"unique" spellings *cringe*

I bet it's difficult for some kids to have a mug with their name on

@SnowyMountains Cait is an ordinary shortening for Catherine though isn’t it?there were a couple in my school in the 80 s before younique became ubiquitous. I know not all Kates are Kathryns , but Cait still fits.

'I've lived abroad for a while now and work in an international city (Geneva). I've worked with a Rebekah (Swiss), Sonja (German) Zavier (American), Tym (Dutch), Krys (Czech) and Iulia (Romanian). I've never once felt the need to inform them that they're spelling their own names wrong.'

Well, it would be weird if you did, because they aren't. All of those (except maybe Zavier which I feel a bit side-eye about) are the correct spellings in the language/culture of the bearer. It's a world away from just deciding to spell Chloe as Khlowii.

I kind of reserve my right to be snobbish about that. It's not the same as African-American or Caribbean people creating new names for their children, because historically their ancestors were deprived of the right to name themselves and their children - it was part and parcel of their cultural erasure and the denial of their humanity. Whereas the drive for a yooneek name among straight white status quo is a kind of pig-headed desire to be Special and Different. I am probably overly traditional, and of course there is a huge nuanced debate to be had around what names ought to say and do, but eh.

I know an alivia but it is pronounced a-livia not o-liva maybe it's the same.

I also know an 'Alivya' it looks ridiculous and just sets the child up for a lifetime of having their name spelt wrong.

Their pronunciation is fine @mistressdeecee. It’s a perfectly acceptable English pronunciation, which is in common use. It’s not the only pronunciation in use, but it’s no more ‘wrong’ than the pronunciations you have given.

In German and some EasternEuropean languages the equivalent name is spelt with a ‘ks’ at the beginning rather than an ‘x’.

Cait is probably just short for Caitlin ?

Or Cáit with the fada left off. Pronounced 'Koyt' pr 'Koytch' depending on region of Ireland, very ordinary, and entirely standard.

Sorry - should have said "do use the 'th' sound represented by thorn".

More haste less speed...

Sashh - I suspect we lost thorn because for centuries the Church (that controlled literacy) wrote in Latin, which does not normally have the 'th' sound. The modern alphabet is based on Latin letters.

I do not have the exact figure - perhaps other posters will know - but I think that only somewhere between 25% and 30% of the words in the modern English language come from Germanic (Anglo-Saxon etc) sources, which do use 'thorn'. It would still be useful, however!

What about spelling Catherine as Kathryn? That is made up and was once very unique?!

May I just put a good word in for one of my dd’s best friends Alivia. She is a wonderful 18 yr old girl who I dearly love and now I have to be reminded of all those tedious Olivias out in the world 😂.

Cait is probably just short for Caitlin ?

@Racecardriver there's an anniversary version of Twilight - two books in one. The first is the normal book, the second Stephanie Meyer has rewritten so that all sexes (with the exception of Charlie) are reversed. Edward becomes Edythe and 'Bella' is a boy whose name escapes me.

It's not great and the ending is very different!

My ndn has a "Louis" pronounced "Lewis"
which in itself isn't unusual but when the latest royal baby was named she was thrilled that he was named the same as her son.

She even put on FB that "there's only one Prince Louis and he's mine" without a hint of irony.

@istherainevercomingback - There’s also no evidence for anyone called La-a (Ladasha) another one wheeled out to be offencive to African Americans.

It’s not a myth. There is a girl called Se-a in my dc’s class.

Absolutely agrey@Sarahjconnor

Perhaps some of the clueless snobs on here could perhaps open their minds a little and consider that alternative spellings may simply be a different language or cultural variant of the name they know? I suppose it's the same difference for them though; just 'chavs' & foreigners with their improper spellings and lack of 'class'.

I've lived abroad for a while now and work in an international city (Geneva). I've worked with a Rebekah (Swiss), Sonja (German) Zavier (American), Tym (Dutch), Krys (Czech) and Iulia (Romanian). I've never once felt the need to inform them that they're spelling their own names wrong.

I have an usual name. I’ve been asked if it’s a younique spelling, more usually I get a raised eyebrow, and I say “I’ll soell it for you”.

It’s the correct spelling in the language of the culture I come from. And the name is traditional, think a variation of as traditional a name as Mary or Ann.

Awful thread.

I know a C'jay. Or it might be C'Jay. I can't get past the apostrophe.

(See-jay)

Some 'unique' spellings will be language driven. People often assume that Mari is a 'unique' spelling of Mary for example...but it's a long used and traditional Welsh name (pronounced entirely differently).

Most languages have a variation for names that works for their pronunciation and alphabet. Before getting all sneery about a name it's worth stopping for a minute to consider whether you're being less of a snob and more of a racist.

Flora is right about Edythe. Also, I know an ‘Eadgythe’.

Try being a supply teacher.

I appologise before taking the register and ask people to correct me.

I've got quite adept at ignoring 'extra' 'z','y' and 'k' and just saying, 'Victor' or 'Sylvester' because the chances are that they are the correct spellings in Polish, Lithuanian etc and the child uses the Anglicised version.

florascotia2
Why did we get rid of thorn and eth? I mean I can see a reason for them to become one letter but it would be so useful to still have one of them.

Is it to do with the French?