[name]Do[/name] you have preferred spellings that go against board (or real-world) norms? What are they?
Here are some of mine:
[name]Sibyl[/name] / [name]Sibylla[/name] - I’m genuinely baffled by the almost universal preference toward y-then-i here. Is it a Downton [name]Abbey[/name] thing? Or what?
[name]Isidora[/name] - I get that [name]Isadora[/name] is much easier to pass off as an [name]Isabella[/name] alternative, but [name]Isidora[/name]'s so much cleaner-looking!
[name]Susanna[/name] - I’m 99% certain that the more common spelling (on these boards, at least) is [name]Susannah[/name]. But the ‘h’ is so superfluous and dull, you guys!
[name]Erika[/name] - This is my name and I am biased.
[name]Geoffrey[/name] - Not that people are really clamoring to use [name]Jeffery[/name] on the board, but in real-world terms, [name]Jeffrey[/name] is ranked in the 200s (in the US) and [name]Geoffrey[/name] is ranked…not at all
I prefer [name]Sybil[/name]/[name]Sybilla[/name], but that’s probably because it’s what my eyes are most used to, and therefore the other spelling jars slightly. Downton may be (okay, probably is ) a factor, and I also like the nn [name]Billie[/name] which is less natural with [name]Sibyl[/name]/la.
Similarly with [name]Isidora[/name]/[name]Isadora[/name], I prefer the latter as it’s what my eyes are adjusted to, although that doesn’t mean I really have anything against the alternative. Also, I think I would pronounce the two slightly differently - iss-i-dor-a vs iz-uh-dor-a. Plus, the a gives the nn [name]Sadie[/name] (although thinking about it, [name]Sid[/name] would be pretty cute for the i spelling).
[name]Susannah[/name] I prefer with the h. For me, it escalates it from being just another -anna name to something quirkier and more complete.
[name]Geoffrey[/name] all the way, for me. I agree with pp, it seems much more sophisticated, and I love the history and depth of the name.
As for my own spelling deviances:
Although I’m not a huge fan of either, I vastly prefer [name]Norah[/name] to [name]Nora[/name]. It removes some of the bluntness.
[name]Edmund[/name] and [name]Rosamund[/name] look far softer and more attractive to me than [name]Edmond[/name] and [name]Rosamond[/name], both of which I see a lot.
I prefer [name]Briony[/name] to [name]Bryony[/name] by a mile, even though [name]Bryony[/name] is the proper spelling of the plant, because it looks so much more feminine and dainty. All the Bryonys I’ve come across have had the y spelling.
I like [name]Sybil[/name] better And Prof. Trelawney in HP’s first name is [name]Sybill[/name]. Hmm, perhaps it’s an English thing. [name]Just[/name] had a quick look at the popularity of [name]Sybil[/name]/[name]Sibyl[/name] for 2011, [name]England[/name] & [name]Wales[/name]. [name]Sybil[/name] is at #4049 and [name]Sibyl[/name] isn’t ranked. In older stats, the only time it appears on our 1904-1994 ranks is in 1924 at #99, as [name]Sybil[/name]. I think the [name]Sybil[/name] spelling is generally more popular over here
Agreed with [name]Isidora[/name]. I don’t mind [name]Isadora[/name], but I love the boy name [name]Isidor[/name], so [name]Isidora[/name] appeals more.
I like both spellings of [name]Susanna[/name], but perhaps [name]Susannah[/name] clinches it. Looks complete to me.
[name]Erika[/name]/[name]Erica[/name] - I don’t mind either way.
And I prefer [name]Geoffrey[/name]. [name]Jeffery[/name] seems very 50s/surname-y to me, whilst [name]Geoffrey[/name] could be a mediaeval knight
As for my preferred spellings, I like the bolded ones best of these: Digory/Diggory, [name]Anthony[/name]/[name]Antony[/name], [name]Sidney[/name]/[name]Sydney[/name], [name]Rachel[/name]/[name]Rachael[/name], [name]Catherine[/name]/[name]Katherine[/name], [name]Kate[/name]/[name]Cate[/name], [name]Cecilia[/name]/[name]Cecelia[/name], [name]Briony[/name]/[name]Bryony[/name], [name]Steven[/name]/[name]Stephen[/name], [name]Gillian[/name]/[name]Jillian[/name], [name]Ann[/name]/[name]Anne[/name], [name]Isabelle[/name]/[name]Isabel[/name]
I got stuck on finding names with variant spellings so I googled it and found this old Nameberry thread
I always preffered [name]Erik[/name]/[name]Erika[/name] over [name]Eric[/name]/[name]Erica[/name]. The “k” makes it seem fresh.
I prefer [name]Catherine[/name] with a C, even though [name]Katherine[/name] with a K is the most popular and most traditional. I like the literary association and the nickname “[name]Cat[/name]”. I love animal names.
I like [name]Vivienne[/name] more than [name]Vivian[/name] because it is french and sounds and looks better with my last name.
