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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to ask why parents give deliberately unusual spellings of otherwise common names?

298 replies

Ihateasthma · 23/08/2026 16:19

Why do parents give their DC names which sound normal but differently spelt to the normal way?

Maddyline for Madeleine
Febee for Pheobe
Pheo for Theo

You have shot yourselves in the foot from day one as you get angry, roll your eyes when others spell their names the normal way. If you gave DC the normal spelling- you wouldn’t react like this

Then when the DC are older they do the same thing and say “it’s spelt ….”

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 24/08/2026 19:16

Missey85 · 24/08/2026 17:41

Yes it's pronounced see Ann here that's how I thought you said it your way sounds Irish so it's just the language I suppose 🤷

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It’s a Welsh name Sîan. And it’s pronounced Shaaan.

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 24/08/2026 18:56

I agree with a previous poster , some parents simply can’t spell.! Back in the day I had a Suesan and Alisen in my class!

Mumalala · 24/08/2026 18:33

Arran2024 · 24/08/2026 17:47

On the adoption issue again, I know several adopters who changed their children's rather bizarre names, but others who didn't but then had to deal with other parents' attitudes. Anyone remember Katie Hopkins saying she wouldn't do playdates with kids with certain names?!! It caused quite a stir at the time.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/katie-hopkins-branded-an-insufferable-snob-after-this-morning-debate-on-children-s-names-8690468.html

Edited

Katie Hopkins doesn't like the names of places used as children's first names. She also has a daughter called India.

Scuttlebut · 24/08/2026 17:54

UhOhRatPoo · 24/08/2026 17:28

It can’t be both!

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Okay.

Arran2024 · 24/08/2026 17:47

On the adoption issue again, I know several adopters who changed their children's rather bizarre names, but others who didn't but then had to deal with other parents' attitudes. Anyone remember Katie Hopkins saying she wouldn't do playdates with kids with certain names?!! It caused quite a stir at the time.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/katie-hopkins-branded-an-insufferable-snob-after-this-morning-debate-on-children-s-names-8690468.html

Missey85 · 24/08/2026 17:41

x2boys · 24/08/2026 08:25

I always thought Sian was pronouncrd Sharn
But i was watching an old episode of Australias " The Voice" and therre was a Sian pronounced See Ann is there a different pronouciation on Australia ?

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Yes it's pronounced see Ann here that's how I thought you said it your way sounds Irish so it's just the language I suppose 🤷

Missey85 · 24/08/2026 17:37

Because they think it somehow makes them different and special 😂😂 meanwhile poor kid is resigned to having to spell it out ten times whenever asked it's all about the look at me parents

MaggieBsBoat · 24/08/2026 17:35

I knew a Sian who pronounced it see-an. Is that a thing?!!

GrandTheftWalrus · 24/08/2026 17:34

I have seen a Chloe spelt Colhe

UhOhRatPoo · 24/08/2026 17:28

Scuttlebut · 24/08/2026 15:58

It has probably become an urban myth but based in reality.

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It can’t be both!

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 24/08/2026 16:24

The Guy pronounced Gooey was in a novel but I forget which one.

Scuttlebut · 24/08/2026 15:58

UhOhRatPoo · 24/08/2026 08:29

That’s an urban myth, same as the one about Guy pronounced Gooey.

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It has probably become an urban myth but based in reality.

x2boys · 24/08/2026 13:54

UhOhRatPoo · 24/08/2026 12:58

Are you sure it wasn’t the Australian megastar singer songwriter Sia?

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No she was a contestsnt on the voice a few years ago along with her brother
Sian and Jorden fuller
They both sang beautifully
And she definintley pronounced it Si Ann

UhOhRatPoo · 24/08/2026 13:18

Ihateasthma · 23/08/2026 17:59

Sophia and Sofia - which version you use is usually based from the country you were born in.

