I don’t mean trendee, made-up spellings, but actual, legitimate variant spellings. Like [name]Elizabeth[/name] vs [name]Elisabeth[/name], rather than [name]Riley[/name] vs Riyleigh.
The reason I’m asking? The name [name]Connor[/name]. In that spelling, I’m not keen, I find it dull and a bit chavvy if I’m totally honest. But lose an N, make it [name]Conor[/name]? Now we’re talking. [name]One[/name] little letter makes a whole world of difference in how I perceive a name that’s pronounced exactly the same.
It’s the same with [name]Ciara[/name]. I prefer it in the Gaelic form, but I also like it as [name]Kira[/name]. As [name]Kiera[/name] or [name]Keira[/name], though, it just doesn’t have the same appeal.
Are there any names that you find has the spark in one spelling, but dull or whatever in another?
I find [name]Catherine[/name] elegant, strong, royal, etc, while I find [name]Katherine[/name] more fun, girly, and playful. [name]Kathryn[/name] is the little tomboy who always has a big smile on her face.
That’s how I typically see names with legit spelling variations-each one has its own unique personality. Depending on the particular image I’m looking for, I may prefer one spelling over the other.
I prefer [name]Catherine[/name] over [name]Katherine[/name]. I’m pretty neutral on [name]Elizabeth[/name]/[name]Elisabeth[/name] but if I were to use it, I’d use the first spelling.
I can’t think of anything else at the moment but if I do, I’ll come back!
Yes. I’m generally allergic to ‘ie’ spellings of traditional ‘y’ names. For example, I love [name]Holly[/name] but seeing [name]Hollie[/name] written down makes me screw my face up.
For me:
[name]Isobel[/name] > [name]Isabel[/name] > [name]Isabelle[/name]
[name]Kyra[/name] > [name]Kira[/name] > [name]Keira[/name] > [name]Ciara[/name] (I know a girl named this who says her name is [name]Sierra[/name] and I can’t simply stop saying that in my head)
[name]Lyla[/name] > [name]Lilah[/name] > [name]Lila[/name]
[name]Mei[/name] > [name]May[/name] > [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Kaia[/name] > [name]Kaiya[/name] (The Japanese spelling) > [name]Caia[/name] > [name]Kaya[/name]
[name]Kathryn[/name] > [name]Katharine[/name] > [name]Katherine[/name] > [name]Catherine[/name]
[name]Kieran[/name] > [name]Keiran[/name] > [name]Ciaran[/name]
[name]Isla[/name] > Aisla > [name]Ayla[/name] > Aila
I perfer:
[name]Grey[/name] over [name]Gray[/name].
[name]Peri[/name] over [name]Perry[/name]/[name]Perrie[/name].
[name]Remi[/name] (girl) over [name]Remy[/name].
[name]Cate[/name]/[name]Cait[/name] over [name]Kate[/name].
[name]Huxlee[/name] over [name]Huxley[/name].
[name]Henri[/name] over [name]Henry[/name].
[name]Mica[/name] (boy) over [name]Micah[/name].
[name]Forrest[/name] over [name]Forest[/name].
[name]Reide[/name] (girl) and [name]Reid[/name] (boy) over [name]Reed[/name].
Storrie over [name]Story[/name]/Storey. (Or is this too trendee, now that o ththink about it?)
To the general question, my answer is yes. The spelling of a name is vastly important to me. For example…I much prefer [name]Kathryn[/name] over any other variant. As for [name]Connor[/name]/[name]Conor[/name], I like [name]Connor[/name] simply because my computer says that [name]Conor[/name] is spelled wrong. If my name was spelled wrong every time I would try to type it into some sort of electronic device, it would drive me up the wall. Same with [name]Collin[/name]. I like both [name]Collin[/name] and [name]Colin[/name] and my computer accepts both of them as real words, so we’re talking business there.
With some of the other names that have been brought up…
I honestly thought that [name]Ciara[/name] was pronounced [name]Sierra[/name]. Mostly because I know a [name]Cierra[/name] and a [name]Ciara[/name], both pronounced “[name]Sierra[/name]” (which I prefer spelled [name]Sierra[/name], if it matters). I never would have guessed it being [name]Kira[/name]. If it were up to me, I would name her [name]Kira[/name] or [name]Kyra[/name].
