As someone with a very common name, I never deal with misspellings. [name_f]My[/name_f] name has limited variations (no [name_u]Christie[/name_u]/[name_f]Kristi[/name_f]/[name_u]Christy[/name_u] or [name_f]Katelyn[/name_f]/[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]/[name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f]); it just is what it is. I can find it on a license plate in any gift shop, no one asks me to repeat it when I’m making a reservation, and Starbucks baristas spell it right.
Boring right? jk I actually don’t feel strongly about my name one way or the other, but deep down I think I [name_f]DO[/name_f] love that it’s easy. As a result, I find myself applying “The Starbucks [name_m]Rule[/name_m]” on names I’m considering for my own kids. Names that abide by “The Starbucks [name_m]Rule[/name_m]” are: 1) familiar enough that they don’t induce a puzzling expression or necessary repetition and 2) generally have a common spelling.
Examples for girls are like [name_f]Sadie[/name_f], [name_f]Kate[/name_f], [name_f]Molly[/name_f].
Disclaimer: I realize that in this age of spelling variations, a barista is going to botch many spellings anyway ([name_f]Saydee[/name_f], [name_f]Cate[/name_f], [name_f]Mollie[/name_f]). The spirit of “The Starbucks [name_m]Rule[/name_m]” is far less about baristas and way more about me not ruining my kids’ lives (dramatic??) by giving them names that I think are cool, but in actuality frustrate them for eternity (yep, dramatic).
Examples of guilty pleasure names that break “The Starbucks [name_m]Rule[/name_m]” are [name_u]Sloane[/name_u], [name_f]Marin[/name_f], [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. See what I mean? Great names, but may not be familiar or easy to spell for those who are not name people.
So I need feedback, Berries. I don’t have experience with a cool, different, edgy name. If you do, what have your experiences been? Are you irked every time you order a grande decaf soy latte, or do you like having a distinctive name, even with the misspellings?
I’ve not had experience with an edgy name, although my first name is a nickname, so everyone assumes when I tell them my name, that it’s actually the longer version. Think [name_f]Kathy[/name_f]* and [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]. “What’s your name?” “[name_f]Kathy[/name_f].” “Okay, [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], your order will be right out.” “IT’S NOT [name_f]KATHERINE[/name_f].” This has plagued me and been irritating for my entire life. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though my birth certificate clearly says “[name_f]Kathy[/name_f],” I’ve had people put “[name_f]Katherine[/name_f]” on some school or legal documents. It actually surprised me when the DMV got my name correct on my license. You can imagine how having a nn for a name would be frustrating.
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Taryn[/name_f]. This is not that unusual anymore, but people constantly mishear it as [name_f]Karen[/name_f] or [name_f]Erin[/name_f] or [name_f]Tara[/name_f] or [name_u]Terry[/name_u]. No one knows how to spell it b.c it doesn’t have a classic spelling. But it really and truly has not ruined my life. In fact, it has been an advantage in some ways. Since I nearly always have to have a whole conversation about my name, how to say it, how to spell it, where the heck my parents came up with it, etc, people tend to remember my name.
At Starbucks and places like that, I just use a restaurant name, no big deal. I have tried many many restaurant names- it is surprising how even very normal easy names like [name_f]Jen[/name_f] can be misheard (as [name_u]Jan[/name_u] or [name_f]Jane[/name_f] or [name_u]Jean[/name_u].) As it turns out, the two that never get screwed up are [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] and [name_m]Abraham[/name_m].
Anyhow, go ahead and name your daughters [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] and [name_f]Marin[/name_f]! [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t worry about the baristas. Maybe give them your first name as a middle so they have a built in restaurant name.
I wouldn’t be so preoccupied with it myself, but I also tend to avoid names with infinite spellings. I like my name ([name_f]Kara[/name_f]) and the “c or k?” questions never bothered me. Now my friends speling out [name_f]Kayleigh[/name_f] or [name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f] or what have you…I think I’d get sick of that. That said, I have adopted [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] as my adopted “Starbucks name” because [name_f]Kara[/name_f] often gets misheard as [name_f]Karen[/name_f], [name_u]Kari[/name_u], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], or something else entirely, and that’s with the decidedly non-edgy or unusual [name_f]Kara[/name_f].
Use [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] and [name_f]Marin[/name_f] if you like them! They are beautiful! You can always have trinkets personalized nowadays, and they can be “[name_f]Mary[/name_f]” at Starbucks if they want.
oiseau, my dad has the same problem, the “[name_m]Jim[/name_m]” but not “[name_u]James[/name_u]” situation. He’s well into his 50s and still has problems everywhere, especially at the pharmacy or similar places. [name_m]Just[/name_m] thought I’d ket you know you’re not alone!
