Elaina/Helaina

[Barbiequed]

I love these 2 names, pronounced this way. I know many mnetters are anti 'made up' name's but I think in this instance phonetic spelling will save them a lifetime of correcting people who call them the other version?

Its not like Feebee for instance...

Please mumsnet guide me!

Pinklilly, I'd think they were snobbish and judgemental. Racism can also be very subtle and maybe im overly sensitive to subtle racism being a very anglocized black woman with a very traditional name. Im judged differently than my sister who has a more creative name.

I think people are class-ist and sometimes this can bleed into race as well. For instance people might judge and be prejudiced against a Shanequa.

You do realise that we can't see through the phone/laptop/iPad screen, to see what race or ethnicity posters are, op?

Oh FFS OP, you came on and asked for opinions. You didn't like what the majority said. If you're still determined to go ahead and use one of them, then great, that clearly makes you happy. Congratulations.

What I can guarantee you high is that no one here is losing sleep over the fact that your daughter will have to spell out her name every time she meets someone new. That's pretty much a fact.

Ah but culturally Shaniqua is an African American name. So that would be no more or less likely to be judged than Hamish McAllister or Paddy O'Keefe or Mfanwy Evans. Changing vowels in the middle of a name wouldn't make you think someone has a particular cultural heritage. People would assume that you either didn't know the accepted spelling or that you did, and felt your version made the child more special.

Sleepy

I don't disagree that she'll have to spell out her name. Thats a very valid point!

I do disagree about the illiteracy thing though. They are both established spellings and there are doctors and sports people with these names. Can I not challenge you on this?

Costa why should I have to put my race out there. Is that relevant? Maybe it is, may be it isn't, but those using creative names are often thought of as ethnic or chavvy. We all have prejudices. Maybe this thread shows that im being the most prejudiced out of all of you.

Ok, so there may be people with these spellings, but they are rare and a straw poll of people would not spell them they way you propose, as it's generally agreed that's not the standard spelling. So why lumber your daughter with one of these options? I think it's a bit cruel tbh.

Sleepy,

I repeat, the spelling confusion is a valid point.

I just took umbrage at the whole illiteracy thing.

You're the one who brought up race and racism op, 'illiterate' doesn't have any racial connotations as far as I'm aware

But when people have poor levels of literacy they tend to mix up similar sounding vowels. It's not therefore an unreasonable assumption that someone who does not spell a word the standard way has difficulties with literacy. If you saw a list of names as Mykel, Charlee, Sowfee, Loosie etc, then you might assume that the parents didn't actually know how to spell the name.

Elaina is an established version.

No, it is not overtly racist. It may not even have been racist but it can be a factor.

I don't think Loosie is the same as Elaina.

Are you seriously suggesting it is?

And just because the majority think something is true, doesn't mean its.

Trends in names change year to year. I think quite a lot of people will be spellingtheir names in the future.

Loosie is a name. Why are you judging it? Her parents felt it was nicer than Lucy in the same way as Helaina's parents think it is nicer than Helena (or they don't know any better of course - one or the other.)

So why would you immediately assume it was racist when no-one mentioned it, and we have no idea what race you are, and vice versa?

Is Loosie pen the same way as Lucy?

Elena and Helena can be pronounced two ways. Im not doing it to be interesting.

If you checker comments on the spelling Elaina on the American sir nameberry they are much more positivetowrd it, no mentioned illiterate. If anything the majority prefer that spelling.

Food for thought... maybe its been established there a lot longer

Since Alain is the French version of Alan, I assume Alaina is the French version of Alannah?

Op, since Elaine exists, Elaina seems less of a stretch, to me.

Costa, I have already explained. The use of the word illiterate is loaded for me when it comes to names. I concede it may not Bethesda case but I have been witness to a lot of snickering when it comes to names that don't fit the bill.

Apologies if this isnt relevant to you but it is something that happens

Apologies about spelling. My predictive keyboard is a bugger

Or maybe I'm illiterate

What about Bethesda though, that's pretty?

Bethesda does have a nice ring to it...

Yes!

Bethesda is nice! Beth for short.

I'm still none the wiser re the connection between 'illiterate' and 'race' - if it's your issue op, then you have to realise that, and not accuse strangers on an anonymous forum, of racism