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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Phi'Bee

92 replies

SleepyWasp · 02/05/2015 11:53

Someone who I know vaguely, and who I have as a friend on FB has just announced the birth of their daughter. Lovely squishy little girl.

They have called her Phi'Bee, and I must admit my face kind of went Confused Shock Hmm when I saw her name.

It's made me genuinely intrigued though. Has anyone else given their child such an unconventional spelling of a name? If so, what were your motivations? What does your child think about it?

My name is one that was pretty popular amongst my generation, but that has a number of accepted variations in spelling. As a child/teen, I used to hate people using the wrong spelling, but also got annoyed with having to spell it out to make sure people used the right one.

I'm much less bothered as an adult, but I still can't imagine going through life as a Phi'Bee (or similar) - having to spell it out constantly, and then see people's faces go Hmm or hear them say 'oh, that's...interesting.'

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BigFatPanda · 02/05/2015 11:54

That's not unconventional that's stupid! ConfusedHmm

Original poster
SleepyWasp · 02/05/2015 11:55

Oh, and sadly I'm not friends with Will and Kate.

This is not the new princess Grin

OP posts:
BlueBananas · 02/05/2015 11:55

You're joking?! How ridiculous!
DS is Cameron and DP genuinely wanted to spell it Cam'ron Hmm I informed him that I hadn't give birth to a rapper and that 'e' would be sufficient thankyou

Creatureofthenight · 02/05/2015 11:56

What Panda said.

Original poster
SleepyWasp · 02/05/2015 12:03

Nope, not joking unfortunately.

Not unless the mum and dad have got a wicked sense of humour, and are introducing her as Phi'Bee for a giggle.

Maybe we'll get another FB update soon saying 'don't worry, we're not totally stupid, she's called Phoebe. Can't believe all you asshats who call ourselves our friends said nothing though Grin'

[crosses fingers in hope]

[never gonna happen]

OP posts:
DextersMistress · 02/05/2015 12:04

Grin at its not the new princess.

That is truly awful though, poor kid.

AngusAndElspethsThistleWhistle · 02/05/2015 12:05

Maybe it's pronounced F-aye-bee? Grin

Buttercup27 · 02/05/2015 12:05

Imagine trying to full in online paperwork etc when she's older, that's going to be a nightmare!

DrWhooves · 02/05/2015 12:05

I know someone who recently called their newborn son Blu. As in Blu Tack Hmm.

namechange0dq8 · 02/05/2015 12:07

Having punctuation in your name is always good fun when using websites.

Phi'Bee
Original poster
SleepyWasp · 02/05/2015 12:17

BluBananas, I flipping love Cam'ron! I imagine him wearing a massive t-shirt, flatpeak cap, and an obscene number of chunky fake gold chains around his neck.
Shame that common sense prevailed really Grin

OP posts:
florascotia · 02/05/2015 12:23

Agree about punctuation in names causing problems with computers. Could really be a nightmare, especially as there is a standard spelling of the name already in existence.

I know this spectacularly missing the point - and in some ways it's lovely that parents are so delighted by a new baby that they want to give him/her a special name - but the apostrophe doesn't make sense. In English spelling it is used to indicate that letters have been left out, which (in Phi'Bee) they haven't been. Nor does the capital B; capitals indicate the start of a new word, which (in this case) 'Bee' isn't. Also, using standard English pronounciation, 'Phi' followed by a consonant would be pronounced as in 'Phillip', not as 'Fee'. So Phi'Bee = 'Fibby' = uncomfortably close to 'liar'.

SoldierBear · 02/05/2015 12:33

Agree with Flora's explanation of the pronunciation, BUT it looks like it should be said "Fi-Bee". Which might even be worse.

BikeRunSki · 02/05/2015 12:37

What a missed opportunity for using Greek symbols!
'B

Original poster
SleepyWasp · 02/05/2015 12:38

Yes, I agree with comments over pronunciation.

It took me a few seconds to work out that they meant Phoebe.

I've come across a Pheobe before, and the presumably accidental misspelling was bad enough. Can't get my head round why you'd do it on purpose.

OP posts:
BigFatPanda · 02/05/2015 12:49

Hang on. I vaguely remember a thread like this before about two years ago! OP I think your friends name is actually not unique!

BigFatPanda · 02/05/2015 12:50

Or maybe it was Feebee? Either way, they're both terrible spellings of a lovely name! Grin

WavyGlass · 02/05/2015 12:59

I always look at names involving apostrophes and think of them being produced with a sort of throat-clearing/hiccup/glottal stop where the apostrophe is, to indicate something left out.

With luck they're joking.

OneMagnumisneverenough · 02/05/2015 13:18

I'm still waiting (I think) for the first L8on but I'm sure it wont be long...

Behooven · 02/05/2015 13:22

Oh dear, poor child

Bobian123 · 02/05/2015 13:26

A friend of a friend taught a girl in primary school with the name La-a. She asked the mum how it was pronounced.

Ladasha.

OneMagnumisneverenough · 02/05/2015 13:46

Ooh La-a's mother is definitely a candidate for a son L8on then :o

LocalEditorEssex · 02/05/2015 13:49

I give you a new one I have been introduced to recently.....

Chenaid

Instead of Sinead obviously.

BlueBananas · 02/05/2015 13:51

Le-a is a well known urban myth, wondered how long before someone's friend of a friend told the take on here

maroonedwithfour · 02/05/2015 13:53

Is it a parent combo? Philip and Beatrix?