To change my son's name (kind of) at 2 years of age.

[Writerwannabe83]

DS is 2yrs and his name isn't particularly uncommon but nor is it an overly used one either. Prior to having DS my DH was really keen on this name, me not so much but I did agree to it on the premise that we wouldn't spell it in the typical way because that way can lead to a pronunciation of the name which I really don't like.

But anyway, two years down the line and people are still using the typical spelling and it's driving me mad. Anytime he comes home with something from nursery they've labelled it with the typical spelling, they use the typical spelling when writing in his daily journal, when people text me regarding him they spell his name the typical way and I still get birthday and Christmas cards and they have his name spelt the typical way. He received a certificate yesterday after some activity he'd done at a toddler group and as soon as they heard what his name was they automatically wrote it on his certificate but in its default form so now I feel bummed about that because it my eyes it's not my DS's name.

I have told people soooo many times how we spell his name but it's still constantly spelt in its most common form.

It's really starting to grate on me now.

BTW - the spelling of his name is perfectly legitimate but it's just not the spelling that people associate with the name.

I don't particularly blame people because they just spell it as they assume it's spelt but it's starting to get me down now.

As an example of what I'm trying to say, imagine there's a boy called Luke, but instead of his parents wanting to spell it that way they want to spell it Luc but everyone still writes his name down as Luke because that's the typical spelling. That's probably a rubbish example but I just wanted to try and demonstrate it a little

Anyway, despite me really not liking the common way of spelling his name I'm seriously considering changing his name to it because this misspelling of it is driving me mad and I have a feeling DS will be dealing with this all his life and it will no doubt piss him off in the same way it's pissing me off.

My DS has an Irish name that can be spelled 3 different ways, Old Irish (the spelling he has), Modern Irish (somewhat simplified) or anglicised. The anglicised version has a slightly different pronounciation to the other 2 versions.

At 11yo, he says he doesn't care how people pronounce it so long as they spell it correctly.

No, it's P-H-A-E-D-E-A-U-X.

That's class - think I will call my next cat that. :o

I've spelled DD1's name the Tolkein way. It has a letter missing from the more usual spelling, though there is another Jane Austen spelling which is also rare.

When I applied for a school place for DD1 all the letters came back with the usual spelling. I contacted them and was told they thought it was a typo on the form. I said I was very aware of how to spell my daughters name, and what both syllables meant in Sindarin (High elvish).

There was a long pause. Then she apologised and changed it. I've rarely had any other trouble. I find long silences of disapproval work much better than over explaining. It settles down as people get used to it and the child learns to write their name, and also learns the long silence of disapproval.

I think Both names are pronounced differently, I'm guessing different accents change the sound. I wouldn't change it but would insist nursery wrote it correctly, otherwise how will your son understand writing his name correctly.
I have an Elliot, we've had several versions of his name including Elliyot.
The most common misspelling is Eliott, my son tells people that is not his name and in fact is an anagram of toilet. Mostly people remember.

my eldest daughter is maddison/maddie... we get madison maddi madi maddy and a hundred more. my youngest daughter is charley.. so its spelt charlie.. and a million ppl ask "whats it short for, charlotte?" nooooo its just charley! even had a woman reply.."mummy want a boy?" nooo its just her name!!! a name means so much to the parent but to everyone else its just a name tbh. annoying but i think its always going to happen. x

I always thought my name was "normal"... Had a childhood of the people using Jemma not Gemma... Then Jenna became the norm. Then I lived in the states for while and my god the variants of spelling and pronunciations (my favourites being Gamma, jello, jaymma, and the hemma pronunciation (as in Jose)). I now live where g and j sounds are generally reversed in French so people think Gemma (soft g) then think no, not in English, must be "guh" hard G Gemma. Naming my monster we were really careful as to how his name would work in French!

3 of my close family members send cards to DD who is now 3, and cannot spell her name right. It's not like we don't send them cards with her name on it. Makes me feel like they just choose the spelling they prefer. But it doesn't really bother me that much. Also, without realising at the time, we have given her a first and a surname that she will forever have to spell out to people. Instill wouldn't change it though. We still love our spelling and neither of us have had problems spelling out our names all our lives. Even before I was married I had a surname with two different spellings. I think there are more people than we realise who have a name with a number of spellings.
If people are being presumptuous, correct them now and at least then it will be done correctly most of the time. Or ignore it like I do with the family. But then it doesn't bother me so much.

