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Baby names

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

Original poster

"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

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sonlypuppyfat · 24/10/2018 05:31

I know a Cy , which is pronounced Kai

CallMeRachel · 24/10/2018 05:30

I think it's high time the Birth Registrars offer a printed list of acceptable names.

New parents have to select from the list rather than guessing the spelling and dictating to them.

Would be particularly helpful when Dads are sent to register the birth without being hand-held and come out with their child being named Sheryl rather than Cheryl 

Some of these 'unique' name spellings just hurt my eyes, they just don't look right.

SnowyMountains · 24/10/2018 05:11

My niece is called Ashlee (who was born in the 80s).

I once met a Jorja and I know of a Cait.

Tbf though my DD has a name with multiple spellings...

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/10/2018 01:11

Catherine has about 5 'standard' spelling variations now never mind back then!

MyShinyWhiteTeeth · 24/10/2018 01:01

A friend's daughter has a strange spelling of a rare name. She hates it and refuses to use it. She had years of people not knowing how to say it, spelling it incorrectly and them thinking her mum illiterate because of the spelling.

reallyanotherone · 24/10/2018 00:47

I know a Lwiza. And a k’La.

Unique names just aren’t unique any more...

Picknickers · 24/10/2018 00:34

That's really fascinating Horatio. The mind boggles as to what those other spellings are!

HoratioNightboy · 23/10/2018 23:54

This is not a new thing though. DM taught a Kollet (Colette) in the 1970s. I taught a Kci (Casey).

Standardised spellings are the "new thing"! They've only been with us for about 120 years, so most names in history were spelled in a "unique" way. I come across them all the time as I'm working on a project that involves trawling through the old Scottish records, and being a nerd, I post the odd stat about it here from time to time. One "unique" spelling is nothing - imagine:

Abigail - 50 different spellings
Agnes - 81
Alison - 192
Arthur - 62
Barbara - 79
Catherine - 624
Helen - 173
Isabel - 331
Oliver - 45
Rebecca - 93

I'd say Edythe and Alyvia are nothing to raise an eyebrow about!

RancidOldHag · 23/10/2018 23:37

It's only snobbery if you, the person who sees it that way, has made assumptions about what sort of person chooses a name like that.

After all Edythe is an older fairly erudite spelling.

If you assume only certain classes choose unusual names, you are showing your prejudices.

If you are saying you think some names are awful, you are commenting on the names, not the people.

auraaura · 23/10/2018 23:16

Ugh snobby!

Racecardriver · 23/10/2018 23:15

@BloomsButtons what? Sorry to derail but how is this a thing that I haven’t heard of ? (Don’t judge me, I was a teenager when the twilight thing was happening)

FairfaxAikman · 23/10/2018 23:13

If it's on FB then is it possible they are using a unique spelling to avoid being found?
I use the original Gaelic spelling of my name online but the Anglicised version is my legal name - stoops me getting hassle from "service users" at my work.

elQuintoConyo · 23/10/2018 23:09

This thread utterly drips in snobbery.

Sometimes i'm really put off by Mumsnetaz.

BikeRunSki · 23/10/2018 23:07

I cane across”Gorjeana” recently.

Dandybelle · 23/10/2018 23:01

Saw someone who was hellbent on calling her unborn daughter 'Lwci' on Facebook the other day. Lucy. For the love of god just call the poor child Lucy.

MamaJune · 23/10/2018 22:57

I once met a Reebekha (Rebecca)

BretonStripe · 23/10/2018 22:54

I've heard of an Aiden spelt Aden, because the parents didn't like the i.

Also a Kye instead of Kai because his parents didn't know how to spell it and guessed. He says "they guessed wrong!" and laughs (this was before Google).

I don't like Rylee, Lexii, Charlee etc but it's just a personal thing.

I met someone recently who has two VERY unusual names for her kids (too outing to put on here). When I asked where she found them she said "I made them up".

whiteroseredrose · 23/10/2018 22:54

This is not a new thing though. DM taught a Kollet (Colette) in the 1970s. I taught a Kci (Casey).

Youvegotafriendinme · 23/10/2018 22:44

Maybe Joseph was a bad example. It’s not DS real name. Think Adam then and being asked if it’s ‘am?’

SemperIdem · 23/10/2018 18:23

Youve

Josef is common in Eastern Europe and therefore Eastern European’s living in the UK, imagine that’s why you’re asked.

florascotia2 · 23/10/2018 18:21

Everyone - unless you are simply awfully ignorant snobs, as PennyMordaunt etc says, one can always Google:

www.behindthename.com/name/edythe

www.oxfordreference.com/abstract/10.1093/acref/9780198610601.001.0001/acref-9780198610601-e-994?rskey=MjRH2u&result=2051

or even
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edythe

Youvegotafriendinme · 23/10/2018 18:21

My DS has an easy to spell, relatively popular name. Think Joseph not Joseph and I’ve been asked so many times either how to spell it or if I’m spelling it the traditional way. The most commonly asked question is “is that ph or...?” How else would you spell it. Then I worry how else people have spelt it to try to be different

MarthasGinYard · 23/10/2018 18:12

It's Edith.

Original poster
ReginaPhalange89 · 23/10/2018 18:10

Heard you the first time @florascotia2 🙄 never seen/heard it that way, still dislike it even if it isn't actually made up like I thought it was.

I've just seen a little girl's name dottiee 🙈😂

OP posts:
PennyMordauntsLadyBrain · 23/10/2018 18:08

Any one else find themselves wondering if maybe the parents just didn't know how to spell the name properly?

The interesting spelling I know of is because the Mum didn’t know how to spell it, so just guessed.

Why wouldn’t you just Google!? It’s up there with those people who get misspelt tattoos because they don’t proofread the text.