I’m the exact opposite with [name]Isobel[/name]/[name]Isabelle[/name], haha…I definitely don’t dislike [name]Isobel[/name]. Since joining Nameberry, it’s grown on me. But to me, [name]Isabel[/name] > [name]Isabelle[/name] > [name]Isobel[/name].
I like [name]Elizabeth[/name] better than [name]Elisabeth[/name], because it’s just more familiar to me. I don’t mind [name]Elisabeth[/name] though. But generally, people will spell it with a “z” by instinct (or at least, that’s the way it is where I live) and I don’t want her to have to say, “That’s [name]Elisabeth[/name] with an ‘s’.”
If a name is “misspelled” on your computer, you can easily fix that by right clicking and selecting “add to dictionary”. I say “misspelled” because sometimes a name that comes up as misspelled really isn’t misspelled, such as [name]Conor[/name], which is the original spelling of [name]Connor[/name] (which also happens to come up as misspelled on Google Chrome). [name]Jolyon[/name] (a real name) is supposedly misspelled, as is [name]Tallulah[/name]. So, just because a computer says a name is “spelled wrong” doesn’t mean it is.
For me, it’s [name]Isobel[/name], [name]Isabel[/name], then [name]Isabelle[/name]. I greatly prefer the first two spellings over the last one (by the way, it says [name]Isobel[/name] is wrong).
[name]Mae[/name] is my favorite spelling of [name]May[/name], but I do like [name]May[/name] as well.
I am definitely [name]May[/name] > [name]Mae[/name] > [name]Mai[/name] to the point where it actually angers me when I see or hear of [name]Mae[/name]/[name]Mai[/name] being used
[name]Isobel[/name] > [name]Isabel[/name] > [name]Isabelle[/name] this pretty much goes for any name ending in ‘belle’
[name]Juliet[/name] > [name]Juliette[/name]
[name]Catherine[/name] > [name]Katherine[/name] > [name]Katharine[/name] > [name]Kathryn[/name]
[name]Lyla[/name] > [name]Lila[/name]
[name]Malachy[/name] > [name]Malachi[/name]
I tend to prefer the simpler or shorter version of most spelling variations.
For example, I like [name]Anabel[/name] over [name]Annabelle[/name] because the later just seems fussy.
I also usually prefer the most grammatically obvious pronunciation–[name]May[/name] over [name]Mae[/name]–not because the [name]Mae[/name] isn’t pretty but just because it seems like [name]May[/name] would be the more obvious spelling to the average person.
Traditional spellings are also usually preferable (not always but usually).
I’m not super fond of K’s or Y’s, which tend to be used a lot in trendier variations.
The only variation I’m on the fence about is the H.
[name]Nora[/name] vs. [name]Norah[/name]; [name]Susanna[/name] vs. [name]Susannah[/name], etc. I think both look well and though I usually prefer it without I can see the appeal of the H.
I love [name]Elizabeth[/name] but dislike [name]Elisabeth[/name]. It looks wrong to me.
I love [name]Catherine[/name]/[name]Katherine[/name] but dislike [name]Kathryn[/name]. It seems misspelled and loses it’s classiness.
Yep, I’m pretty sure I always have a preference.
[name]Edmund[/name] is my favourite name, I really don’t care for [name]Edmond[/name]. I’ve tried to come around to [name]Edmond[/name] just because in a French-speaking area it’s more intuitive, and I prefer the sound of [name]Edmond[/name] in Spanish to [name]Edmundo[/name].
I love [name]Catharine[/name], but could do without the other spellings.
Yes I feel differently about names depending on how they’re spelled.
[name]Catherine[/name] is better than the K forms, although I like [name]Katarina[/name] better than [name]Caterina[/name]. [name]Cate[/name] and Caty I prefer over [name]Kate[/name] and [name]Katy[/name]/[name]Katie[/name].
[name]Isobel[/name] is indeed better than the others.
