What do you think of the name Alice spelt as Alys?

[rilesm]

Just that really.Is it pretentious? I just don't like the original spelling as much. Hubby grew up in Wales but not Welsh. Thoughts please.
Thanks

Living in North Wales, it is quite common, and I love the spelling. Not sure on an English Alys. Do you have a Welsh surname?

I think it's lovely as Alys, it is most definitely the Welsh spelling.

It's one I'm strongly considering if I have a little girl but I have a Welsh name and my mother's side of my family are all Welsh with Welsh names, and my father's children from his first marriage are both Welsh as well. DP's Mum was raised in Wales and has Welsh connections so I think using Welsh names wouldn't look odd for us. If you have no Welsh heritage it might look odd though.

My name is constantly mispronounced, a few rude people have suggested I should have been called Laura instead of Lowri but it's really nobody else's business what you call your child, as long as it's not something like Tallulah does the Hula from Hawaii which would be cruel!

Also, as has been pointed out lots of names have different spellings e.g.

Catherine/Catharine
Katherine/Katharine
Cathryn/Kathryn
Catheryn/Katheryn
Catharyn/Katharyn

Alternative spellings are a pain in the arse.

Ailish is both spelled and pronounced differently. It's a different name.

It's like spelling Elisabeth with an s. Just spell it the normal way.

If you need a weird spelling to make a name seem attractive, it's not that nice a name.

spidookly, are you missing the point that Alys is a Welsh name and thus not simply an alternative spelling?

How about:
Isabel/Isobel/Isabelle
Jayne/Jane
Elizabeth/Elisabeth
Rebecca/Rebekah
Rachel/Rachael

I'm also Welsh and know two girls called "Alys" and one "Alis". Don't know anyone called "Alice".

I don't have a problem with Welsh/Gaelic spellings generally, but I don't like this one as much as I like Alice.

It just looks a bit pared-down and "minimalist" to me (I appreciate that is probably just how I see it) and that's just not my personal taste.

I'm not missing the point that this child will not be Welsh, and therefore choosing to call her Alice and spell it Alys is just giving her a fussy spelling.

The fact that other names have multiple spellings doesn't really justify seeking out alternative spellings of straightforward names.

As for the names you've suggested, one of the drawbacks of the name Isobel is that it can also be spelled Isabel(le).

For all the others the right way to spell those names are:

Jane
Elizabeth
Rebecca
Rachel

Nobody wants to spend their life being "Jayne with a y", "Elisabeth with an s".

I feel the same about using the fanciest, longest, most complicated spellings of Irish names, e.g. Orlaith instead of Orla, also prefer Maeve to Méabh or Medbh for children living in England.

Making a name hard to spell is stupid.

Unless you live in Wales I wouldn't, otherwise you are setting her up for a lifetime of having to tell practically everyone that it's said 'alice' spelt 'alys' - I would have said A leeeee s sort of like Ali's...

I think Cyril rather proves the point :)

and no, if I saw it written down, I wouldn't think hmmm Rhys - this will be Alice?! LOL

it's the Welsh spelling, so nothing wrong with it.

You're wrong about the "correct" way to spell those names though - all are valid and correct.

Even Jane is Jane-with-no-Y so that argument kind of goes out the window doesn't it? With multiple spelling variants of many names it is quite usual to have to spell it or risk having it recorded incorrectly. Add in the increase in foreign names due to a greater ethnic mix and, TBH, not having to spell your name will be unusual. There are at least 5 of DDs friends where I am unsure how to pronounce and/or spell their names

Alys is not an alternative spelling for an name - it is a Welsh name. Are people only allowed to use English names with proscribed spellings?

I am not, however, advocating the tuly creative spellings such as Kallum, Zakkaree, Izzabell, Maddalynn and suchlike but this is a genuine spelling of a proper name and is therefore fine.

Spelling out your name to ensure it's correct is really not a problem. Especially when it's only 4 letters.

