What makes people ignore the rules of speach when they name their child?

Question

First off, I'm completely for giving your child whatever name you want, it is after all your child. Secondly I want to say, I'm very into unique and unusual names. With that said, I have to ask why people insist on giving their children familiar or even traditional names and them completely misspelling them? Jennifer spelled Jynepher does not constitue unique, it makes it cumbersome and frankly ugly. Sarah or Sara at least = similar sounds, Syra or Syrah aren't even close. Don't you think it would be more bennificial to your child to give them a unique name which can be pronounced according to the rules of the English language, as opposed to taking a common or traditional name and rearranging the vowels?

Technically it's not possible for Lenci to be pronounced Lindsey. I understand how you enjoy being unique, but giving a child the name Catteran doesn't make it Catherine.

Ha that is funny, guess spell check would have been good here.

Answer 1

Have you seen the "ghoti" spells "fish" routine?

Take the "f" sounding "gh" from enough
The "short i" sounding "o" from women
Take the "sh" sounding "ti" from words like "ammunition."

And voila, there you have it. GHOTI = Fish.

I work for a public school corp...and I see a "slaughter of the innocents" in childrens' names daily. Parents, remember... this child will help select your nursing home someday...

I have a last name that is pronounced differently in another language...DuBois. We say, "Do-Boys" (yeah, the daughters were teased mercilessly for awhile there...) I'm well aware that in French, it's pronounced "Du-Bwa," and in some parts of the US it's pronounced "Do-Boy" with the silent s. I'm shocked by the number of people who feel compelled to inform me that I mispronounce my own last name. REALLY? After all, "it is MY name and I'll pronounce it as I damwell please..."

Answer 2

My name is Jennifer and I actually didn't know there was any other way to spell in until I got to middle school when someone asked how I spelled it. I met a mother a couple of weeks ago who, after giving my name, wanted to know how I spelled it and I said "with two n's." She then replied proudly, "I spelled my daughters name Jenphr, like it sounds." Which I thought was weird but ok.

You would think I would have some idea as to why people would spell their kids names weird because I am, kind of, one of them. My daughters name is Robyn, I was actually going to spell it Robin but something inside me said I to spell in with a "y." If I ever have another daughter I want to have her name be Aimee! I know I can't believe myself either. My great aunt name is Amy (and spells the same) but for some reason I like the other spelling instead. My kids are going to hate me.

All I can say for myself is at least my spellings are not too out there. I do like some unique spellings I think it gives someone something special but I do not like it when people use hyphens and apostrophes and change the sound. It makes it unusual and uncomfortable for everyone.

cnsdubie- I have heard of the fish sounds and I think it's so funny and works for this.

P.S.-I have to say that this has been one of my favorite discussions on this site.

Answer 3

I agree! There are a few names that can get away w/ it..like Jennifer Ive seen Jenipher!..which yeah its not that bad..and not everyone wants their name to be the same..even tho Jennifer is really common anyway! But some people take it way to far! I was just thinking about this the other way..some of the names you cant even pronounce b/c they are so mispelled..its frankly annoying

Answer 4

Because no one wants to name their kid Boomqueeta or Boomshuesha.

So we stick with similar names.

My finance and I named our daugther Lenaia. Simple enough.... it's pronounced LA-NY-AH. But people still "F" it up all the time.

I don't know one Lenaia. I don't even think I've met a Lenaia. But at least the name doesn't sound ghetto fabulous.

Another think is people want to get good jobs. The stupider your name sounds the less likely someone will even take your resume seriously.

If I see a name like Henessey Johnson or Alize whatever most people will toss the resume.

Even a name like Phoung Lee or something could get tossed.

It's the discriminatory world we live in. We must conform to some tranditional standard in order to stand out but not stand out too far from the rest.

This is why many Asians and even Indians are changing their names to American names to fit in.

Answer 5

I have NO IDEA why people do this, but it drives me nuts. I worked in insurance claims for years, and had to call people all the time and try to get their names right. Once in a while i'd get a real common name, but it would be spelled so goofy I couldn't even figure out what it was. And then the person on the other end of the phone would get angry. "Why can't anyone say my name!! It's so common and everyone messes it up!!" Hey, blame your fancy parents I guess. I named my son Noah. If anyone messes that up- i'll slap them in the forehead.

Answer 6

I like names that are pronounced the same way they are spelled. If it's not in English it should be in some other language and not jibberish in my opinion. I don't understand the unneccesary apostrophes in some names either. An apostrophe is supposed to represent missing letters in a word. Wouldn't you want your child's given name to be a complete name?Then maybe a nickname with weird spellings, hyphens or apostrophes if they want? That way they would have a choice if they want to use a normal name.

Answer 7

I don't get it either, but it is a parent's choice. I would prefer to use a unique name as opposed to a weird spelling. When the child goes to school and learns how to write their name, an un-phonetic spelling will be a hassle. However, my son's name is "normal," but uses long-vowels instead of short-vowels, so it does not follow the pronounciation he has learned so far, either.

p.s. You mis-spelled speech...not a criticism, but it is a bit ironic, given your question!

Answer 8

I think it's like you first stated...it's their child. You have names that are so common, that you almost have to spell them funky just so that they can be original ( at least the parents anyways ) on the flip side though, I got knocked because I chose to name my oldest son a completely common name, common spelling ( Benjamin) and my youngest son ( Schuyler=skyler) don't get me started on it, but it's a common name. lol
to make a long story short, I think parents should think about how a name is going to carry a child through life, but then again, it's the first gift that our parents give us so why judge one parent for trying to be unique

Edit: I have a very unique name but as far as that keeping me from jobs or the "finer things in life" that's up to the individual! I truly believe that it's up to myself to propel me through life and not my name

Answer 9

People seem to think that a unique name will cause the child to be unique themselves, but this is rarely the case. The child will be who he will be regardless of the name.

Answer 10

Who knows. I know someone who gave their kid the name Alecisa, and they pronounce it like Alicia as in Alicia Silverstone. If you sound out the name, it makes absolutely no sense. But then again, I guess if you met the parents you'd understand. I don't mind different spellings, as long as they look normal and decent and make sense, and don't take you a day to read and figure out the name, only to have it be a traditional one.