I’m just curious to what you guys think of spelling variations to how someone spells a certain name? In my personal opinion I think spelling a name the proper way is alot nicer and gives the name more respect! I went into a shop last night and noticed the bottles of coca cola with names on them and I saw Myles and I thought to myself why spell it like that instead of Miles! I do love the name though but I do prefer the Miles spelling! And I was looking in a news paper a while ago and I noticed someone spelt the name Chloe like Cloey and to me that just does not like right. And I noticed someone the other day who spelt Sidney like Sydnee and Sydney and also Sidnee and they don’t like right either! Some names look okay with another spelling but some just don’t! names that work with another spelling are Shannen (Shannon) and Jeffrey (Geoffrey)! And I also noticed someone spelt Macaulay like Macauley and Macaulee then I also realised someone spelt Albert like Elbert and I also noticed spelling Riley like Ryleigh and Rylee and Ashley like Ashlee or Ashleigh and also the lots of ways to spell Gwendolyn and also Rory like Rorey. And also Kevin like Keven and Catherine like Katherine or Kathleen like Cathleen. And also Phoebe like Pheobe or Louisa like Louiza. And also Isla like Iyla and also Amy like Aimee but I do prefer the Aimee way and Rachael like Rachel and Kate like Cate and Halle like Hallie and also Holly like Hollie and also Molly like Mollie or Moli and also Suzanne like Susanne and and Susie like Suzy and Roseanne like Rosanne or Regan like Reagan and Linda like Lynda and also Isabelle like Isobel or even Tracy like Tracey or Traci. And Connie like Conny or Piper like Pyper or Lynn like Lyn or Lynne or Anne or Ann and Carol like Carole. And even sometimes Christopher like Khristopher. And also Renee like Rene or Renae. And even Heather like Hether and Michele like Michelle.
What’s your favourite way to spell:
Shannon
Geoffrey
Sidney
Chloe
Miles
Macaulay
Albert
May
Gwendolyn
Ashley
Riley
Rory
Kevin
Catherine
Kathleen
Phoebe
Louisa
Isla
Amy
Rachael
Kate
Halle
Holly
Molly
Suzanne
Roseanne
Susie
Regan
Isabelle
Tracy
Connie
Piper
Lynn
Ann
Carol
Christopher
Renee
Heather
Michele
And where have you come across a different spelling variation and how did it make you feel?
I could go on forever!
I prefer [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] as [name_u]Shannon[/name_u], not Shanyn or [name_u]Shannan[/name_u], etc.
As for [name_m]Geoffrey[/name_m], I don’t think I’d mind spelling it [name_m]Jeffrey[/name_m]. [name_m]Jeff[/name_m] is easier as a NN than [name_m]Geoff[/name_m].
[name_u]Sidney[/name_u] should be [name_u]Sydney[/name_u] to me. Only because it’s the proper way to spell the Aussie city.
[name_f]Chloe[/name_f] is perfect as [name_f]Chloe[/name_f] (my baby cousin’s name c:). [name_f]Cloe[/name_f] and [name_f]Cloey[/name_f] don’t look right whatsoever.
[name_m]Miles[/name_m] should be [name_m]Miles[/name_m]. [name_m]Myles[/name_m], Mailes, or any other crazy spelling is off.
I’ve seen so many unusual spellings of normal names, it just baffles me. Kascie, Cacee, or [name_f]Kasie[/name_f] just look like you’re trying to hard.
It depends on the name. Some have more than one legitimate spelling e.g
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] or [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] or [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f]
[name_u]Rory[/name_u] or [name_m]Ruairi[/name_m] or Ruaidhrí
[name_u]Owen[/name_u] or [name_m]Eoin[/name_m] or [name_m]Eoghan[/name_m]
Things like this or fine, I don’t mind variant spellings at all.
However, other names have one legitimate spelling only but a ton of invented spellings, like [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] for example. I’m not a fan of that.
I’m with RenRose… some names have more than one “legit” spelling.
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] can also be [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] or [name_f]Kathryn[/name_f]… etc…
sometimes it is also just a homonym that sounds the same or similar i.e. [name_u]Arya[/name_u] and [name_f]Aria[/name_f] both are legit names in two totally different cultures but one could assume that one is a different spelling for the other.
