"Unusual Spellings of Baby Names Out of Control"

[satya]

I'm not into unusual spellings myself but I don't think it's out of control. I think for a while there it was very popular but lately we seem to be seeing a huge swing back to "old fashioned" names which are now becoming popular again.

[Astrid]

I am not a fan of made up spellings, but I do like going back in history for varients of a name. I have to admit yes, I do think it is getting out of control and have thought that for ages.

I find the internet is not a good place for looking up spellings of a name, especially the baby name sites that allow member to update meanings/history etc, some are just plain wrong. I just would not trust some of them with the background of names, well saying that I did not even trust most baby name books. I found the Prenguin Dictionary of first names and found it met my needs for historical accuracy.

[~Kim~]

I have to say that I'm surprised at the poll results - seeing aas the practce seems so common ATM, though that could just be the audience of the paper too.
BW I've only got 3 letters too, no middle name and people still seem to want to put their own creative spin on it, like being creative is so prevalent that everyone must have one....not me.

[Doing my best]

I am not against different spellings of names, as many of them do have a meaning behind them (take Maz's and Sarah's children just as examples). They may seem creative, but when you get the history, it seems the modern way, or our language are the creative versions.

Suppose my biggest frustration is people spelling or pronouncing a name wrong after being told the correct way. I worked with an Irish girl named Niamh (pronounced Neeve in case you didn't know). The amount of people who called her "Nim" after seeing it spelt or emailed 'Neeve' after hearing the pronounciation even after being corrected was unbelievable..

My DD's name is Kimberley, however even after 19 months of me correcting the inlaws they insist on spelling in Kimberly. I also have a friend who spells it Kymberley and both these annoy me to the end of the earth cause they know better! I am ok with both these spellings, but not for my DD cause it isn't her name!

[boomba]

I dont realy care how people spell their kids name its totally up to them. I do prefer traditional spelling.

Owning a bakery we see heaps of different spelling and poor Dh has to write it on the cakes! He stresses o much cause if he gets it wrong its ruined. So he has to keep checking as he spells it! So I suppose thats kinda annoying?

[Roryrory]

My issue with unusual spelling is this - there are a lot of snobs out there who are going to think if you have an unusual spelling to your name, they can assume a whole lot of things about you as a person (from the viewpoint of socio-economic status, education levels, etc).

[Arimeh]

Rory - thats probably very accurate. Unfortunately. My poor kids.. bwahahaha

Just for the record though - we slightly changed the original spelling of Aricyn (original spelling is Aricin - its scandinavian) because we didn't like the way it looked.

And Mehkelti - well yeah we did sorta make that up. LOL

[Bathsheba]

I know what you mean Rory... and tend to agree.

Regarding the newspaper readership (Herald Sun) I too am surprised that it's 91% against the current trends... demographics would indicate to me that the average Sun reader is probably more likely to be part of the "out of control" group. Hope this doesn't miff any Sun fans.

It would be interesting to see how The Age or The Australian readership polled. My guess is that their more conservative readers would be even closer to 100% in saying "Yes".

The Sun is good for sport... that's why I read it mainly... DH brings home both the Sun and The Age daily.

[*TripleJ*]

its funny coz i like unusual spelling but my son has a very traditional name james but only because he was named after someone i really like vyolett (maz )as a spelling coz it looks pretty and its still spelt like its said and i also like jaxon which is a bit out there i think the issue is the frustration ppl have when they have to constantly spell their name for ppl hence the poll results

[expat]

My issue with unusual spelling is this - there are a lot of snobs out there who are going to think if you have an unusual spelling to your name, they can assume a whole lot of things about you as a person (from the viewpoint of socio-economic status, education levels, etc).

Sorry Roryrory, I have to agree with you for the wrong reasons! You can count me in as one of the 'snobs'! Having a fairly broad range of experiences to draw from, I feel in a large percentage of cases it is quite possible to make a number of educated assumptions about a individual's socio-economic roots from the name they were given.

As a poster made an example of earlier, there's Kimmie's 'Eppohnee-Reigh' or however the hell it got butchered off as a caricature of a certain wedge of society. Another poster suggested that the results might be a little different depending on if you polled The Age readers -vs- Herald Sun readers. I couldn't agree more. Perhaps a sample of names from more affluent suburbs -vs- more rough suburbs might give a similar result.