As an aside, one of DD's middle names is Marguerite. I would imagine that it will need spelling out any time she has to use it but it is the correct (and only?) spelling.

Meaning of "Alys"
German name

In German, the name Alys means- From the Old German Adalheidis meaning nobility. Also sweet.. Other origins for the name Alys include - German, Spanish, Welsh, Celtic, Spanish.The name Alys is most often used as a girl name or female name.

Certainly used as character names in texts dating back to C12th & Princess Alys was sister to King Phillip of France of around the same era.

you're all wrong it's actually spelt

kjrfvnkjzsrhfndcsnfv

All are valid, but the most usual spellings are correct as far as I am concerned.

Nobody says "Jane without a y". That is the presumed spelling unless someone was trying to be fancy.

People are allowed to spell their children's names however they like, and I am allowed to think it is naff to use alternative spellings and to express that dislike on the Internet.

In England Alys is just an alternative spelling for Alice. The OP even admitted she was looking for a fancier spelling.

Alys will be fine - 'it's spelt the Welsh way, A l y s' - simple.

Sometimes people can't spell or pronounce my name - it sifts the real friends from the rubbish ones (the rubbish ones who can't be bothered to learn how to spell/pronounce it after multiple corrections).

I'd much rather have my name which is both a family name and one which reflects the Welsh side of my heritage than to have a common name for the sake of being spared the inconvenience of spelling it out to be people.

And for what it's worth, at Uni I tried to switch our gas details to my name from the previous tenants and the bloke on the phone couldn't get his head around Emma as a spelling. Common spellings do not guarantee an easy life

You think people's ability to spell your name is a sign of whether or not they are a good friend?

FWIW I don't have any issue with names that are difficult to spell, just with alternative spellings of names that are easy to spell.

No Mrs Woolf, don't think so! I posted earlier about Alys being a Germanic and medieval name (I like the literature from that era) and then had a moment of doubt and checked! It also has other claimed origins, as I C&P.

grr, 'don't think so' as in I don't think I was referencing your post...

[can't convey tone on here and, also it seems, my meaning either!]

I love the name Alice, but in the traditional form. My husband teaches 3 girls with the 'same' name but all spelt differently, it drives him mad! x

I meant it more tongue in cheek, however all my good friends can spell it and pronounce it correctly - I have found that the friends who do take the trouble to learn my name are better friends when I have a problem than those who call me a different name.

Surely if someone can't be bothered to learn how to spell 5 letters and pronounce a two syllable name after multiple corrections they do not really care that much about the person they're addressing? Learning your friends names is a bit basic IMO.

Anyhow, I digress :)

If I named my child Hugh, I would spell it Huw to reflect the Welsh heritage. The same with Thomas (Tomas), Alice (Alys), Katharine (Kathryn) etc. However I would only do this as I am half Welsh, despite being born and raised in England. If anyone questions I will explain I am half Welsh/English. And to be fair most of the Welsh names I like do not have a English equivalent such as:

Eleri
Eirlys
Ceridwen
Delyth
Rhydian
Rhodri

etc

As the OP and first time poster on mumsnet I am amazed by the response and the debate it has sparked! Thanks very much ladies.
You've just confirmed all the thoughts that have been going on my head for the last few months. I have an unusual name (common in Ireland but not in England) so always have to spell it and nobody can pronounce it first time. A different issue i know but it does get tedious.
Hubby not welsh but grew up there and we won't be living in Wales or have Welsh surname.. so
Will have to have a good long think....

Thanks again for all your responses

Minty
My MIL can't spell either of my DDs' names :o

I know an Alys and she pronounces it AY-liss. She bites your head off if you call her Alice.

If you need to canvas opinion, I wouldn't bother. I've got an Alys. I'm Welsh, DH and I met in Wales. I studied Welsh History. It was Owain Glyndwr's daughter's name.

If I saw the spelling "Alys" I'd be tempted to pronounce it as "uh-LIS" rather than the way I'd pronounce "Alice".