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Baby names

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Original poster

Unusual spellings of names

196 replies

tigermeow · 03/08/2008 22:31

Have you come across many unusual spellings for names? Please share!

I've met a Micheal, a Kloe (Chloe), Tigher (as in big cat), Macks (Max), Sofi, Jorg (parents were not Scandinavian)

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Aero · 06/08/2008 22:45

I know a Luce (Lucy) and a friend of mine taught a Nafan (Nathan).

MaloryDontDiveItsShallow · 06/08/2008 22:30

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PavlovtheCat · 06/08/2008 22:29

baby I was going to say Sharn actually! My sister's Bfriend at school was called and spelt sharn and as I was young I thought for a long time that was how it was actually spelt

PavlovtheCat · 06/08/2008 22:27

I cant think of any right now but some of these just make me cringe.

How could they? I knew there were several different versions of my DDs name, and I knew how to spell it correctly, but i still checked it out to make sure we had it right!!!

Why oh why would you choose to spell your child's name so badly!!

gastronaught · 06/08/2008 22:22

DD goes to school with a SOMA pronouced SUMMER - the spelling of her name reminds me of a STOMA.
(The definition is 'A surgically constructed opening, especially one in the abdominal wall that permits the passage of waste.' or poo to you and me.)

fortyplus · 06/08/2008 21:05

I know a Suny ('sunny') whose mum is French

usedtoreadbooks · 06/08/2008 20:31

On the other hand, names that aren't pronounced as they are spelled (maybe apart from ethnic / Celtic ones such as Niambh, as above) can be very posh, and deliberately exclusive in that not knowing how to pronounce them marks the speaker out as being of a different, ie lower, class. For instance, there is an Evelyn Waugh novel with a character called Mrs Beste - Chetwynde. You can read the entire thing without realising it should be pronounced "Beast - Chained". Or take Cholmondley, pron. Chumley. The difference is that the spellings complained about here are phonetic, and therefore indicative of a lack of education / money / class.

apostrophe · 06/08/2008 20:01

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CoteDAzur · 06/08/2008 20:01

I remember that Konor thread. Poor child.

HolidaysQueen · 06/08/2008 19:53

This is reminding me of that thread last year where the poster asked people's opinions of her plans to call her son Konor and then got really upset when people suggested she should spell it Connor instead...

krang · 06/08/2008 19:38

My mate went out with a Jesus! He was Venezuelan...

KT14 · 06/08/2008 19:31

MIL was a registrar for years and she saw some absolute shockers. She was convinced it was usually more down to poor spelling than originality. If I remember rightly registars are allowed to question but aren't allowed to veto very much unless it's something like Jesus which apparently isn't allowed in the UK!

msappropriate · 06/08/2008 17:50

Some names though are other language versions. I know a Sumer and a Hana and they are the english transations from the arabic of the name. Not mis-spelling of english names. Also the polish versions of Phillip is Filip, Olivia is Oliwia etc.

serenity · 06/08/2008 17:41

Krystyna is the Polish spelling of Christina and not someone messing around.

The problem with a thread like this is, you can quite easily slate a name and its spelling just because you're used to the standard UK version, but we're supposed to be vaguely multicultural now, and people are influenced by all the other cultures around us. Just because it's not common to you doesn't make it wrong.

(Having said that there are some fairly ridiculous spellings of names on here )

moulesfrites · 06/08/2008 17:34

I taught a Sumer, pronounced Summer. Made a mockery of the spelling I was trying to teach them.

MrsTicklemouse · 06/08/2008 17:22

I find it bad enough that i'm Rachael (i know its old fashioned english) i would be mortified if i'd been given any of these names having said that we are always asked if DS2 (Freddie) ends in Y or IE

babyignoramus · 06/08/2008 16:29

My name is Sian and I hate it when I see it spelt 'Sharn' - I always think if you like the name, at least make the effort to learn to spell it! It's just looks bastardized like that.

Pekkala · 06/08/2008 15:52

ooops... that should have been Kadyn Leni, not Kaydn

Pekkala · 06/08/2008 15:49

...I saved a selection of the names of babies entered into the photo competition of the local rag this year because they were so good...
(first/middle names only)
Caiden
Ryse (pronouced Rhys maybe?)
Jorja May
Tyler Loki (boy? girl? demon?)
Tiger Rae
Amber Geyser
Kaydn Leni
Chelci

Flossyjim · 06/08/2008 15:38

I have a Jimmy. Very simple, cute name I think. Sometimes when receiving bday or Christmas cards, people tend to write JIMI or JIMMI....I would not spell it like that...it's pretentious IMO

Wilkiepedia · 06/08/2008 15:22

Went to school with a Zowie (Zoe)

mamababa · 06/08/2008 15:14

I have unusually spelled named because my mum thought that the correct spelling of Zoe wasnt right. Mine's not too bad but as a child, I could never have a pen, bookmark, etc where my name was spelled correctly which isnt nice as a child and as an adult you're constantly correcting people.

catrin · 06/08/2008 15:07

A friend of mine, on the maternity ward having had her baby was opposite a women who had just had her 2nd. The name of the first (Charleigh) (girl) was tattooed across her chest. She was discussing with someone how she was going to get the new baby's name tattooed also - Alphee.

My friend was very impressed with their mastery of phonics

MKG · 06/08/2008 14:58

I know someone who named her twins Luna and Sno.

Flibbertyjibbet · 06/08/2008 14:18

Hmm but Krang thats a middle name.
Not like her first name was May-Belle now is it?