Arran is a lovely name. I'd definitely pronounce Aaron Air-on (being almost 50 and knowing my Bible stories :)). I actually really like both, but to me Arran is a completely different name.

My name has got a slightly unusual spelling and people get it wrong all the time. (for example, if I were Tracey people would always be spelling it Tracy. I'm not Tracey... but you get the point)
Now it does irk me a little when people misspell it but only a little, and only when it's people who should know better (those who have known me a long time, as opposed to those only learning my name for the first time)
As a PP has said, it's particularly annoying on FB when my name is right there next to my post and certain people still comment using the wrong spelling.
But as life's problems go, it's a very minor one. I'd never have considered changing my name to the "usual" spelling just to fit in, nor would I have wanted my mum to when I was a toddler!

My DS has a slightly unusual Welsh name. It can be spelt two ways and he has the original but now less common spelling (the other spelling was popularised when he was about a year old thanks to the X Factor, for anyone who can be bothered to try to work it out). I hadn't realised that the spelling we used was so much rarer, as it's the usual spelling in my home town, but we don't live there any more and it turns out not to be in the rest of Wales! When he was little I spent a lot of time being irritated and saying "with an 'i' not a 'y'" to people, but now we just collect all the silly spellings he gets and he finds it quite amusing. His best friend's mum has spelt his name wrong, in various different ways, in every single text, card and party invitation he's received for five years

I wouldn't change Arran to Aaron - it's a completely different name. Point it out to the nursery. It's their job to get it right.

Actually, P-H-A-E-D-E-A-U-X for Fido is oddly brilliant. Should I ever get a dog...

It's pretentious bollocks. How many times are you actually called upon to spell your dog's name anyway?

Exactly. If you had to spell it all the time it wouldn't be funny. But as you don't, and as dogs can't read or write, it kind of is. Specifically because it's pretentious bollocks.

Phaedeaux - that's class

I have a name that is very like a much more common name (think Sarah/Sara). 90% of the time people get my name wrong when they first write or say it. At worst, it's mildly annoying. I'm so used to it, I barely notice most of the time. I really wouldn't worry.

My dd has a pretty common name and it's spelt in various ways in birthday cards etc - I think you just have to let it wash over you and potentially when he's older he will like that the spelling is slightly different/quirky

My youngest Ds is10 months old and when I txt people his whole name, they figure I missed out a letter in his middle name - but no, I just like it like that!!!

Do you have a sense of humour at all, floggingmolly ?

No, you shouldn't change his name to suit.

However, if you have 'made' up a spelling (missed out letters, added some in eg...Zoeeeeee or Maddison - sorry) I think you need to expect that there will be mistakes throughout their lives and just go meh.

I do always wonder if people who miss letters out or add them actually can't spell? As in Misla I saw like week (Isla...with a M on it...supposed to be Mila one has to presume!) Ridiculous!

Call the next one Bob.

😁😁😁😁

OP, when you give people his name, say "Arran, like the Scottish island" -- won't work with everyone. Quit thinking of it as a different spelling of Aaron and start thinking of it as a different name entirely and you won't feel so awkward about correcting people.

I have an unusual spelling of a very ordinary name.

Unlike some of the names mentioned here, it's not a lesser known variant. I have never met anyone else with my spelling.

It's a pain in the arse.

Arran, however, is a proper name in its own right, and the nursery are rude to constantly misspell it.

I like the name Arran. Don't change it. When he can write himself it will sort itself out. I'd mention it to nursery though

DD1 is called Madlen (the German / Celtic spelling / pronunciation) and people often write it as Madeleine. I tell her it shows who's actually paying attention (since it's also pronounced slightly differently with only two syllables) and that it'll be useful in later life for wedding out cold-callers and strangers.

Though saying that I do find it surprising there are people who've known her for 5-6 years now & still spell it wrong / not even one of the correct French varients.

I don't know any Aaron's who pronounce their name Air-on, always arron. Op you need to move to South Wales!

Incidentally, to me Sarah without the H is Sah-ra. I struggle with English people insisting Sara is pronounced Sarah because it Wales, it just isn't.

Finley, Finlay, Finnean?
If it's thus name than sticking with Fin would easier!