[name]Kira[/name] > [name]Kyra[/name] > [name]Kiera[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name] > [name]Elisabeth[/name] —> I used to feel tr opposite but then someone pointed out, why would you give up the opportunity to use a z when you can? And I agree. Taking the z out softens [name]Elizabeth[/name] and tones down some of her boldness, which I do not want to do.
[name]Betty[/name] > [name]Bettie[/name] > [name]Bette[/name]
[name]Elanor[/name] > [name]Eleanor[/name] (I like the spelling of the elvish flower from LotR, so sue me.
[name]Branwen[/name] > [name]Bronwen[/name] > [name]Bronwyn[/name]
[name]Gwendolen[/name] > [name]Gwendolyn[/name]
[name]Gillian[/name] > [name]Jillian[/name]
[name]Cillian[/name] > [name]Killian[/name]
Ftr, I like [name]Conor[/name] better than [name]Connor[/name] but not enough to use it. It’s pronounced the same so it still has the same uber popular vibe to me. I much prefer a similar but less heard alternative like Calllum or [name]Connal[/name]. Of course I am American, so it may be less common where you are.
I like names depending on how they are spelled.
[name]Elizabeth[/name]>[name]Elisabeth[/name]
[name]Anna[/name]>[name]Ana[/name]
[name]Maddy[/name]>[name]Maddie[/name] (Mad Die)>Madi
[name]Leah[/name]>[name]Lea[/name]>[name]Lia[/name]
[name]Annie[/name]>[name]Anny[/name]>[name]Anni[/name]>[name]Ani[/name]
This is weird, but I like [name]Catherine[/name] over [name]Katherine[/name], and yet I like [name]Katie[/name] over [name]Catie[/name].
[name]How[/name] a name is spelled has a big impact in my opinion.
I don’t hav any specific examples but I usually do prefer one spelling over another. Rarely does it have to do with how it makes me feel (unless it’s very creative) and often I consider the history of my family and what would fit better with a particular families history and culture.
For example: [name]Ophelia[/name] is on my favorites list but my SO spent most of his life in Spanish speaking countries and identifies as pseudo-hispanic. To honor that part of his past I would consider [name]Ofelia[/name] instead. (Also my grandmother spent most of her life hospitalized due to severe emotional disorders so the [name]Hamlet[/name] link of [name]Ophelia[/name] might sway me in that direction as well.) I do however love the -ph spelling and prefer how it looks and its prevalence in Germany where I grew up.
However, it’s not enough to make me actually dislike a name in most, if not all cases.
I prefer the [name]Mathilde[/name] spelling, but I’d be much more likely to use [name]Matilda[/name] because it’s simpler. I like [name]Elisabeth[/name] over [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Lily[/name] over [name]Lilly[/name], etc.
If someone’s given name ends in the -ee sound, I almost always prefer it be spelled with a -y or -ey. [name]Ashley[/name], [name]Aubrey[/name], [name]Holly[/name], [name]Hailey[/name], [name]Molly[/name], [name]Mary[/name], [name]Kelly[/name], etc. I prefer nicknames end in -ie: [name]Annie[/name] (for [name]Anne[/name]/[name]Annabel[/name]), [name]Jessie[/name], [name]Katie[/name], [name]Howie[/name], etc.
It makes a big difference to how I might picture a person before I met them - for example, [name]Elizabeth[/name] reminds me of a headstrong, clever girl with red hair, [name]Elisabeth[/name] makes me think of a quieter, bookish girl with blonde hair. I wouldn’t say I had a preference for either spelling, just a different image.
I am one of those annoying people who likes to put the proper point on things, though, so I’d always have a [name]Madeleine[/name] over a [name]Madeline[/name], [name]Reuben[/name] over [name]Ruben[/name], [name]Louis[/name] over [name]Louie[/name] etc. if I was going to give the name to a child of my own. The only exception would be [name]Briony[/name] over [name]Bryony[/name], and that’s because my grandfather was [name]Brian[/name] and so I’d use it to honour him.
So I think a spelling does affect the image the name gives out, yes, but if I wouldn’t be using the name myself, I wouldn’t necessarily have a preference. Like I said, different spellings to me give out different images, but neither necessarily better or worse than the other.