Change name spelling at 4?

[Thinkingonmyfeet]

We used an accepted but more unusual spelling of a traditional name for our daughter which has links to our culture, but is not the most widely used spelling in any culture. After a few comments, I worry that the spelling looks made up, that she’ll always have to correct/ explain to people etc.

Before starting school should we change it to the traditional spelling? The traditional spelling is fine, I just preferred the variant, felt more special, but not special enough to give her aggro throughout her life. She can’t spell it yet either.

Does anyone know anything about changing spellings at this age? Obviously it’s via deedpoll now. Will she always have to declare she was known by a different name? Does this question even come up much?

any advice would be great, thanks.

No, far more ordinary... Katy!

However at 4 she might chose to spell it 'unicorn'

@Sirrah. Thanks. I prefer Katy to Katie but both are nice. I could have tried Rosy too. I'd correct Anny and Rosy, but Katy is fine.

As long as its just a lesser used spelling rather than a parent trying to make 'juliette' unique by spelling it 'jooliyet' or 'mark' 'mharc' then keep the spelling.

@Thinkingonmyfeet , My age group had Tracey, Tracy, Lindsay, Lynsey, Lindsey, Linsey, Linzi, Catherine, Katherine, Katharine, Kathryn, Cathryn, Deborah, Debra, Clare, Claire etc.

If your DD is something like Oliwia, she'll be fine.