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Alyssa[/name_f]. A pretty common name spelled the original way. Not really a classical name but not really edgy either. But, if I had a nickel for every time the spelling or pronunciation of my name was slaughtered, I’d be filthy rich. So yeah, if you love a name but aren’t sure it completely follows your Starbucks rule, I’d just go with it anyways because it will most likely get spelled wrong or misheard eventually. No use in sacrificing a beautiful name for that reason
I’m in the [name_f]Katelyn[/name_f]/[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]/[name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f] group. It never really bothered me because everyone misspells my last name more. [name_f]My[/name_f] surname is 6 letters and everyone puts an A in the place of the actual vowel on the second letter and pronounces it as if there is actually an A there…that’s infuriating. I’d rather having spelling problems with my name than pronunciation issues. I have a friend whose name gets mispronounced all the time, so now she just introduces herself as the first letter of her name.
The pronunciation issue is why I wouldn’t go for an edgier name.
The Starbucks test… haha. I never actually use my real name, I try out my favourites or random names I’ve been liking just for the fun of it. I’ve used [name_f]Azalea[/name_f] and [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] so many times and I always get asked to spell it out… and then it STILL gets spelled wrong. Like, really? I’ve had the same issue with Hespera. [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] became [name_f]Rosalyn[/name_f] even though I thought I was enunciating the D. I don’t love the names any less or find them any less usable as a result though.
If that’s really a problem, they don’t have to give their real names- no one’s going to be any the wiser.
[name_f]My[/name_f] own name is [name_f]Lauren[/name_f], and it still gets misspelled/mixed up with other names pretty regularly. It’s been spelled [name_u]Loren[/name_u], [name_m]Lauran[/name_m], [name_f]Lauryn[/name_f], etc. People forget and have called me [name_f]Lorna[/name_f], [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f], even [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u] which is a boys’ name… and [name_f]Laura[/name_f], a lot. I actually turn around when people call out [name_f]Laura[/name_f] at the mall or wherever.
well, my name is [name_f]Aine[/name_f] so there is no chance someone in Starbucks would spell it right! But I love having a distinctive name and don’t care if nobody can spell it. In places like Starbucks, I either give my name as [name_f]Aine[/name_f] and enjoy the look on their face when they try to figure it out and then laugh at whatever random string of letters they have put on the cup, or I give my name as [name_f]Anna[/name_f] or [name_f]Anya[/name_f] or something much simpler. It’s not a big deal.
I’ve spent my whole life spelling my first name… It’s uncommon in Australia, and spelt wrong. [name_f]Mistie[/name_f] if you want to know lol But while I didn’t want to be unique when I was younger… I loved that I was never [name_f]Mistie[/name_f] D or [name_f]Mistie[/name_f] B etc In fact, meeting someone with my name is just downright weird to me. (I know in countries like the USA it’s a bit more common, but not a problem in Australia lol). [name_f]Do[/name_f] I care that the guy at Starbucks can’t spell my name right? Nope, because it’s way more of a hassle for my colleagues where there are three [name_f]Angela[/name_f]'s working on the same shift… Not a problem I’ve ever had. Maybe having an uncommon name has led me to be a non-traditionalist when it comes to names. If we all named our daughters [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] like they used too, the name would not be so classic anymore, but boring. People who love classic names only get to now because they aren’t as ridiculously common as they used to be say in the 1600s.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] I think you should name your child Khrystall just so you can feel like it’s unique? No… But [name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f]/[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] type spellings adds a little variety and is not exactly the end of the world. Unfortunately you are more than likely to get it wrong no matter what you name your child. If you name her [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] because you want her to have a beautiful classic name where she can hold her head high as a lawyer, she will end up growing to be a zoo keeper, hating how common her name is and wishing you had named her [name_f]Rainbow[/name_f]. Had you named her [name_f]Rainbow[/name_f], she’d end up being a lawyer and wishing you’d named her [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] Hard to predict the future personality, likes and dislikes and career choices of your future offspring
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Jemima[/name_f] and I don’t think it’s ever been spelled correctly on a Starbucks cup but I’m totally happy with that! I would much rather have a great name (I love my name) than have a boring one purely for convenience’s sake. (Recently I had my name spelled ‘Gamama’ despite spelling it out twice… but I just find it funny).
Seriously, go with the name you love. I find the Starbucks [name_m]Rule[/name_m] utterly ridiculous.
I’m with you- I like names that are easy to pronounce, spell, and recognize. [name_f]My[/name_f] name was very popular in the 80’s so people my own age get it right. Younger people and older people always get it wrong, and the spelling attempts are a joke. That said, has it ruined my life? Certainly not. It’s annoying, but I’m sure we could all find something worse to complain about.
And here’s the other thing, in the next decade, what seems like an uncommon name now might be the new [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Susan[/name_f], or [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u] of that era. It’s just the way it is. So, like many other berries said, if you like it and you are comfortable with it- use it!