I also prefer [name]Geoffrey[/name] over [name]Jeffrey[/name].
I also MUCH prefer [name]Gillian[/name] over [name]Jillian[/name]. The G makes seem elegant and fresh imo.
Generally the only deviations I find I like are simplifications: I prefer [name]Anabel[/name] to [name]Annabelle[/name], etc.
Most of the time I don’t like names that have multiple common spelling options.
I saw this one on here the other day: [name]Gwyneth[/name] vs. [name]Gwenyth[/name]. I prefer the look of [name]Gwyneth[/name] but prefer the sound of [name]Gwenyth[/name] and the potential for the nn [name]Gwen[/name]…
I believe [name]Gwyneth[/name] is the traditional spelling. I went to high school with a [name]Gwyneth[/name]; she uses the full name professionally but everyone calls her [name]Gwen[/name]. In my region, there is no difference in the sound of [name]Gwyneth[/name] and [name]Gwenyth[/name].
I admit that I don’t know if [name]Peyton[/name] or [name]Payton[/name] is “correct,” but there are a ton of girls at this school with the name and just like I always had to ask [name]Sarah[/name]'s “With an h or without?”, now I have to say “[name]Payton[/name] with an a or an e?”
My mother is name [name]Gillian[/name], so I’ve always thought the same haha. She’s the only [name]Gillian[/name] I know, but there is plenty of [name]Jillian[/name]'s around.
Some more names I like with a different spelling are;
[name]Ariana[/name], [name]Arianna[/name] is much more common from where I live. I just like it with the one N.
[name]Annabel[/name] instead of [name]Annabelle[/name]. I used to prefer [name]Annabelle[/name] but then it looked too frilly for me (I find [name]Annabel[/name] a frilly name anyway).
I much prefer [name]Louis[/name] to [name]Lewis[/name]. [name]Lewis[/name] is extremely popular where I live…There were 5 in my year at comprehensive school. There were also a few Lewys’ too. I think it looks a bit better than [name]Lewis[/name].
I love [name]Katharine[/name]. Two a’s. Like [name]Katharine[/name] Hepburn. It and [name]Catherine[/name] are about tied for me. I know its maybe a bit strange, but I don’t like [name]Katherine[/name] nearly as much as the others.
I like the h on [name]Susannah[/name], it looks lopsided without it, and at odds with other Biblical names like [name]Hannah[/name], [name]Sarah[/name], [name]Leah[/name], etc. Well, those h’s are also debatable, but I prefer them, generally.
I do prefer the simpler [name]Isabel[/name]/[name]Annabel[/name]/[name]Mirabel[/name] to -belle or -bella forms though, so I can appreciate simplicity at times.
[name]Rosamund[/name] I definitely prefer to [name]Rosamond[/name].
I like [name]Briar[/name] more than [name]Brier[/name].
I like both [name]Reina[/name] and [name]Raina[/name] more than [name]Rayna[/name] or [name]Reyna[/name].
I’m perfectly alright with spelling deviations if the spelling is legitimate. And in some instances, I’m okay with trendy spellings. I have a friend with a daughter named [name]Camryn[/name], and I’ve actually grown to like that spelling a lot. I knew a girl in high school named Arika ([name]Erica[/name]) and I always liked that spelling more. It just depends on how the name looks.
[QUOTE=zippy;1844735]I believe [name]Gwyneth[/name] is the traditional spelling. I went to high school with a [name]Gwyneth[/name]; she uses the full name professionally but everyone calls her [name]Gwen[/name]. In my region, there is no difference in the sound of [name]Gwyneth[/name] and [name]Gwenyth[/name].
Ahh I just assumed that [name]Gwyneth[/name] sounded more like [name]Gwinn[/name], but I guess it makes sense that [name]Gwen[/name] would be the nickname for either…
It does, you’re not wrong. [name]Gwyneth[/name] should be pronounced ‘[name]GWIN[/name]-eth’ there’s no ‘gwen’ involved. ((Unless a Welsh person informs me otherwise ;)))
@emsky and @renrose you’re both correct to think that [name]Gwyneth[/name] is pronounced as [name]Gwinn[/name]-eth. But a lot of ladies with that name are usually given the nickname [name]Gwen[/name] as [name]Gwyn[/name] is usually a masculine name if that make sense?
[name]Set[/name] up as Desirable / [name]Non[/name]-Desirable :
[name]Liliana[/name] / [name]Lilliana[/name] or [name]Lilianna[/name] or [name]Lilyana[/name]
[name]Edmund[/name] / [name]Edmond[/name]
[name]Chloe[/name] / [name]Khloe[/name]
[name]Zoe[/name] / [name]Zooey[/name] or [name]Zoie[/name] or [name]Zoey[/name]
[name]Isabeau[/name] / Ysabeau or Isabeaux or Isabo (I know many see it as a masculine because of the French -beau, but I guess I tricked myself into seeing it as a different angle.