I love 'exotic' names, don't get me wrong - there are so many beautiful names out there and how boring would life be if we were all Toms, Janes and Sarahs? My annoyance is with a 'normal' name, taken and twisted and having letters added and taken away, until it barely resembles the original name. Mum and dad might think it's 'unique', 'individual' and will give their child a sense of originality, but speaking from experience, it just makes life bleeding difficult and becomes a burden.
That said, each to their own. I'm sure there are people out there who think 'Hayley Nicole' and 'Emily Paige' are boring and old-fashioned and would be better if I'd 'livened them up' by spelling them 'Heyleigh' and 'Emmie-Lea', but I just feel like it makes life a lot easier to have traditional spellings and if it saves them the misery and taunting I went through as a kid (and the constant irritation of having to correct important documents as an adult), then I'm happy.
My 'trick' to choosing baby names is to imagine it on an elderly person, a preschooler, and at the top of a resume from the perspective of a conservative (usually middle-aged male) employer. If it fits all three, it's a keeper. If not... back to the drawing board lol.

Could not agree with you more! We thought about how Logan would sound as a little boy's name and a grown-up professional name and liked it both ways. We also wanted a name that everyone could pronounce and spell. My husband is Danish, I'm Aussie of Italian background, we were living in Sweden when he was born and now we live in Hong Kong ...so we named him after 'Wolverine' from X-men because we're both big fans!


Maz and Skye - I also have to join the group disagreeing with you. I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'?

David Beckhamm wouldn't have been a better footballer had he been named 'Daywidgh' -We'd concentrate less on his talent and more on his odd name.

Lady Zaidie, I peed my pants over "Seaufeighya" for Sophia!! Good one!

Among my recently delivered friends, we have Agnes (Aggie), Emma, Harold (Harry), Ryan, Kate, Caroline and come to think of it...not one ******, ***********, ********-***, ****** or ******-****** (all omitted to save feelings!). Perhaps it says a lot for the social circles I travel in. I won't make any apologies for it.

[sas85]

[QUOTE=expat;1877885]Sorry Roryrory, I have to agree with you for the wrong reasons! You can count me in as one of the 'snobs'! Having a fairly broad range of experiences to draw from, I feel in a large percentage of cases it is quite possible to make a number of educated assumptions about a individual's socio-economic roots from the name they were given.

As a poster made an example of earlier, there's Kimmie's 'Eppohnee-Reigh' or however the hell it got butchered off as a caricature of a certain wedge of society. Another poster suggested that the results might be a little different depending on if you polled The Age readers -vs- Herald Sun readers. I couldn't agree more. Perhaps a sample of names from more affluent suburbs -vs- more rough suburbs might give a similar result. End quote

I agree and disagree. I think if you're totally, totally going to mess with the spelling so it doesn't even look like you have any grasp how to spell, people are going to think your parents were strange, BUT, strange comes from all walks in life, not necessarily stereo-typical wouldn't want to live in that street bogans (like Kath & Kim) for eg.. Ie - If I came across a Prince Michael or a Fifi-Trixibell I would think their parents were obviously nutcases, but then hey, they were rich celebrities. So I think the same goes with messed-up spellings - you never can tell KWIM.

Quote
Maz and Skye - I also have to join the group disagreeing with you. I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'? End quote

Ouch. Well, I'm going to play the ' I sure as hell hated having 1 in 10 girls I seem to meet through life with the same name as me card', so I can totally understand why some people prefer to give their kids unique names. In one group I am known as Sarah #2. I may not personally want to name any kids say Nebuchadnezzar-spartacus myself, but everyone would know who they were if their name came up on your mobile phone without wondering which of a possible 5 it could be.

PS - I don't know why my quoting got so messed up in reply.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I understand unique names, I love those. But not bizzare spellings that the child will suffer with. My name, for my age group, is uncommon enough that I could have had a normal spelling and been the only one in the school (bar teachers). As I said before, my name ages me by a decade or so. OK, without the spelling we're looking more 15 years older. Having said that, I've had the "strange spelling" of both my old name and my new one commented on today, so I guess I can't completely back away from alternative spellings, although mine do have a precident.

What about normal names that just aren't used these days? Not really strange ones either: Adeline, Domonique, Dorcas, Cordelia, Mariah, Jean, Alison - how many babies with these lovely names do you hear of right now? You don't have to invent a spelling to have a different name.

[expat]

Ouch. Well, I'm going to play the I sure as hell hated having 1 in 10 girls I seem to meet through life with the same name as me, so I can totally understand why some people prefer to give their kids unique names.

I'm totally with you there,

I liked that I 1st met another Adele when I was 12 years old. It's a name that was popular about 90 years ago and when my parents picked it it wasn't so common outside Germany, Italy or France; it seems to be making a small resurgance.

My husband, growing up in Denmark was one of 5 Thomas's in his class. 50% of the students in his class had that name Christian, Martin or Thomas and he always wanted a name that when called, 5 heads wouldn't look up.

When it comes to names, there is a difference however between common and boring just as there is a difference between different and odd.

[Arimeh]

I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'?

Hmm maybe its more about the fact that not everyone can like the same type of name, and I won't excuse myself for loving unique names. I don't believe that my children are more "interesting" than other children with more commonly used names, I don't generalise people for what they choose to call their children.

