Modern spellings for classic names?

[14B01F2021P]

What do we all think of this? For example, we have DD due and I love the names Lily and Ruby but for some reason I really love them spelt like:

Lillie
Rubie

Am I being completely stupid here? Please don’t beat around the bush. I’ve had a few moments this pregnancy where hormones have took over and I wanted to name her something ridiculous then the next morning I think “what the f*%k was I thinking?!” I won’t mention in case anyone has kids named that name but I highly doubt people do

Does anyone here have a little one with a classic name that has a modern spelling or twist?

Another we considered was Gracie :) modernised Grace

Yes, you are being stupid.

Seriously though, the names are lovely and you are not stupid I just don't understand why anyone would want to mess with a classic and use some spelling that takes away something from the name and cheapens it iyswim

The only one I don't mind is Lucy as Lucie.

But Alice - Alyce
Or
Charlotte - Charlut etc is a no from me. It's unnecessary.

Don't like it. Looks too try-hard.

A revised spelling of an established name is probably the most hated thing to the mumsnet crowd. You will not get a favourable response here. Personally I think the original spellings are much better, especially if the name is also a noun.

No. Your child will spend their entire life correcting people. Just don't please.

Sorry, but this is definitely a “what the f*%k was I thinking?!” one.

Modern spellings for classic names are awful because your poor child will spend their entire lifetime correcting people or having their name spelled ‘wrong’.

Please don’t!

Ugh, awful. Gracie is a cute nickname for Grace but a bit infantilising for a grown woman. Why not just have Grace on the bc and use Gracie as a nn?

Lillie and Rubie are absolute nos. Especially Rubie.

Is it because you want the name to be more unique? If so, just use a more unique name! So much better than weird spellings

I do know a few Gracies, but in every case that’s their commonly used nickname not their given name on the birth certificate. Grace is graceful just as it is, IMO.

Just spell them properly. People judge silly spellings for names.

They will spend their life correcting people. Not fun for them.

I met a D'arcy the other day.

@DecemberSun

Just spell them properly. People judge silly spellings for names.

As a teacher looking at the list of upcoming names you can't help thinking that the parents of Jaymz or Kriss are, perhaps, saying 'look at me I don't follow the rules'. I used those names deliberately because their parents were actually very nice as were the children, but you can't help wondering and sometimes it's true

I like Lillie, although prefer Lily. On the whole I like the 'proper' spellings for names. (Although quite who decides what the proper spelling is I don't know)

Thank you! I’ve been in this phase for 2 months or so now the longest name phase I’ve had this pregnancy

I do love unique names but I think my gut tells me “don’t do it” which I think fuelled my want of a unique spelling classic name!

DH (being the smart arse he is!) told me how lovely Ruby Grace (surname) is and I am really leaning towards that. Was unsure whether we spell it as Rubie but now reading responses - I think it’s best I don’t subject my child to a life of correcting!

Another we considered was Gracie smile modernised Grace

That's not a "modernised" spelling, it's a different pronunciation. And an old one.

Rubie looks particularly awful.

I don’t mind Gracie as much because it’s not a modern spelling of Grace, it’s a slightly different name with two syllables instead of one. If someone tells you their name is Gracie out loud you wouldn’t mis-spell it as Grace whereas if someone says their name is Rubie you’d write down Ruby.

Honestly I can’t get over how bad Rubie is.

I don’t understand why you’d want a quirky spelling for an established name. Said aloud it’s the same name so hardly makes the child stand out from others with the same name. All it does is add confusion and mean they will spend the whole time correcting spellings and telling others that no, they don’t know why their parents chose to spell it like that. If there is a Ruby and a Rubie in a class they’ll still need to be known as Ruby A and Rubie B because there is no difference in pronunciation.

If you want to be different just choose a more modern and quirky name in the first place?

Hate 'yooniqe' spellings- the name is the same and you give your child a lifetime of misspelled name and eye rolling from those who don't see the point.

Okay general consensus is a no! Which is the kick up the arse I needed

Apologies I did think Gracie was a modern version of Grace (not spelling, version of the name)

Like I said before I don’t know if I have the guts to do a unique name! But would love to, which is why I think I’ve been obsessing over maybe having a classic name spelled differently

Please don't they will spend a lifetime explaining it to people. I work in a lab and the amount of blood samples we have to discard and the patient need to be contacted and rebled because doctors nurses and midwives fill out the form one way and the sample bottle the other (spelling) it's a pain in arse for everyone involved, just because the parent was trying to be 'different or edgy'

@14B01F2021P you could give them a unique name as a middle name. Then they won't need to spell it as its rare they would be telling it to anyone. But they would have it.

@14B01F2021P

Okay general consensus is a no! Which is the kick up the arse I needed

Apologies I did think Gracie was a modern version of Grace (not spelling, version of the name)

Like I said before I don’t know if I have the guts to do a unique name! But would love to, which is why I think I’ve been obsessing over maybe having a classic name spelled differently

Not all unique names are really bizarre and out-there, though. My name is unique (more so in this country) - never met anyone else with it. But it is a normal name, and not one you'd be bullied or anything for. It's just not as used. Have a scour on some naming websites - i'm sure you'll find a nice, more unique name somewhere.

I used to have a job where I had to input the names of 1,000’s school children into a database. Traditional names, unique names, difficult to spell names e.g children with an Eastern European background, names with accents, hyphenated names all no problem. Traditional names with an unusual spelling used to send me into a rage, always had to check back with the school just in case, sometimes even the school admin got the spelling wrong. I just wanted the kids to have the right name on their certificate so that they could display it with pride, I figured that they so often got their name spelled incorrectly.

@LadyLazaruss thank you :) we’ve still got time so I think this is a good idea!

I do love the thought of a lovely unique name that no one really has but a name that isn’t as out there but also one that isn’t ‘unique’ but common now such as Wolf and River (DH has a 10 y/o nephew called Wolf, so yeah announcing that 10 years ago was a shock, but now it wouldn’t be so much)
No offence to those names ^ they’re lovely! Just I feel like I see so many nowadays!

I loved Marlowe for a little girl but MIL shot it down and said it reminded her of Marlon from Eastenders! I was gutted. No going back to that name now

[quote 14B01F2021P]@LadyLazaruss thank you :) we’ve still got time so I think this is a good idea!

I do love the thought of a lovely unique name that no one really has but a name that isn’t as out there but also one that isn’t ‘unique’ but common now such as Wolf and River (DH has a 10 y/o nephew called Wolf, so yeah announcing that 10 years ago was a shock, but now it wouldn’t be so much)
No offence to those names ^ they’re lovely! Just I feel like I see so many nowadays!

I loved Marlowe for a little girl but MIL shot it down and said it reminded her of Marlon from Eastenders! I was gutted. No going back to that name now[/quote]
I like River