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.

I would sound it out as arran but spell it the other way as I'm not familiar with that spelling.

No. Wasn't aware that I had SoupDragon.

To be fair, I don't think the term cretinism for a form of stunted growth has been used for many years - I don't think many people would know that it once related to a deformity.

Have never heard the air-on version of saying Aaron before. Must be a regional difference. To be honest someone will always mispronounce of spell your name, it's whatever you can live with and you just correct people when you have to. I wouldn't change it.

My husband is Edward and even he gets called Edvard sometimes haha.

I haven't read all the posts so I may be repeating some. I definitely would change it. He might enjoy the fact that his name is spelt differently when he's older. My DS does. As for nursery getting it wrong, there is no excuse for that. I am a nursery nurse and over the years have had many names and mainly different spellings. I've had Rhys, Reece and Rees. Aimee, Amy, Amie, Catherine, Katherine, Cathryn, Kathryn and Cathrin. Niamh and Neeve, Rory and Rhori. Calum Kalum and Callum. Dillon and Dylan. Never have I spelt their names wrong. That is just a lack of care. If they are overlooking the spelling of his name, what else are the overlooking? X

Hi
Firstly lots of people have this issue, my son's name can be spelt two ways and I am always getting it spelt incorrectly, also my maiden name is spelt without an e and I can still recall a nun asking me at 11 years of age was I sure there was no e in my surname!

I would say your son in the long run would be more upset with you changing his name than people spelling it incorrectly, hope this helps xx

My 16 year old is called Lauryn and even now school spells it Lauren. She has severe autism so can't correct it herself but I have great fun every year amending her statement, reports, anything and everything really. It makes me laugh when they first spell it correctly then 'forget' and switch back to the regular spelling. I wouldn't change it though. I always say her name then quickly follow it up with the correct spelling as its unusual. I knew when I gave her the name that people would assume a different spelling but I didn't care. I try to keep a sense of humour about it. Says more about them than anything else.

One of DS1s teachers continually calls him Chris - his name is Craig. It's now become a joke. DS2 has a Craig in his class, he also gets called Chris by the same teacher.

Presumably you mean you wouldn't change it, Rainbow?

My name is fairly common and only really has two spellings (one letter addition). My surname has millions of spellings. I hate when people spell my name wrong especially since it's not difficult to ask for the spelling, but if its the nursery who continuously do it wrong you should pull them up on it. You can easily go back and say that it's not your child's because his name is spelt differently - what happens if your given someone else file because they have the same name or someone else gets your file. These kind of mistakes are other peoples fault, not yours. You wanted your child to be unique and shouldn't have to change that for anyone.

My daughter has a name with 4 different spellings. When she was little people would often ask how she spelt her name and she always replied, "Properly." still makes me smile.

Sorry no help really, I would just keep plugging away with the way you want to spell it, people will get used to it. My MIL was the worst, always claimed she couldn't remember how to spell it. We started spelling grandma, what she wanted to be called, as granny, which she hated. She soon started to remember.

You wanted your child to be unique and shouldn't have to change that for anyone

It's not that unique really, in Scotland anyway. It was sitting at No 60 on the Scottish name charts last year, ahead of Isaac, Ben, Theo, Henry, Olly etc

I agree she shouldn't change it though :)

Don't change it. You chose it because you love it. So what if poeple spell it the wrong way? I'm a Rachel so I've lived with this all my life, it's not a big problem really And any spelling and pronounciation problems will probably get ironed out as he gets a bit older. I've also given our son a name which isn't unusual, but maybe isn't one you hear every single day. Incidentally we've used the only spelling that I know of. But still when I tell people his name, some look at me like I've said it's Beelzebub or something. There are at least 2 very well known people that I'm aware of with this name, so I just don't get it.

MumOnACornishFarm Rowan?

Yes OneMagnum! And loads of people call him Ronan or Owen or even Roland It doesn't really bother me though.

Ah see but I'd pronounce it Row (to rhyme with Wow)- an. Scottish :) So less chance of confusion. I liked it but DH said no.

Yes I've heard that pronounciation quite a few times too. I have a Scottish friend who always says "Row-an" whereas we say "Ro-an" but luckily I love it both ways

I thought Rowan was Ro-en? Not Ro-an or it'd sound like Ro-Ann?

Or Roan like Strawberry Roan

Did you know that in Scotland it's deemed bad luck to chop down a rowan tree? So, often you'll see them in the middle of farmers fields with crops all around them.

nuttymango maybe I should have put "Row-un" that's probably closer to the way I say it, rather than Rowan or Rowen.

I did not know that OneMagnum! I had read quite a lot about folklore associated with the rowan tree, but hadn't come across that. They grow quite abundantly close to where we live, and eventually I will plant one in our garden. I love the tree and I love the name. Lucky we had a boy because we were hopeless at girls names! Expecting again in November so I've got to get thinking again. Boys and girls names to go with Rowan, suggestions on a postcard please

I know as many girl Rowans as boy ones. I even know a Logan and Rowan combo, only afterwards did they realise they'd named their children after berries :)

other siblings of Rowans I know, Rory, Piper, Brodie, Eloise, Gregor and Carys.

Keir or Ailsa would go nicely.

Have a look on here for inspiration: www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/names/babies-first-names/full-lists-of-babies-first-names-2010-to-2014

I know you aren't necessarily looking for a Scottish name, but the lower ends of these tables have loads that you may not have thought of.

How about another tree name ? Hazel? Or something else Scottish, flora?

Jessiemcjessie you would be surprised the spellings we have had! Most common is with 2 t''s and an e on the end