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is nearly always spelled correctly, whether I use my full name ([name_f]Margaret[/name_f]) or my nickname ([name_f]Maggie[/name_f]). Once or twice, I’ve had [name_f]Maggy[/name_f], but that’s usually someone who doesn’t speak English well. I like that my name is so familiar, but not very common. I never had another [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] in my class growing up.
Personally, misspellings really bother me because I had my surname hacked to bits my whole life. No one who doesn’t know [name_m]French[/name_m] can pronounce or spell it, and I’ve had people tell me over the phone while ordering products that I was saying it wrong (!!), usually from some one who has no idea about [name_m]French[/name_m]. I will give my kids names with a simple spelling, but bearing in mind that in this day and age, with so many tryndee spellings, I think everyone will have to spell their names from time to time!
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_u]Jo[/name_u], and believe it or not, people misspell it ALL the time. I’ve had my name spelt JOOE so many times it’s ridiculous!
[name_f]My[/name_f] full name, [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], people ask how to spell now and then, but they rarely ever misspell.
I don’t understand how people can spell a 9 letter name, and misspell a 2 letter name, but some people are idiots.
[name_f]EDIT[/name_f]: Oh, and it REALLY bugs me when people give me the male spelling [name_m]JOE[/name_m]. Prepare for a fight if you do that.
I always use my nickname like [name_u]Olly[/name_u] and it’s almost always wrong. I got [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] once but I don’t really care. I think it’s quite a ridiculous rule, honestly.
I go to Starbucks too often, and my name is [name_u]Allison[/name_u]. And maybe 1 in 4 times they spell it right. I get [name_f]Alison[/name_f], [name_f]Alyson[/name_f], Alysson, [name_f]Alisson[/name_f] ect, even though [name_u]Allison[/name_u] is the most common spelling.
I don’t think [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is too hard for most people to spell. Besides, in Starbucks, she could always give a fake name I have fun saying my name is [name_f]Primrose[/name_f] and then when they call [name_f]Primrose[/name_f] shouting “I volunteer!” - So not cool
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Melinda[/name_f], which is somewhat uncommon now but not difficult to spell. Still, even when I’m wearing a nametag, many people get it wrong. Especially on the phone! I say [name_f]Melinda[/name_f] and they hear [name_f]Melissa[/name_f], [name_f]Marissa[/name_f], [name_f]Melina[/name_f], [name_f]Melanie[/name_f], [name_f]Miranda[/name_f], [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], and even [name_f]Amanda[/name_f]. So my name definitely breaks “The Starbucks [name_m]Rule[/name_m],” but I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. When people [name_f]DO[/name_f] get it right, they remember it, and it was really nice growing up surrounded by [name_f]Katie[/name_f]'s and [name_f]Emily[/name_f]'s and being the only one with my name. I say go for it, the names you suggested are beautiful!
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Tamara[/name_f] and the only frustrating part about that is a lot of folks pronounce it wrong (or maybe my parents did But when I got married my husband suggested spelling my nn [name_f]Tammy[/name_f] as [name_f]Tami[/name_f] and I have done for all my years now. (my dad still does not like [name_f]Tami[/name_f]) but everyone spells that wrong! Since it was my choice I cannot complain.
[name_f]My[/name_f] Hubby is [name_m]Louie[/name_m] and everyone thinks his proper name is [name_m]Louis[/name_m], does not bother him any though.
I think the ‘Starbucks [name_m]Rule[/name_m]’ is actually a really a good idea. There is something to be said about not plaguing your child with a lifetime of aggravation over their name. [name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]- NOT [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] -and people constantly spell it wrong. I actually like the ‘f’ spelling much more than ‘ph’ but i have to say sometimes it gets annoying. I know i dont have it very bad and i also think there are a lot of beautiful names with tough spellings. Its a personal choice but definitely something to consider
I’m not big on creative spellings but the Starbucks rule is just something you can’t win. [name_m]Even[/name_m] a [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] will have to spell her name. As someone with a very uncommon name that is never spelled or pronounced right… it’s not the worst thing. Honestly I’m only concerned with it when choosing which way to spell it.
jk I actually don’t feel strongly about my name one way or the other, but deep down I think I [name_f]DO[/name_f] love that it’s easy. As a result, I find myself applying “The Starbucks [name_m]Rule[/name_m]” on names I’m considering for my own kids. Names that abide by “The Starbucks [name_m]Rule[/name_m]” are: 1) familiar enough that they don’t induce a puzzling expression or necessary repetition and 2) generally have a common spelling.
Hard to predict the future personality, likes and dislikes and career choices of your future offspring 
I have fun saying my name is [name_f]Primrose[/name_f] and then when they call [name_f]Primrose[/name_f] shouting “I volunteer!” - So not cool 
