"unique" spellings *cringe*

[ReginaPhalange89]

Sorry if I offend anyone but I just don't get it.

I've just seen these name spellings on Facebook....

Edythe and Alyvia. I'm assuming pronounced Edith and Olivia. Whhyyyy

Cait is probably just short for Caitlin ?

Or Cáit with the fada left off. Pronounced 'Koyt' pr 'Koytch' depending on region of Ireland, very ordinary, and entirely standard.

Their pronunciation is fine @mistressdeecee. It’s a perfectly acceptable English pronunciation, which is in common use. It’s not the only pronunciation in use, but it’s no more ‘wrong’ than the pronunciations you have given.

In German and some EasternEuropean languages the equivalent name is spelt with a ‘ks’ at the beginning rather than an ‘x’.

I also know an 'Alivya' it looks ridiculous and just sets the child up for a lifetime of having their name spelt wrong.

I know an alivia but it is pronounced a-livia not o-liva maybe it's the same.

'I've lived abroad for a while now and work in an international city (Geneva). I've worked with a Rebekah (Swiss), Sonja (German) Zavier (American), Tym (Dutch), Krys (Czech) and Iulia (Romanian). I've never once felt the need to inform them that they're spelling their own names wrong.'

Well, it would be weird if you did, because they aren't. All of those (except maybe Zavier which I feel a bit side-eye about) are the correct spellings in the language/culture of the bearer. It's a world away from just deciding to spell Chloe as Khlowii.

I kind of reserve my right to be snobbish about that. It's not the same as African-American or Caribbean people creating new names for their children, because historically their ancestors were deprived of the right to name themselves and their children - it was part and parcel of their cultural erasure and the denial of their humanity. Whereas the drive for a yooneek name among straight white status quo is a kind of pig-headed desire to be Special and Different. I am probably overly traditional, and of course there is a huge nuanced debate to be had around what names ought to say and do, but eh.

@SnowyMountains Cait is an ordinary shortening for Catherine though isn’t it?there were a couple in my school in the 80 s before younique became ubiquitous. I know not all Kates are Kathryns , but Cait still fits.

I bet it's difficult for some kids to have a mug with their name on

Wow. Disliking the mutated names spelt as Edythe & Alyvia is now deemed 'racist'??!!

Fuck that.

Op, I agree. Edythe looks ridiculous and Alyvia looks clumsy and takes the eye longer to figure out what it actually says.
A horrible mutation of the classical name Olivia.

I know a baby Alyvia... But the worst was a girl named M-Ellie (Emily)

I never had anything with my name on so my kids got me something personalised last year for Christmas.

It’s horrible to feel sneered at just for something that you yourself have no control,over. I didn’t pick my name and when my parents did they were living in another country where it’s normal.

But the worst was a girl named M-Ellie (Emily'

Good Lord

That is grim

I think some people try to be "unique" at their child's expense.

@ladycarlotta

Oh right, I see, it's just the white working class who are contemptuous chavs for doing this then eh?

Your snobbery is fucking disgusting.

Oh and the American called Zavier is black. I guess your 'side-eye' has gone in light of this, because 'cultural erasure'...

I think a good test is to see if you can imagine a doctor or judge with the name

I've taught a Britaniyah before. It just made my tummy curl up and die every time I saw it. I cannot imagine recieving her CV and not immediately making a judgement, as awful as that is (and of course nonsensical, since all it demonstrates is that the poor girl has idiot parents).

We know a Pheobe - I really don't understand it. It's not even unique, it just looks like they can't spell.

I don’t think imagining if it would fit a doctor or a judge is a good thing. Historically those have mostly been white males in the UK so my daughters African name wouldn’t “fit” into that narrative... but she would as a person. So no, I didn’t base my child’s name on a such a “traditional elite” system. Might be unique to you and others in the UK but certainly is not in one of her origin countries.

@AnaChocolatte what do you mean? That's how Pheobe is spelt...

It's Phoebe

Yes Phoebe is the traditional spelling. I predict a lifetime of having to correct people to misspell her name ahead.