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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

"unique" spellings *cringe*

184 replies

ReginaPhalange89 · 23/10/2018 14:51

Sorry if I offend anyone but I just don't get it.

I've just seen these name spellings on Facebook....

Edythe and Alyvia. I'm assuming pronounced Edith and Olivia. Whhyyyy

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Bimgy85 · 24/10/2018 21:34

Oh and 'LeeAnn' for 'leanne' and 'yes that's her proper name' apparently 

Bimgy85 · 24/10/2018 21:34

I actually know someone that is called Rachel...

And for years has spelled her name 'Raychel'

Just changed it one day... I think it's rotten

BranstonTickle · 24/10/2018 21:33

How do any of you manage when you go abroad? Or talk to someone with a different accent to you? Must be tough Sad Still, you're able to cheer yourselves up by pointing and laughing at children, so it's all good. Phew! Smile

TigerDrankAllTheWaterInTheTap · 24/10/2018 21:32

There is a lot of snobbishness on threads like this and the potential for egg on face when people assume an unusual spelling has been made up. Sidestepping all of that, I hope, I just think how boring and embarrassing it must be to go through life constantly having to spell your name and explain how to pronounce it. Eadgythe is a case in point. I'm also thinking of a woman I met once whose name was Innogen. She had such a resigned note in her voice as she explained no, it wasn't Imogen.

Thenewdoctor · 24/10/2018 21:30

I’m Irish.

I’m white.

My name is still “younique”

IStandWithPosie · 24/10/2018 21:06

I know of a Cait.

The Irish name Caitlin is often shortened to Cait. It’s really not unique.

IStandWithPosie · 24/10/2018 21:02

I've heard of an Aiden spelt Aden

Aden is an actual name.

Plenty of ignorance showing on this thread. What small worlds some of you must occupy.

SnowyMountains · 24/10/2018 21:01

Oh I didn't know that about Cait, I don't know her very well but it could be short for those mentioned.

I also know a Ryelee (and a Rileigh),

LethalWhite · 24/10/2018 20:52

@SarahJConnor

LethalWhite · 24/10/2018 20:50

SarahJConnor - I take your point, but I think Op was making the original point about white british people calling their children 'yoonique' names.

Jamaican culture os very different from UK culture, as all cultures are different. People on here don't tend to laugh at Jamaican names, in the same was they don't laugh at traditionally African names like Blessing or Mercy, or Indian names like Suminder, though they are different to the white middle class 'norm'.

They do laugh at white people born in the Uk, who have no links to other cultures giving their child a 'unique' name or spelling as it is sort of the opposite of british reserve. I.e. it's seen in poor taste in the Uk (as I'm sure you know, as you are british!) to assume greater importance or merit than you seem to own, or to make yourself or your children seem important. So calling your child 'Royaltee' when you live in poverty and left school at 15 seems very ironic, and people love to laugh at the foolishness of others. Same with calling your child 'Alyvia' - the implication is your child is soooooo much better and more unique than all of the boring Olivias. Which, well, maybe they are, but its a bit of an embarrassing statement to make, especially if you aren't the sort of person other people view as 'high status'. Celebrities can get away it, as they have a high status in society.

American culture is much more 'look at me and how great I am', so I imagine it is more acceptable there.

I work with children, and I see a lot of side eye glances and smirks at some of the unique names for white british children, but I've never seen a child of a BAME background mocked for their name.

SputnikBear · 24/10/2018 20:08

I know someone with a grandchild named Taylah. One has to wonder what the parent is thinking when burdening their offspring with such a lower class shibboleth as a yooneek name.

DrowsyDragon · 24/10/2018 20:05

Think it should be lwsi though? Cos c is almost always a k sound in Welsh.

DrowsyDragon · 24/10/2018 20:05

Lwci is used in welsh as a welsh variant spelling for Lucy. It’s not my favourite welsh variant but that’s all it is. Edythe really is just a less popular variant. It’s not made up at all. Second the poster, lots of variants aren’t wrong they are culturally based. All the Sali, Alys, Mari etc here in wales aren’t cis we can’t spell.

spuggi · 24/10/2018 19:56

There is a Deyzi in my daughter's class.

Sarahjconnor · 24/10/2018 19:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarthasGinYard · 24/10/2018 19:43

I agree with you Op and could see just where you were coming from.

No racism 

YerAuntFanny · 24/10/2018 19:40

There's a Leighum (Liam) and a Leighah (Leah) in my DC's school.

I overheard a teacher double checking how to pronounce Leighah, her Mum replied that it was said just like plain old Leah but she wanted her to stand out from all the others because it was too popular 🙄

ShimmeringIce · 24/10/2018 19:36

624 different ways to spell Catherine?? How? I could imagine around 50...?

Cosmoa · 24/10/2018 18:55

@AnaChocolatte oh yeah! Of course...

“P as in Phoebe

H as in hoebe

O as in oebe

E as in ebe

B as in b-be

and E as in… ‘ello there, mate!”
Grin

I hope you know what I'm on about hahaha

LexieLulu · 24/10/2018 18:51

Riley spelt Ryelee

Furrycushion · 24/10/2018 18:50

Isn't Rebekah the biblical spelling?

ReginaPhalange89 · 24/10/2018 18:44

As I've already said (multiple times) the names I mentioned in my post where not given to babies of different cultures or languages , I'm sure you're fully aware of what I'm talking about . There's a difference between giving your baby a name from your culture and just adding in random letters to make it 'a bit different' (like changing your name to Staciee instead of Stacey).

I stand by my opinion. And I'm done commenting on the matter so let's move on :)

OP posts:
Sarahjconnor · 24/10/2018 18:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ioki · 24/10/2018 18:40

I almost made one of these threads the other day - on Facebook and saw a mutual friend had named their baby boy ‘Mawgan’. I thought it was a ‘yooneek spelling’ until I googled and found that it’s not - it’s a name in its own right. Tail between legs moment there!

Thenewdoctor · 24/10/2018 18:29

I have not directly called you a racist, but it is unconscious bias and classism to sneer at and make fun of and roll eyes at different spellings.

Especially when that spelling is simply the correct one in another culture or language.