[name]Claire[/name] or [name]Clair[/name] / [name]Clare[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name] / [name]Elisabeth[/name]
I know there is more, but I just went blank, so will come back later…
I do have spelling preferences that some don’t share. [name]Lynsey[/name] over [name]Lindsey[/name] for example.
Others are:
Elexa over [name]Alexa[/name]
[name]Isabel[/name] over [name]Isabelle[/name]
[name]Katherine[/name] over [name]Catherine[/name]
[name]Gwendolen[/name] over [name]Gwendolyn[/name]
[name]Ericka[/name]/[name]Erica[/name] over [name]Erika[/name]
[name]Rebekah[/name] over [name]Rebecca[/name]
[name]Hanna[/name] over [name]Hannah[/name]
[name]Leigh[/name] over [name]Lee[/name]
[name]Elisabeth[/name] over [name]Elizabeth[/name]
[name]Gabriela[/name] over [name]Gabriella[/name]
[name]Aleksandra[/name] over [name]Alexandra[/name]
[name]Elliot[/name] over [name]Eliot[/name]/[name]Elliott[/name]
[name]Jayde[/name] over [name]Jade[/name]
Thanks to charlieandperry1 for posting that old variant thread!
[name]Sibyl[/name] / [name]Sibylla[/name] - To me, [name]Sybil[/name] just looks…neater. Also [name]Sybil[/name] feels more like a proper noun and [name]Sibyl[/name] more like a synonym for “oracle.” Not sure why. Same goes for [name]Sybilla[/name]/[name]Sibylla[/name], although I like the [name]Sybella[/name] variation best.
[name]Isidora[/name] - I agree that it’s cleaner-looking, but I’d pronounce [name]Isidora[/name] differently from [name]Isadora[/name], so I don’t think of them as interchangeable. Also I suspect people think of [name]Isidora[/name] as a bit less feminine because of the French boys’ name [name]Isidore[/name].
[name]Susanna[/name] - I really like both spellings, but [name]Susanna[/name] is the one [name]Shakespeare[/name] used for his daughter, so…it’s the winner for me, too.
[name]Erika[/name] - I always think of it as [name]Erika[/name]/Arika=Japanese, [name]Erica[/name]=everyone else. I kinda like the K spellings better, though.
[name]Geoffrey[/name] - Hmm. I’m pretty neutral about [name]Geoffrey[/name] vs [name]Jeffrey[/name]. What bothers me is when people spell [name]Jeffrey[/name] “[name]Jeffery[/name].” No.
The [name]Gwyneth[/name] debate: I’m a [name]Gwendolyn[/name] nn [name]Gwen[/name], and people who don’t know my full name call me [name]Gwyneth[/name] all the time as a sort of nickname. I always correct them because it really annoys me for some reason, and I’ve gradually come to hate the name [name]Gwyneth[/name]. But I guess the fact that people assume it’s my name confirms that [name]Gwen[/name] can totally be a nickname for [name]Gwyneth[/name].
My personal spelling weirdness:
[name]Annabel[/name]/[name]Isabel[/name]/[name]Isobel[/name] over [name]Annabelle[/name]/[name]Isabelle[/name]
[name]May[/name] over [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Erika[/name]/[name]Erica[/name] (simply because if you mix it all up, it can spell my name… [name]Keira[/name] ) [name]Keira[/name]/Kirra/[name]Kiera[/name]/[name]Ciera[/name]/[name]Ceria[/name] [name]Catherine[/name]/[name]Kathryn[/name]/[name]Katherine[/name]/[name]Cathryn[/name] etc [name]Cate[/name]/[name]Kate[/name] [name]Isobel[/name]/[name]Isabel[/name]/[name]Isobelle[/name]/[name]Isabelle[/name] etc [name]Annabel[/name]/[name]Annabelle[/name]/[name]Anabel[/name]/Annabele etc etc [name]Ann[/name]/[name]Anne[/name] [name]Riley[/name]/[name]Ryleigh[/name]/[name]Ryley[/name]/Rileigh etc etc [name]Bradley[/name]/[name]Bradlee[/name]/[name]Bradleigh[/name]/[name]Brad[/name]-[name]Lee[/name] [name]Mischa[/name]/[name]Misha[/name]/[name]Meesha[/name]/[name]Meescha[/name] [name]Madeleine[/name]/[name]Madelyn[/name]/[name]Maddie[/name]-[name]Lyn[/name]
) a factor, and I also like the nn [name]Billie[/name] which is less natural with [name]Sibyl[/name]/la.
And Prof. Trelawney in HP’s first name is [name]Sybill[/name]. Hmm, perhaps it’s an English thing. [name]Just[/name] had a quick look at the popularity of [name]Sybil[/name]/[name]Sibyl[/name] for 2011, [name]England[/name] & [name]Wales[/name]. [name]Sybil[/name] is at 
