"Unusual Spellings of Baby Names Out of Control"

[BekZ]

my name still isnt all that popular ( well it is in Russia ) but my nic name that I use all the time Tali is becoming so well Talia is so I too find it a bit odd when I hear a mum telling off there young one, or screaming after one ...

The only thing I regret about my name is that as it is very popular in Russia people who are Russian think that I must be and therefore speak the Russian to me... it is a shame that my mother never did get my russian aunty to teach us any, it would be nice to be able to at least answer them back... even if it was only to say " No I am not Russian" maybe I should go to school just to learn that..

My girls have Polish names and thankfully they are being brought up bilingual, so hopefully they will appreciate their skill in years to come.

[widdly]

your girl's names are absolutely beautiful

[sas85]

Oh, Oh, Oh, I just remembered something. I read that Oprah Winfrey was actually supposed to be called Orpah (which is a bible name from the book of Ruth), but her mum spelled it wrong on the birth certificate and the pronunciation stuck!!!! I wonder if she'd be as famous if she was called Orpah??

Hmmm, I can't remember who was saying their name wasn't spelled right and it might be there mother, too many posts I've read . . Maybe it was the registry's fault. My DH's birthdate is wrong on his birth certificate, only by 1 day (as he says, hey I got to drink beer a day early ) but his Mum SWEARS she wrote it down and the nurses signed off on the correct date, but it came back officially incorrect. I wonder if that happens with names?

Bek Z - Ya, I think your girls names are great too

Maz! - My Opa's name was Wilhelm - and despite the fact that nobody ever saw him spell it, and he pronounced it to them repeatedly correctly, most people still called him Will-em instead of Vil-Hell-m. Does your son go by the traditional German pronunciation or just the spelling (just out of curiosity)

[Pandora]

It depends on the name.
There are lots of variations depending on the origin of the name its spelled a different way.
We had a big argument, that I lost (wah!) on how to spell Oscar - I wanted Oskar

[Bathsheba]

I quite like Oskar too... what was the logic behind the other spelling? I imagine either spelling is traditional/correct depending on the region?

[Pandora]

I wanted Oskar as I thought it looked more German, he thought it looked made up (wrong) and would get mispelled (probably) togerther with our surname which few people can pronounce or spell correctly he though it was too much to "burden" him with

[maz]

Maz! - My Opa's name was Wilhelm - and despite the fact that nobody ever saw him spell it, and he pronounced it to them repeatedly correctly, most people still called him Will-em instead of Vil-Hell-m. Does your son go by the traditional German pronunciation or just the spelling (just out of curiosity)

Wilhelm gets Will-em at school and from us most of the time....when I speak in German, use my sexy accent or when he's naughty he get's Vil-Hellm and my parents being German call him Vil-hellm. He thinks its funny and marches around the house mimmicking me.

Rach - I love Oskar spelt that way but as you said its German so that would explain it

[~Kate~]

We decided on the biblical spelling cos with our surname we wanted as much ease in the poor girls life that we could get. lol. Surname is Grin (silent D) Rod. Write it down in full (including the D) then try to see what your pronounce it as

I love unusual names however and changing the spelling on some is cool. Its each to their own. But yep, adding vowels and consenants all over the place unwarranted can be a bit annoying.

And yep again, I too get asked how to spell my first name. I suppose in this day and age, you can't take anything for granted.

[Trillian]

BD&M do get it wrong, they misspelt our eldest sons name on the decorative certificate, but got it right on the 'proper' one and on the proper one they spelt our property name wrong. I had to send them back and have them send out new ones. It was a PITA too.

[Anila]

Rach - I love Oskar spelt that way but as you said its German so that would explain it

we have Oskar on our boys list for the next bub , but our origin has come from Ireland, as hubbys gran is irish. (although i know the k is more the german spelling.)

[Laranna]

I tend to agree with the poll and I'm not a fan of creative spelling of normal names. Although I do like the unusual names, it irks me seeing a lovely name all messed up with silly spelling.

I thought my name (Lynette) would be easy to spell, but I am always spelling it out for people as I get so many variations of it. Even if I just call myself Lyn, I get variations on that too! DF has even tougher time. He's a Mathieu which is the French spelling of Matthew. Even when you spell it out for people they still stick a 'w' on the end. It's like they can't get their head around it! LOL

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!