non-traditional spellings?

Question

Why do so many parents insist upon messing with spellings on their children's names? I don't understand. Do parents thrive on the idea that their children will be unique? News flash... people aren't known for their names, they are known for their accomplishments or infamy. Additionally, everyone I have known with an unconventionally spelled name is annoyed with their parents. It is a hassle and an annoyance. What is wrong with just spelling it so people can spell it and pronounce it with ease? As a side note, if you have any ambition for your kid, you will give them a name suited for a professional career. Names like Tiffany, Summer, and Princess are destined to detract from a resume. Ohhhh... and overly pretentious names like Prescott, etc.... come on people. We aren't living in mid-century England. Let the kid shine with what's inside and give the wacky names a rest!

Answer 1

THANK YOU! I dont know what people are thinking these days. I mean come on, you name a kid Heaven and she's never going to be a Supreme Court Judge. She will be a stripper. Name a boy Rylie and he will get beat up on the playground in 3rd grade.

When name searching for my baby, I read a book that said that parents that are uneducated and/or are young tend to name their children trendy, oddly spelled names (like Kaylee or Tiffani or Hunter). Older and/or more educated parents use classic names (like Kate and William and the like).

Interesting......

Answer 2

I am one of those parents. We found a name we liked and wanted a unique spelling to it. I grew up with the name Lisa and I spoek to people with unusual names, believe it or not we both get asked how to spell our names...yes my name is Lisa and people ask me how to spell it.
So even with the most common name of my childhood I still have the issue and to me that could be considered even more annoying then having a unique name or a name that could just be spelt different ways.
For example take Alan or maybe Allan, Alen, Allen. All common spellings of a very common name.
My daughter's name is Rhyleigh - yes that is Riley but do you know she is only 10 months and we have already met others who know a Rhyleigh spelt just like that. Her middle name Irelyn like Ireland without the D. We wanted to show off her Irish background that we are very proud of and give her a beautiful name I think we did just that. As for the spelling it has nothing to do with what she will become she can be a housekeeper or a doctor I want her to be what she wants and most of all I want her to love and feel loved and be kind. Anyone with any name can be kind or unkind and although we all want to live through our children and hope they become something big I mostly just want her to be a good person because in the end that is what really matters.

Answer 3

Just because a name is spelled different and/or isn't traditional doesn't mean its wacky. I've met many successful people with names that you consider wacky.

First you say that someones name could be their downfall in their professional lives. Then you say to just let them shine with whats inside.

Well if you let them shine with whats inside, what does it matter what their name is?

Close minded individuals, people who judge people by their names, are the ones who present the problem. NOT the names themselves. Someones name does not make them destined for anything.

Truth be told, I wouldn't want to work for anyone who judges a person by their name anyway. Thats ridiculous.

Answer 4

You talk about letting kids shine, but it's hard to shine without a hook to get attention. Be in the sea of Emma's or Aiden's and try to make yourself special. Even if you do, there's always going to be someone that mixes you up with someone else. My parents altered the spelling of my name (which was a popular name when I was young) and I was in no way angry. What made me angry was that people were unexcepting and looked at me like I was an inconvience because there was an additional letter in my name that made it different... people just like you. I love the way my name is spelled and I wouldn't change it for the world. You need to stop being so angry with other people and be concerned with yourself. If you're just going to make nasty comments then you need to stop coming here. You name your kids what you want and we'll name our kids what we want.

Answer 5

Spelling a name a differently can really mess up a kind when he is an adult. My X's name is spelled odd and over the years we had problems like when buy ing a house, the typist corrected what she thoought was a misspelling. Then they had to take a nother week or two to get the new papers drawn up.

Answer 6

A name does not make a person, a person makes a name!!
So if they want to name their children rainbow or lulu or popeye i dont really think it matters!!
And how do you know if they are going to be successful or not with a name like Sarah for example?? And even if they were how do you know that they didn't strip or sleep with the top to get into the position they are in???
And like you said....Let the kid shine with whats inside!!
A name is just a name!!!!

Answer 7

i don't think the names are "wacky" i mean people have different taste in names and they might not want their child to have the same old boring spelling i mean come on i would want my child's name to be unique but at the same time something not hard to say. like i was thinking about the names Kailyn and Kassidy...........i kno Kassidy is spelled wit a C but i curved it to my liking cause i'l looking for a K name! See

Answer 8

I named one of my son's Chace: I used that spelling because as a child growning up that was the spelling of my best friend's name... so although it is not the "traditional" spelling that most people expect, It is spelled EXACTLY the way I want for personal reasons. Chace's middle name is Howard. Some people think "blah, old fashioned BUT, it was his grandfather's name of whom he never met. For the record, Chace is 15 and LOVES his name. His name doesn't define him, he defines his name.

I named my other son Drake: Drake is my maternal grand-mother's maiden name. His middle name is Ellsworth, my maternal great-grand mother's name. AGAIN, it may sound mid-century England pretentious BUT, it's EXACTLY suited to my family and who ALL OF US are! Drake is just 2 months old... so I'll have to wait and see how he shapes his name.

Answer 9

I want classic spellings because of the fact I grew up with a acceptance that wasn't incredibly consumer-friendly. the guy makes the call, no longer any incorrect way around so i don't experience the might desire to misspell something for it to be unique!

Answer 10

I agree with you on the stupid name spelling thing. It makes parents look uneducated not "unique". The other thing is these poor kids have to live with that choice forever and that can be rough. Remember everyone, when you are old and feeble, your kids will pick your nursing home, so beware what you name them.