Using surname initial to distinguish between two children with almost same name - almost!

[NewLookings]

Am I being very precious about this? My child has just started big school and is one of two children with a name that is pronounced the same but spelled differently.

I get that verbally they will need to be distinguished by their surname eg Bob A and Bob B. But when written down, is it really necessary? This is not the name but is a close likeness:

Juliet
Juliette

In everything, I have noticed my child’s is referred to as Juliet A and the other Juliette B. Surely this isn’t needed? Her tray, her work on the wall, her name on the class whatsapp group etc etc always with the surname initial.

I KNOW I’m being a bit precious. I know this. And yes, I’m disappointed there’s another one as it’s not a very common name.

AIBU to think there is a difference here because of the different spelling?

@TheNewLook

tunmahla fuck off dear, it’s not a special name, just a name - pick yours out of a hat did you? God, some people love to be bitchy on threads about names, don’t they?

Well aren't you delightful.

There were two Ciera's in my DD's nursery group. They were A and D. Ciera A left before Reception and Ciera D was called Ciera D by everyone including herself until year 6.
No one minded. We would have stopped if they did (I know Ciera D's mum quite well).

I get pissed off about things other people don't care much about too. You have to roll with it.

Ps - they weren't called Ciera A or D. Just for illustration.

There were 4 Sarah's in my class. We all had an initial to differentiate which one was being spoken to.

30+ years later I'm still friends with a group including one of the other Sarahs. We are still called by out initial if we're all together. It's really no big deal.

You need to read Terry Pratchett's Wee Free Men and all the assorted Jocks who need specifying including one called No'-As-Big-As-Medium-Sized-Jock-But-Bigger-than-Wee-Jock Jock

From a teaching family and fully understand what goes on a classroom, thank you.
Then you should understand why your DD is JaneA and the other child JayneB.

I was in a class of 32 where 17 had the same first name. They were all known by their 2nd name or [Name] + initial of family name.

My DS had another child in same class so both known as first name first letter of last name. They became firm friends and are still 10 years later. It didn't bother me and in fact we used to call him it at home sometimes!!

Well, as you are not even going to be there, why would this possibly bother you?

You don't have to use it yourself.

There were Tom/Tommy/Thomas and variations in my dd's primary year
Can you imagine if they'd got huffy about it?

Dd has 5, FIVE! Isabella/izzy's in her class.

It's just for consistency- so the name on her tray, corresponds to name on artwork, corresponds to name called at registration. Artwork could easily get muddled before going on the wall and a clear surname initial just allows for quick identification. I don't understand the problem - it is still your DD's name, just with her surname initial.

At WI we have Lindsey withadee and Linsay withoutadee.

That is how we know them

@TheNewLook

But titchy that assumes parents know which is which surname. If they can learn that part, why not learn the different spelling instead?

Why would you assume other parents will make the effort to work out which is which? Besides, the kids won't at that age - but even reception kids can probably distinguish different surname initials.

My DD has another girl in her class with the same name but different spelling and they share the last initial so they’re known by their full names. Think Juliet Brown and Juliette Black. The rest of the class refer to them in this way as well.

We once had a supply teacher who came into the staffroom at lunchtime very confused. "Who is this child called Tuay? There's no one on the register and the kids keep saying Tuay this and Tuay that...."

She was right, there wasn't a Tuay.

There were however an Amir and an Aamir who both pronounced their names A- Mir.

Many years ago my friend attended a little prep school and was one of 3 Sophie's. One of the Sophie's was titled and had triple barrelled surname. Instead of being known as Lady Sophie, she was known as Sophie L. The name has always stuck which has been quite funny.
My daughter once had to resit an exam which she'd achieved almost 100% in because she was mixed-up with another child with a similar name. Just make life easy for your daughter and teacher.

It took me a moment to work that out, @viques!

I had a prac class with a Luke, Lucas, Luca and Lucia. Made my head spin.

It is very hard to get past 'big school' - but basically - how could it possibly matter? They are using the first letter of her surname, not a randomly assigned one. Every single class my DC have been in there have been duplicate names, all known by this method and they all survived. More importantly their parents didn't make fools of themselves by actually complaing about it to the school.

This is a truly pointless thing to think about.

Do you get this 'detailed' about a lot of things, OP?

ask the children with the same name if they have a nickname that they would prefer to be used instead. So, instead of 'Juliet A' and 'Juliette B', we'd have Juliet and Jools.

That could work, but might also be confusing for 'Jools', having to remember that, in the school setting, 'Juliet' no longer 'belongs' to her as her own name, even if that's what everybody outside school calls her.

I always think it must be weird and likely confusing, even for adults, when actor and character names match (but not where the actor just uses their own name, like Rik Mayall did with a number of characters he played). To take a particularly highbrow example, there is a main character in The Inbetweeners called Simon, but the equally-main character Will happens to be played by an actor called Simon.

A LOT of people can't spell. Simple as that.

I think the OP has demonstrated very well why the school need to sort the Juliets from the Juliettes. With a thread like this she clearly can't tell the difference between Mumsnet and Nethuns.

I don't think it's worth spending five seconds of your time worrying about it!

There were 4 Laura's in my class. There was big Laura, little Laura, (surname), and Monkey

I have an isobel & I would think it would be unreasonable if they did this with an Isabelle in her class. No need for it if spelt differently! YADNBU

@viques not sure what that means? Were they referring to both boys as 2A? Why?!