Do people really think "Emmaleigh" is pronounced the same way as "Emily"? Etc?

Question

What happened to phonics? And common sense in naming babies?

There's quite the slew of people here asking "Do you like 1234 (pronounced 5678)?"

Can people really not make any connexion between the way something is spelled and the way something is said, or is it simply people going overboard in their attempts to be "unique"?

Answer 1

I have noticed this trend to use unique (younique!) and misspelled names for babies seems to vary by ethnicity, social class and age. Most of my moms chose traditional names and spellings for their children but I've seen some doozies elsewhere.

There is a difference between "unique" and "uncommon" as well. Unique usually means something like Kesleigh or Jayln or Tierrainney (names I pulled of the site linked below). Whereas properly spelled names that are not heard so much can be cute. Recently I had a Hazel, Corinne, Abner and Valerie - I thought those could were kind of cute.

Funny website about this: http://www.notwithoutmyhandbag.com/babynames/

Answer 2

People are going overboard on their attempts to be unique or they are totally illiterate or perhaps both. I think it is out of control and sentences Emmaleigh to a life time of spelling out her name. Also, I always thought Leigh was pronounced Lay (as in the actress Vivien Leigh who played Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind) not Lee. Anyway, if you are going to call your child Emily, just spell it properly and save the poor kid a lifetime of spelling out her name. If Emily is too common for you, pick something else don't basterdize the spelling.

Answer 3

I really think that some people think that they are being unique and that they sound intelligent when they give their children CRAZY names. The crazy spellings does not bother me as much as the HYPHEN, ASTRIX, APOSTROPHE here and there thingy!!!!
AND, well that would not bother me either if I did not have to type newborn baby names for a living!!!
I really could care less what and how people spell their children's names but, I think the parent should at least know how to spell the name they are trying to give their poor child before they give it to them!! I have actually had people ask me now, "how would I spell that?", and then have to keep looking at the birth certificate to spell it again!!!!!

Answer 4

I think people would have a hard time with coming with up "Emily" with that spelling. Teachers have a hard time with names now and people are making it harder for them with all these different spellings. How about Emili? That is different, but people could easily prounouce that name. She would still have to correct everyone's spelling of her name though, but it would be much easier to say "with an i" instead of "Emmaleigh". Those are just my thoughts and you can name your child whatever you wish.

Answer 5

I dislike Emmaleigh spelled that way, it doesn't make any sense. A lot of names should just be left as they were originally spelled and sound. Adding a bunch of letters to make it unique seems like overkill. I like unique names however, but not spellings.

Answer 6

I'd interpret that as Emma-lay, and likely to cause trouble for the girl in adolescence. If I can think of it at the drop of a hat, she'll get teased for it. Kids are cruel. It's a trend that seems to come up in every language from time to time. I remember hearing about some Japanese who argued about the name "Neon". They couldn't decide if it was a boy's name or a girl's.

Answer 7

I think one is pronounced more like Emma-lay and the other Emma'-lee. But new names come about because of derivatives. Just like the popular and "normal" name "Jennifer" is a derivative of Guenevere. So, keep in mind, most "normal" names today, are alternate spellings and pronounciations of old stock names.

If one doesn't like the new spelling and pronunciations of names, simply don't name your children in that way. But don't fret over what other people name their kids --you don't have control over the naming of other people's children.

Answer 8

Ehh, I say to each their own. I actually like seeing some difference in names. Both my husband and I have very orginal names and well, we did name most of our kids with very orginal names too but I personally like seeing the difference in the world. Sure makes it a brighter place.

Answer 9

Your last paragraph pretty much sums up the problem.

I will be picking nice, normal (though not particularly common) baby names for my children. Because I don't want them to be made fun of or beaten up or spend the REST OF THEIR LIVES correcting the spelling and pronounciation of their name. (If I don't get married, they'll already have that problem with my last name, if that becomes my children's last name... NO ONE is capable of pronouncing my last name, I don't need to subject an unpronounceable first name on my poor children too.)

The naming trends these days SCARE me. What happened to good ol' Elizabeth?

Answer 10

As a parent you get the right to name your child. My son is named Hadyn. (as opposed to the normal spelling of Hayden) Everyone told us at the beginning that spelled that way it wouldn't really be pronounced the same as Hayden. But we still chose it and pronouce it as Hayden.

But mine decision wasn't about being unique. I simply don't like naming my son after a "den" of "hay".