I agree that there are a lot of names with multiple “correct” spellings. There is also a trend today towards coming up with new and different spellings for established names. That doesn’t bother me. I do think though, that parents who choose a name with a less common spelling need to be accepting of the fact that its going to be constantly misspelled. [name_f]My[/name_f] own name ([name_u]Clare[/name_u]) has multiple correct spellings. [name_f]My[/name_f] own spelling is not the most common, so I’m used to having to spell it out. It doesn’t particularly bother me.
When chosing a name with more than one spelling, I would tend to go for the one I think looks the nicest, even if its not the most common, but I would take into account any problems it might cause. I really like the [name_m]French[/name_m] name [name_f]Zelie[/name_f], but would choose to spell it Zaylie (if my husband would actual let me use it!) because I think [name_f]Zelie[/name_f] would cause too many pronounciation problems where I live, and I like the look of Zaylie anyway, even if its not the original spelling.
I tend to prefer traditional spellings. Especially as someone with a name always spelt wrong despite being the original version. From your list, the only differing spellings I prefer are…
[name_m]Geoffrey[/name_m] – [name_m]Jeffrey[/name_m] (uncle’s name, so that’s probably why)
[name_u]Sidney[/name_u] – this spelling for a boy, [name_u]Sydney[/name_u] for a girl (like the city)
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] – I equally like [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]
[name_u]Halle[/name_u] – I equally like [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] (almost always see it spelt that way)
[name_f]Suzanne[/name_f] – [name_f]Susanne[/name_f]
[name_u]Regan[/name_u] – this spelling for a boy, [name_u]Reagan[/name_u] for a girl
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] – [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] (traditional spelling)
[name_f]Ann[/name_f] – [name_f]Anne[/name_f] (looks more complete)
[name_f]Carol[/name_f] – [name_f]Carole[/name_f] (looks more complete)
[name_u]Michele[/name_u] – [name_f]Michelle[/name_f] (looks more complete)
I agree with you on a lot, will only comment on the ones I differ.
[name_f]May[/name_f] - Legit, but I prefer [name_f]Mae[/name_f].
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] - Fine, but I prefer [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f].
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] - [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] is ok, so is [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], but my most favourite is [name_f]Katharine[/name_f].
[name_f]Isla[/name_f] - [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] (also eye-la) is legit but a totally different name from [name_f]Isla[/name_f]. I prefer [name_f]Ayla[/name_f].
[name_f]Rachael[/name_f] - [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] is more legitimate, and also more attractive [name_f]IMO[/name_f].
[name_f]Suzanne[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Susannah[/name_f], but if you want the -anne, [name_f]Suzanne[/name_f] is fine.
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] - Prefer [name_f]Isabel[/name_f].
Some of these do have various legitimate spellings . [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] & [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Kathryn[/name_f] are all legitimate and long standing names, this name can also be pronounced Kath-ryn or Kath-er-in, again both are legitimate… That said while there are some that are very acceptable with different variants, some being different languages usage… For example [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] is a Hebrew name compromised of 2 words nay- o- mee is the Hebrew pronunciation and the English pronunciation is [name_m]Nye[/name_m]-o-me and the [name_m]French[/name_m] is [name_f]Noami[/name_f]- technically the same name I think but different spelling and different pronunciation and [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] is also a Japanese name… So I try not to worry too much about names like this. I think [name_u]Riley[/name_u]- [name_f]Ryleigh[/name_f] is ok too, its not bizaar and I can see not wanting to use the [name_u]Riley[/name_u] spelling for a girl … But all in all its tough to sell me on these variations and misspellings and ‘no its pronounced La-dash-a’ ’ how do you get that?’ ‘The dash isn’t silent!’ The name of course being La-a… o_O …tough to sell me indeed. But you certainly can’t say people aren’t creative and that’s got to account for something 
I try not to dwell on it but it is a but off putting when a child’s name is blatantly spelled incorrectly and he’s got no choice, a but sad too because its what he has to present himself his whole life :-/
Around here, the female spelling of [name_u]Sidney[/name_u] is [name_u]Sydney[/name_u], only the males spell it [name_u]Sidney[/name_u].