Traditional Spelling vs Popular Spelling

Girl Names
1

What is your stance on spelling? Are you more likely to use the traditional spelling or the more popular spelling?

i.e.

[name_f]Zoey[/name_f] (popular #26) OR [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] (traditional #35)
[name_f]Layla[/name_f] (popular #30) OR [name_f]Leila[/name_f] (traditional #230)
[name_f]Makayla[/name_f] (popular #165) OR [name_f]Michaela[/name_f] (traditional #473)
[name_u]Jordyn[/name_u] (popular #146) OR [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] (traditional #289)
[name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f] (popular #326) OR [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] (traditional # 1151)

A lot of names have been ruined for me because of the excess of alternative spellings, often times far outnumbering the amount of babies born with the traditional spelling.

i.e.

[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Aleyna[/name_f], Eleyna, [name_f]Aleynah[/name_f], Aleynna, [name_f]Alayna[/name_f], [name_f]Elayna[/name_f], Alaynna, Alaynah, Ellayna, Elaynah, Allayna, [name_f]Alaina[/name_f], [name_f]Elaina[/name_f], [name_f]Ellaina[/name_f], Alainna, Alainah, Elainah, [name_f]Elainna[/name_f], Allaina, Eleina, Eleina, Alaena

[name_f]Jasmine[/name_f]
[name_f]Jasmin[/name_f], [name_f]Jasmyn[/name_f], [name_f]Jasmyne[/name_f], [name_f]Jasmeen[/name_f], Jasmynn, Jasmen, Jassmine, [name_f]Jazmin[/name_f], [name_f]Jazmyn[/name_f], [name_f]Jazmine[/name_f], [name_f]Jazmyne[/name_f], [name_f]Jazzmine[/name_f], [name_u]Jazzmin[/name_u], [name_f]Jazzmyn[/name_f], Jazmynn, Jazzmyne, [name_m]Jazzmen[/name_m]

[name_f]Liliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilliana[/name_f], [name_f]Lilyana[/name_f], [name_f]Lillyana[/name_f], Lilyonna, Lilyanah, Lilianah, Lillyonna, Lilyahna, Liliahna, Lilliona, Lillionna, Lillyona, Lilliahna, Lilyauna, Lilyona, Liliauna, Liliyana, Lillyanah, Lyliana, Lylliana

[name_u]Emery[/name_u]
[name_u]Emory[/name_u], [name_f]Emerie[/name_f], [name_f]Emeri[/name_f], Emmarie, [name_m]Emry[/name_m], Emrie, Emarie, Emorie, Emori, Emmery, Emree, Emari, Emri, Emoree, Emmerie, Emrey, Emary, Emaree, Emmory, Emmry, Emmaree, Emmary, Emmori, Emerii, Emreigh

[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]
[name_f]Alivia[/name_f], Aliviah, Oliviah, Elivia, Alivya, Aliviyah, Alivea, [name_f]Olivya[/name_f], [name_f]Olivea[/name_f], Aliviya, Ahlivia, Aliveah, Ellivia, Oliviya, Oliviyah, [name_f]Alyvia[/name_f], [name_f]Olyvia[/name_f], Alyviah

[name_f]Callie[/name_f]
[name_f]Calli[/name_f], [name_f]Calleigh[/name_f], [name_f]Callee[/name_f], [name_f]Cally[/name_f], [name_f]Calley[/name_f], [name_u]Cali[/name_u], [name_f]Caleigh[/name_f], [name_f]Calie[/name_f], [name_f]Calee[/name_f], Caliegh, Calei, Calii, [name_f]Kali[/name_f], [name_f]Kallie[/name_f], [name_f]Kalli[/name_f], [name_f]Kalie[/name_f], Kalei, Kalleigh, [name_f]Kalee[/name_f], [name_f]Kallee[/name_f], [name_f]Kally[/name_f], Kalliegh, Kalii, [name_f]Kalley[/name_f], Kahli, Kahlee, [name_f]Khali[/name_f], Khalie, Khalee, Khalei, Khallie

Anyway, so what is your take on spelling? Stick to the original despite it being often misspelled or go with something more ā€œcreativeā€?

*all info is from Beyond the Top 1000 for 2016

1 Like
2

This is an interesting topic. I would almost always choose the traditional spelling, except that I didnā€™t, for my daughter [name_f]Layla[/name_f]. After a lot of research it seemed that most Leilas were unhappy with how often their names were mispronounced. Although I liked this spelling the most at first, my husband was more inclined toward the more straightforward [name_f]Layla[/name_f]. I donā€™t regret it, but Iā€™m not sure if we made the right decision or not, I guess who ever is?!

