"Lettice"

[PavlovtheTiredCat]

I am not sure if anyone is familiar with the bunny rabbit character "Lettice"? If so, does anyone else share my issue here?

DD took this book out from the school library for us to read. While she cannot spell, aged 4, she is learning to, and my argument is that it should be spelt correctly.

DH says it is a name, therefore it is ok to spell it wrong, like many other 'names' that do not follow 'correct' spelling. He thinks you can spell 'names' any way you want to. While, technically I agree, I think for a child's book, this type of word should be spelt correctly, it is not like it is a play on words or anything. It is just spelt wrong.

Am I being unnecessarily pedantic and let it go? Or should I dig my heals in? A good friend agrees with me - she was going to buy one of these books for DD as it is all sparkly and pretty, but did not due to the mis-spelling of Lettuce.

What do you all think?

Lettice is a name isn't it?

It's not a mis-spelling as such, Lettice is a girl's name pronounced luh-teece

famously the name of Lettice Knollys, cousin and rival of Elizabeth I

oh I'm sorry you are going to suffer for "dig my heals in" :o
Just a warning
(I agree with you)

Lettice is a name and different from the green leafy vegetable.

no. Lettice the name is spelled Lettice. a good name for a rabbit.

i'm trying to think of another example but can't

But... isn't it a real name? Like, people are actually called that? I think you're overthinking it a bit. I have no knowledge of the book in question but it sounds like the author has seen the name Lettice, realised it looks like lettuce, and thought 'hey, cute name for a bunny'.

Lettice is a name, and nothing to do with the plant lettuce

Lettice is a name isn't it??

Lettice is a name. Lettuce is the salad leaf.

Sorry, am i missing something here?

From a nameswebsite - The girl's name Lettice \l(e)-tti-ce\ is a variant of Letitia (Latin), and the meaning of Lettice is "joy".

The baby name Lettice sounds like Letice and Letticia. Other similar baby names are Lettie and Letrice.

Lettice is an uncommon first name for women and an equally uncommon last name for both men and women. (1990 U.S. Census)

It is a real name (spelled Lettice). I met someone with this name once.

It is a name. A derivative of Letitia. She is going to have to get used to the absurd vagaries of the English language so she might as well start now!

Peter Shaffer's play "Lettice and Lovage" is another example.

OP, is this an elaborate joke? Are you rocking back on your heals with laughter?

if you had read the books you'd have more sympathy for the OP

Lettice being a bridesmaid was the most unpleasant, glittery pile of rubiish I've had the misfortune of reading with dd3. She had chosen it from the library and thought it was wonderful!

I suspect the OP is possibly hiding in a corner

I proof read that post a million times to make sure it was not wrong but no-one is perfect hey?!!

I did not know Lettice is a real name! I shall not be telling DH that though eh?

I used to get old (even then) Girl Annuals from the library when I was under 10. One of the stories was called 'Lettice Leaf the Greenest GIrl in the School'. (See how it's stuck!) My mum told me then that she had had a girl called Lettice in her class.

How unfortunate to be called Lettice as a name. Clearly, I am uncultured

it is not like it is a play on words or anything

That's exactly what it is. A lettuce eater called Lettice. It would be nice if the rabbit's second name was Pray and she led the bunny church too. Along with Gladly, my cross-eyed bear.

Can i feign tiredness, as my name suggests?

Will you confess to your friend who was put off the books by the 'misspelling', or keep quiet? And was the book truly awful? It sounds just the type of thing my 3yo would love.

I have an Auntie Cabbage and an Uncle Turnip.

No I shall not tell her ! I shall keep this one to myself and let her be none the wiser and on my side!

And yes, it is awful, and yes your 3yo would absolutely adore it! as does my 4yo DD

Dare you to get these names onto the baby names thread.

To be fair, OP, it is extremely old-fashioned. I think it is Victorian.

Any minute now someone is going to post that their DD is called Lettice ...