I am helping my boyfriend look for a new name (he is FTM & currently going by Nico, he/him). Right now he is considering the name Fenyx, pronounced like Phoenix. I have tried to warn him that it would get messed up all the time but he doesn’t really listen. Of course, if he wants to choose Fenyx, I’ll call him Fenyx, but I think it’s a bad idea, & I need some advice on what to do next.
I’m honestly not sure there’s much you can (or should) do here. It sounds like you’ve already given him your opinion once. I can definitely see how it would be frustrating to feel like your input isn’t being considered, but ultimately, it’s his name and his choice. I don’t think anything good will come of trying to persuade him. It’s great that you’re supportive and willing to call him whatever he ends up choosing! 
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I would advise against the creative spelling. It’s a joke and an insult where I’m originally from.
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I agree with you that I think it’s a mistake but I don’t think you can do much other than suggest more names to him. If he wants the name that badly he is going to go with it no matter how anyone else feels.
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It’s a tough situation but one thing I would alert him to is pronunciation issues with that spelling. I’m not sure if it’s just me but I pronounce that fen-ix, not feen-ix… Is there any reason he doesn’t like the [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] spelling?
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It looks like it should be pn. Fen-ix, and i imagine it would always be misspelled. I don’t like it, either
However, there isn’t much more you can / should do. it’s his name and if he wants to choose it, that’s fine. it’s not like it’ll impact you at all
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All you can do is give your input. I agree that it is not a good choice. I read it as fen-ex, like Fed-Ex and it reminds me of fenobarbital (sorry, can’t spell that word). If he wants to be [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u], be [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]!
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I think all you can do is make sure he’s aware that it will be mispelled and mispronounced sometimes but at the end of the day, it’s his decision 
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Not sure, I think he just prefers Fenyx 
it’s ultimately his choice. he should be aware of the mispronunciations, spellings and meanings in different countries but if he really loves the name for himself, then yeah. it’s his decision. I don’t think you can or should do anything else.
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It seems like you’ve already given him your input with some very valid reasons as to why to avoid that spelling. Sometimes we just don’t want to hear things from the people we love. [name_f]My[/name_f] suggestion is to do the Starbucks test - have him get coffee/tea/whatever and have that name on the cup. See how a barista pronounces the name when calling out it’s ready. I think if he actually sees and hears other people falling into the trap of either pronouncing it FEN-ix when seeing that spelling or seeing people spell it PHOENIX when he tells them what the name is - maybe that will drive your point home.
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