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Baby names

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

"unique" spellings *cringe*

184 replies

ReginaPhalange89 · 23/10/2018 14:51

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

OP posts:
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TigerDrankAllTheWaterInTheTap · 25/10/2018 09:38

Gosh. Is her mother's name Michelle? That could be a bit like the married couples who call their home AnniePete or similar.

If it's her own choice fair enough. I'm too lazy and too easily irked to do something that must require a lot of conversations to get the name spelled right, though. Or possibly I'm just not an attention-seeker, on that level, anyway. Hmm

LittleBearPad · 25/10/2018 09:51

Xavier pronounced "Ex-hay-vee-ah" isn't fine - it's bastardizing a non-English name. Fine if some want to do that but it is what it is, so why pretend differently?

The pronunciation you’re so upset about is long-standing in the UK.

OutPinked · 25/10/2018 10:33

There was a Maizi in my DC’s old school.

LethalWhite · 25/10/2018 10:48

@SarahJConnor

It’s a funny one. Obviously making fun of the names of people from different cultures from you is completely unacceptable.

Most parents go through a process when naming their children where they try and find the right name. This usually includes trying it out with the surname, making sure the spelling and pronunciation are what you want. Also, as demonstrated by the baby name board, you try to find something that won’t have negative associations. So not calling it ‘Adolf’ even though that was your dearly believed he’d great uncles name etc.

Some names have negative associations, and you can’t escape that. So Jayden, Neveah etc are saying something about that persons background. Humans are wired to make prejudgements, and hearing a name associated with negative things makes you prejudge a person. It’s not just the U.K., for example there is a joke in Germany that Kevin ‘is not just a name, it’s a diagnosis’

Obviously it’s extremely unfair on the child, as they have no choice over their name. Most people I know with an odd or stigmatised name have changed it as soon as they get to 18.

So, I suppose what I’m saying is yes it’s unfair on the child when they are judged on their name. But it’s the parents Job to pick a name that is suitable, and IMO that does not expose them to ridicule or judgement. (This includes not calling a child likely to be very tall ‘Minnie’ etc). And if they haven’t, sadly it does say something about the parents, and the sort of challanges that the child will face.

I try hard not to judge children on their names, but I do judge parents who call their children something that I consider poor taste, as I feel they’re already putting their own needs/desires above their child’s by calling them Mercedes-Rae etc

MistressDeeCee · 25/10/2018 11:16

Littlebearpad - No it isn't. Xavier isnt even common to UK culture.

If someone gets my name wrong as they're too sloppy to at least try to pronounce it right, it doesn't then change my name does it?

MistressDeeCee · 25/10/2018 11:21

The pronunciation you’re so upset about is long-standing in the UK.

^ Typical.arrogance.

That's how we say it in UK & if you don't like it you must be 'upset'

As if we're all 'UK' 🙄

LittleBearPad · 25/10/2018 11:49

Didn’t say it was common to UK culture but that form of pronunciation is used in the UK and has been for some time.
I assumed you are in the UK, if not then meh.

TigerDrankAllTheWaterInTheTap · 25/10/2018 11:51

I'd pronounce Xavier as Ksahveeay I think (near as I can reproduce it, anyway). Tricky one for most Brits, I'd say.

SnuggyBuggy · 25/10/2018 11:53

It's how Professor Xavier's name is pronounced isn't it?

SharpLily · 25/10/2018 12:27

It's definitely not 'Ex-hay' at the beginning.

I think @LethalWhite describes the situation very well. I loved a name for my daughter that had particular meaning forme. I didn't use it because I knew other people would think it's ridiculous and I didn't want to put that burden on her.

Sarahjconnor · 25/10/2018 12:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SharpLily · 25/10/2018 12:45

Why do white middle class people get to decide what is an 'appropriate name'.

Which white, middle class people are you talking about? The people on this thread who have expressed disapproval? If so that's making a huge assumption.

Bimgy85 · 25/10/2018 13:21

Oh I have worse one 'kacie' 😂 how alternative

Bimgy85 · 25/10/2018 13:22

@Sarahjconnor because neveah is tacky as f

TatianaLarina · 25/10/2018 13:52

Hmm there’s a massive difference between names from different cultures and simply invented or misspelt British ones. And there’s a difference between existing variants and made up ones.

The racism I’ve seen on this forum is hostility to anything that isn’t boringly middle of the road British. People with Arab or African or E.European names for example are told they sound both horrible and made up.

But these days some names are made up, and ordinary names are misspelt to make them seem yooniq. It’s perfectly legitimate to object to that.

isitthehormones · 25/10/2018 15:52

Not quite the same but someone I know called their baby Eoin. I thought it was unique and referred to the baby as E-oin.

It’s Owen. I still think E-oin in my head, but very glad I never referred to baby as that in front of their parents Blush

TatianaLarina · 25/10/2018 16:05

It’s Irish no?

Thenewdoctor · 25/10/2018 16:07

Eoin is an Irish spelling.

TigerDrankAllTheWaterInTheTap · 25/10/2018 16:33

Eoin Colfer is a well known author.

isitthehormones · 25/10/2018 16:42

Yep, Irish, I’d just never heard of it! Thankfully my DP put me straight when he couldn’t work out what I was talking about.

Dillydallyingthrough · 25/10/2018 16:43

BAME with a very typical 'ethnic' name here.

OP - I completely get what you are saying, some of the examples on this thread are so awful and NOT RACIST!

Really wish individuals would stop screaming racism at every fucking thing!!

Luffly1 · 25/10/2018 16:53

‘Eoin’ is pronounced like Owen? Shock

I always thought it was more like Ian!

Feel stupid now!

Luffly1 · 25/10/2018 17:01

Ah, see I grew up with this guy m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1139215856111373&id=131493736883595&_rdr on the radio, Eoin Cameron, who pronounces it ‘Ian’.

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 25/10/2018 17:09

It's not unique, it's just incorrect in my opinion

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