Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Names with strange spellings

233 replies

Dolcelatte · 01/08/2012 21:52

I sent a birthday card to the friend of a daughter today then felt bad because I realised that I had addressed her as Sarah Jane instead of Sarah Jayne. I also know of an Allison and a Michele etc.

AIBU to wonder if you think this is an attempt at individuality or just a bit weird?

OP posts:
blueemerald · 02/08/2012 00:16

I love creative spellings of names although I wouldn't use one My favourites include: Souixzanne, Elyviya and Emmer-Leigh.

LurkingAndLearningLovesCats · 02/08/2012 00:19

On this topic since there are name savvy people here, why is Kate Middleton nick named 'Kate' instead of 'Cate?'

CommaChameleon · 02/08/2012 00:19

We know a Jazzmyne, which always makes my eyes hurt a little when I see it written down.

And a Jorja.

In September DS will be going to school with two girls named Unique and Uneeque.

LurkingAndLearningLovesCats · 02/08/2012 00:20

Okay, naming your kid Unique regardless of spelling is just stupid. It is a stupid name.

CommaChameleon · 02/08/2012 00:27

I can't say I'm that keen on it Lurking, but to me Nevaeh is possibly the worst creative name I have come across.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 02/08/2012 00:38

I dont know Lurking, but it drives me DAPPY!

BreconBeBuggered · 02/08/2012 00:42

Can't decide whether YABU or not. The names you highlight are perfectly normal spellings; on the other hand, I hate being caught out making that kind of mistake myself. I'm especially bad at remembering which Jayne to apply. Jorja-level names are another thing altogether, and serve as a signal to hoik them judgey pants up so far that they disappear up our arses.

Ample · 02/08/2012 00:43

I know of..

Mathew / (and a few) Matthew's
Natasha / Natacha
And a bit more obvious, Mollie / Molly

It's just horses for courses isn't it?
What about Barbra/Barbara or Debra/Deborah?

I have come across the name 'Ripleigh' which yes I'll admit I liked the sound of, before I saw the spelling Confused

Ample · 02/08/2012 00:47

I could think of more but it's late.

Jazzmyne Sad and poor poor Lindsay (that's how I would spell it, am I right? Smile)

stealthpenguin · 02/08/2012 03:31

Oi! I'm a "Jaime" and I think it's a lovely name :) It's the feminine version. You wouldn't complain about a girl named Olivia would you?!

But I think some people take it to the utmost extremes. I know so many children who have utterly appalling names. It's like the parents opened a dictionary at 5 or 7 random points and went "there we are, that's the name!"

stealthpenguin · 02/08/2012 03:32

Worst one I can think of being a Kayyylleee

And yes, there really are three y's, two l's and three e's

lisaro · 02/08/2012 03:47

Let's hope little Quym doesn't take up hairdressing and open her own place. 'Quym's Trims' would give out totally the wrong message.

sashh · 02/08/2012 04:14

I changed mine from the crappy 'unique' spelling I was aflicted with at birth.

Spuddybean · 02/08/2012 06:05

When growing up there was a boy i was friends of friends with. I bumped into him when we were about 19 and he had his new little girl with him. He introduced her as Dominique. Then proceeded to show me the tattoo he'd had with her unusually spelled name...'Demonic'...

Erm, nice, was all i could muster.

BenjiAndTheTigers · 02/08/2012 06:20

Used to work with a girl who had a really strange spelling of her name.

Lots of extra letters.

We used to call her Alphabet. Then shortened to Al. Most newcomers thought her name must be Alice or Alison.

I gues in this day and age, this would be regarded as a form of bullying or harassment.
She still goes by the name of Al.

JumpingThroughHoops · 02/08/2012 06:30

Sharlot.

I mean. What is that all about?

GrumpyOldWomanToo · 02/08/2012 06:34

The wierdest spelling I've seen is VernL, yes, that's a capital L at the end. It is pronounced VerNELL.

kirsty75005 · 02/08/2012 07:01

I was about to say that Tomasz is Hungarian, but it seems that it's actually east european.

blueberryboybait · 02/08/2012 07:07

I had an e-mail from a Douglass this morning, I assumed he hadn't spell checked but no, the letter and info on his website confirm he is Douglass!

Tee2072 · 02/08/2012 07:08

43 years ago when I was born in the US my name was unusual. It's Robyn. I was even accused, more than once, of changing the spelling when I was a teenager to be 'cool'. Um, no, my mom and dad chose that spelling.

43 years later I see the name everywhere.

Names evolve along with language, culture, food etc.

MrsHelsBels74 · 02/08/2012 07:11

Having spent my entire non-married life having to spell my surname as people always spell it wrong, these people with strange spellings have my sympathy, it IS very annoying, especially when you spell your name & watch someone write it down wrong anyway! Angry

dollywashers · 02/08/2012 07:19

I taught a May'c!!! Yes that's an apostrophe in a name. Poor child. She even spelt out her name m-a-y-apostrophe-c.

BlackholesAndRevelations · 02/08/2012 07:23

Good grief at "Demonic"......

JumpingThroughHoops · 02/08/2012 07:24

You do get some bizarre names from other cultures.

Sisters, Rejoyce and Confidence, Mum is Happiness and aunt is Blessed. I also know Godknows Hmm

ivykaty44 · 02/08/2012 07:30

I changed the spelling of my daughter names after I received about 50 congratulation cards with and 99% had an alternative spelling. I couldn't put her through life having to spell her name each time and so although at the hospital I had the nurse write her name on her tags one way - when I registered her birth I choice the way that 49 people out of 50 had spelt the name on the congratulation cards