I chose the names because I love them. Just like I'm sure people who named their kids with more popular names chose them because they LOVE the name.

I won't apologise for people who choose to not look past the names as to what my children will become. And I'm happy to say that they will never judge a person on what their name is.

[maz]

Maz and Skye - I also have to join the group disagreeing with you. I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'?

now there is disagreeing and there is putting someone, and yes you are entitled to your opinion but a bit of tack on the side would have been thoughtful .

I for one, and I am speaking not just for myself, but Skye and all us other 'commoner's ' did not pick my children's names to pretend that my child is better then the nextgpersons child! You can not make a presumption of ANY PERSON for their choice of names.....and tell me please what talent or attribute does a new born baby have then, when they have been given their name?

please put some thought into posting your opinion.....just becuase we care to be different and give our children a different name to what you would consider normal doesnt make us dreadful people!

[~clover~]

Maz and Skye - I also have to join the group disagreeing with you. I feel (and this is my opinion which I am entitled to seeing this is a thread about opinions) that people giving their children unusual names to somehow make their children more different or special says less about the individual merits of the child and more about the parents' perception of themselves as 'common' or 'ordinary' and needing to pretend their child is something better or more interesting. Why not let the child be known for his or her own talent or attribute than as 'the kid with the bizarre name'?


Among my recently delivered friends, we have Agnes (Aggie), Emma, Harold (Harry), Ryan, Kate, Caroline and come to think of it...not one ******, ***********, ********-***, ****** or ******-****** (all omitted to save feelings!). Perhaps it says a lot for the social circles I travel in. I won't make any apologies for it.

Ok, so because I gave my child a different spelling & think some of those names are boring I'm a lower social class to you. Fair enough, I probably am.
But did you ever stop to consider that I do think my child is more special than yours? She's my child, it comes with being a parent. A mother. I named her the way I did because she is different to every other child out there. I know she's no better, & I also never thought a name would change who she actually is.
Jazmyne is Jazmyne, no matter the spelling I personally like the way it looks. Sorry if that means I'm not up to everyone elses standards socially.

Ya git dat!

[briggsy's girl]

hmmm, i haven't commented in this thread cos i'm torn - i don't think that "traditional" spelling of a name is any better or worse than something that has been "tweaked" - provided the tweaking make sense. having a name like thomas and throwing a silent L in there just to make the spelling unique - that doesn't do it for me.

i think it's more a product of the multicultural society in which we live, than being about "class" that we are prepared to venture more into the spelling of our childrens names. we, as in a general "society" we, tend to be embracing our heritage more (as Maz has with her kidlets names) and celebrating that, sharing it with the next generation. but those of us who haven't embraced our heritage (how the hell i can embrace German on one side, Yank on the other, and DH with his ummmmm i think something European and NOT offend anyone i don't know!) - well, we still want our children to feel unique and that comes through in what we name them - a choice that is ENTIRELY up to the parents.

we chose a much "older" first name for our DD - Emerald isn't common as a name now - but it is her name. does using a 'dated' name and using the traditional spelling speak about us? who we are? does it sound like we're from a certain "class" of people? do her middle names speak about us? does Nevaeh, a name that appears to be popular amongst "lower class" African Americans, make us sound like we're from "the ghetto" (damn, been around mum today - listening to Elvis and that is stuck in my head - please don't take offence - it isn't intended)

i think, if you believe you can judge a childs background based on their name alone, you're not giving the child credit on their own abilities. my DD's name can't possibly label who she is and where she comes from. we're not "upper class snobs" choosing a first name to make her something she isn't - she will be what she will be.

FWIW - incase anyone is wondering how we came up with DD's name - Emerald is my birthstone - DH decided it would be a pretty girls name well before we fell pregnant - he wanted a name that was in honor of me, and i wouldn't let him use my name (very "common" - was one of four in my class all through school - and it's a non gender-specific name that can be spelt soooooooo many ways so a PITA!). Nevaeh is "heaven" spelt backwards - i wanted it to honor the five angel babies that came before her. Rose - well, DH and i have so many in the yard, it just felt right.

[Fleur]

I'm just curious...
Does everyone see a difference between

1. unusual names
2. variations on spellings of names
3. totally completely different spellings of names
??

JMO but I do... (I know one of my earlier posts was misunderstood) ... I see 3 different things here - is it like that for anyone else or do you tend to lump all 3 in together?

A lot of the discussion I see is on variant spellings (such as foreign variations) - which (again, JMO) - I think is different to changing the spelling altogether so the name is totally different.

just wondering if anyone else is seeing that seperately or if it's all one & the same to you

ETA - briggsy's girl I think Emerald is a beautiful name, it brings to mind that she is a precious gem & sounds lovely too