i think i read it to rhyme with pole

KimberleyClark · 23/03/2025 13:02

Scorchio84 · 22/03/2025 13:35

There isn't a female version of "Oisín" or whatever that obomination that was previously

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There is a Welsh male name Osian. It’s pronounced Oshan with short o sound.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 23/03/2025 12:55

merryhouse · 23/03/2025 12:50

I know nothing about Péig (I'm someone who was 19 before encountering the name Niamh) except for a conversation on a Usenet group with several Irish people in it
"look, if you're going to fadó fadó you have to do it properly"

You can always get a translation of Péig if you want to torture yourself read it

merryhouse · 23/03/2025 12:50

I know nothing about Péig (I'm someone who was 19 before encountering the name Niamh) except for a conversation on a Usenet group with several Irish people in it
"look, if you're going to fadó fadó you have to do it properly"

Namechangetry · 23/03/2025 10:36

JMSA · 23/03/2025 09:55

It’s awful and completely uncouth. Latest I’ve come across is Mia.
Pronunciation: Maya.
I mean, just why??

I've met Mayas pronounced me-a, my-a and may-a. Don't even get me started on the Alicias. Or Louis pronounced Lewis.

RominaDina · 23/03/2025 10:16

tulippa · 23/03/2025 09:58

Yes I have already been corrected by multiple people. Thank you. I learnt something new on Wednesday. 🙂

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😂

tulippa · 23/03/2025 09:58

MomGran · 23/03/2025 09:50

It is a Polish variant of Casper.

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Yes I have already been corrected by multiple people. Thank you. I learnt something new on Wednesday. 🙂

JMSA · 23/03/2025 09:55

It’s awful and completely uncouth. Latest I’ve come across is Mia.
Pronunciation: Maya.
I mean, just why??

RominaDina · 23/03/2025 09:55

MomGran · 23/03/2025 09:54

Every day is a school day 😀

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Very true 😃!

MomGran · 23/03/2025 09:54

RominaDina · 23/03/2025 09:53

@tulippa has been very grateful to all the many, many posters who have pointed this out. She learned this fact on Wednesday, and every day since. Sometimes several times 😀!

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Every day is a school day 😀

RominaDina · 23/03/2025 09:54

Hollowvoice · 22/03/2025 18:41

When this thread is full I'd love to see an analysis of just how many times @tulippa has learned this lesson

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Yet again this morning! If anyone is feeling bored, they can start to run a tally! 😂

RominaDina · 23/03/2025 09:53

MomGran · 23/03/2025 09:50

It is a Polish variant of Casper.

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@tulippa has been very grateful to all the many, many posters who have pointed this out. She learned this fact on Wednesday, and every day since. Sometimes several times 😀!

MomGran · 23/03/2025 09:50

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 is a Polish variant of Casper.

CapybaraInMyGardenOhIWish · 23/03/2025 02:06

Grammarnut · 22/03/2025 19:08

No, I meant that Karl, Charles and Carol are all forms of the Latin name Carolus.

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Caroline as well. I'm guessing Carolyn also.

Grammarnut · 22/03/2025 19:08

GrandTheftWalrus · 21/03/2025 23:19

No Charles is pronounced Charles.

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No, I meant that Karl, Charles and Carol are all forms of the Latin name Carolus.

Hollowvoice · 22/03/2025 18:41

EmpressaurusKitty · 22/03/2025 17:17

On the bright side, @tulippa has now learned the same new thing every day since Wednesday & I’d guess she has a fair chance of learning it tomorrow as well.

I wonder how many of the people who get as far as that post reach far enough to see that they’re part of the running joke?

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When this thread is full I'd love to see an analysis of just how many times @tulippa has learned this lesson