For example. Queen Sofia of Spain (consort of Juan Carlos) was born Princess Sophia of Greece and adopted the Spanish spelling on marriage. There are a few other examples like this

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No she wasn’t. Greeks use a different alphabet altogether. Sophia would just be one transliteration of the Greek, with Sofía being an alternative one.

UhOhRatPoo · 24/08/2026 12:58

x2boys · 24/08/2026 08:25

I always thought Sian was pronouncrd Sharn
But i was watching an old episode of Australias " The Voice" and therre was a Sian pronounced See Ann is there a different pronouciation on Australia ?

Show quote history

Are you sure it wasn’t the Australian megastar singer songwriter Sia?

ArtfulDenimSheep · 24/08/2026 10:54

Ah maybe it is. My mistake. For some reason I assumed it to be Irish. I also typed Nerve instead of Neve and don't know how to spell iNeve correctly. A lot of these names are beautiful. But when I see them written down. In their original way I don't know how to pronounce them. Then names that are missing spelled to read like they are seller seem to look somewhat off.

Tedsnan1 · 24/08/2026 08:42

InterestedDad37 · 23/08/2026 17:39

He'll probably end up on benefits (*joke 😀)

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Wow

UhOhRatPoo · 24/08/2026 08:29

Scuttlebut · 23/08/2026 16:56

I knew of a Why-vone-eee: how do you spell that? Y-v-o-n-n-e. Oh, you mean iv-on? No, Why-vone-ee!

That’s an urban myth, same as the one about Guy pronounced Gooey.

x2boys · 24/08/2026 08:25

MrsShawnHatosy · 24/08/2026 01:13

Isn’t Sharn a misspelling of Sian, which is a Welsh name?

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I always thought Sian was pronouncrd Sharn
But i was watching an old episode of Australias " The Voice" and therre was a Sian pronounced See Ann is there a different pronouciation on Australia ?

shadowsinthegroceryline · 24/08/2026 07:53

MargaretMeldrew · 23/08/2026 23:58

I am distantly related to a Jorja. When someone messaged me about the new addition to the family, it took me a minute to register that it was like Georgia. For some reason my brain read it as Yorya.

There is a modern pop star called Jorja Smith, maybe they are fans of hers!

Monr0e · 24/08/2026 07:30

Agapornis · 23/08/2026 22:25

Bleu or Blue? The trend probably started with Beyoncé's child's Blue Ivy. Maybe the french spelling is the 'unique' part?

I think colour names aren't too bad - maybe they're just like gem and flower names were trendy once upon a time.

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Definitely Bleu

I have no idea why.

SquirrelGG · 24/08/2026 05:10

PrettyLittleRose · 23/08/2026 20:44

I know right. It's almost like it's made up. Wink

Like 'Eefun.' 🙄 SUUUURE someone has a child called EEFUN! Hmm

FGS some of these posts! Are we meant to believe that some people give their child such ludicrous names? No-one calls their child any of these names.

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You must live in a little bubble then. I can assure you that some parents do give their children names with such weird spellings that it isn't always obvious how it should be pronounced. Just because you've not come across it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

TheOriginalEmu · 24/08/2026 01:22

MrsShawnHatosy · 24/08/2026 01:14

It’s Ifan in Welsh. Never heard Efan.

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Ifan and Efan are from the same root but are different names. My great great Grandfather was named Efan.

MrsShawnHatosy · 24/08/2026 01:14

TheOriginalEmu · 24/08/2026 01:11

it isn’t. Evan is an Anglicised version of Efan, but Efun would be pronounced Ev-een.

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It’s Ifan in Welsh. Never heard Efan.

MrsShawnHatosy · 24/08/2026 01:13

ArtfulDenimSheep · 23/08/2026 22:48

I've seen Nerve and Sharn. I'm not Irish so don't know the correct spelling of either of these names, both of which I happen to like. Maybe some non Irish Mums like the names but are not sure how to spell them and think that some people wouldn't know how they were supposed to be pronounced if they weren't written down how they sounded.

Isn’t Sharn a misspelling of Sian, which is a Welsh name?