3

Thereā€™s a difference between misspelling a name to be ā€œuniqueā€ or whatnot and a name with more than one origin or spelling thatā€™s legit, like [name_f]Layla[/name_f]/[name_f]Leila[/name_f]/[name_f]Laila[/name_f]/[name_f]Leyla[/name_f] and [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]/Zowie/[name_f]Zoie[/name_f]. I prefer traditional spellings.

4

Generally, I prefer the traditional spellings, but sometimes it just depends. Using your examples, I prefer the traditional [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], [name_f]Michaela[/name_f], and [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], think that [name_f]Layla[/name_f] and [name_f]Leila[/name_f] are both equally pretty, and donā€™t particularly care for [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] for a girl, but if I had to choose, [name_u]Jordyn[/name_u] does feel more feminine. I think if you like a name with a lot of different familiar spellings, it is best just to go with the one you like best, because youā€™ll be spelling it all the time anyway regardless of which you choose. (As a mother of a [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], I speak from experience!)

5

I agree with the pp, that thereā€™s a difference between creative spellings and a name that has more then one legit spelling. In general I prefer the traditional spelling. But there are exemptions, like for my son we chose the spelling Allister instead of [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] for various reasons.

6

ā€˜laylahā€™ is a word in Arabic & Hebrew, so [name_f]Layla[/name_f] is older & more traditional than [name_f]Leila[/name_f]

I generally prefer the traditional spelling of names

7

It depends on how I like the look of it or if I am wanting it to start with a certain letter. I donā€™t usually mind alternative spellings unless it makes the name nearly unrecognizable to the point where someone might struggle with even reading it.

8

Iā€™m with @mega_muffin - in general I prefer the traditional, but sometimes I just like a variant spelling more. Itā€™s not necessarily that itā€™s more popular, either. For example, certain days, I prefer [name_u]Jordyn[/name_u] to [name_u]Jordan[/name_u], [name_f]Sofie[/name_f] to [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], [name_f]Claira[/name_f] to [name_f]Clara[/name_f] (mainly because I just like [name_f]Claire[/name_f] more than [name_f]Clara[/name_f] lol), etc. Some are legitimate variants ([name_f]Sofie[/name_f]!), but others are more kre8iv choices. But who cares? Sure, traditional spellings and such are much more popular on Nameberry, but Iā€™m not convinced naming your child [name_u]Jordyn[/name_u] is really a disservice. (For what itā€™s worth, I love [name_u]Jordyn[/name_u]-[name_f]Grace[/name_f] Makiyaā€™s name, and when she was born everyone was screaming trendy!)

But here, Iā€™d vote for [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], [name_f]Michaela[/name_f], [name_f]Leila[/name_f], [name_u]Jordyn[/name_u], and [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]. :stuck_out_tongue:

ETA: For what itā€™s worth, [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and [name_f]Leila[/name_f] have come from languages who donā€™t have the same characters and alphabet as English, so [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] is no less proper than [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], and same with [name_f]Layla[/name_f]. But I do think [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and [name_f]Leila[/name_f] do look prettier, personally. Thatā€™s just me, though. :stuck_out_tongue:

9

I donā€™t ā€˜preferā€™ any, I just go with what I like the look of most. I have traditional and not so traditional spellings on my list, and I am 1 of 3 kids with spellings that arenā€™t the traditional way. However, I have found that the names I like on my list that arenā€™t spelt traditionally are done this way for a reason, like [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] is for the Oasis song and [name_f]Lorelai[/name_f] is for [name_f]Lorelai[/name_f] [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m]. Itā€™s just all down to my personal preference.

ETA: Of the choices you listed, Iā€™d go for Zoe, Leila, Michaela, Jordyn and Katelyn (maybe Kaitlyn), and then Elena, Jasmine, Liliana, Emery, Olivia and Callie. Only 2 of those are not the traditional spelling!

10

As a whole, not sure which side I take.

I prefer

[name_f]Zoey[/name_f], [name_f]Layla[/name_f], [name_f]Michaela[/name_f], [name_u]Jordan[/name_u], [name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f]

11

Generally, I prefer traditional over popular.

[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
[name_f]Leila[/name_f]
[name_f]Michaela[/name_f]
[name_u]Jordyn[/name_u]* - I find the y more feminine, not sure why.
[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Jasmine[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilliana[/name_f]* - I Either like 2 Lā€™s or 2 Nā€™s. [name_f]Liliana[/name_f] seems incomplete to me.
[name_u]Emery[/name_u] - I much prefer this name on boys and the spelling [name_u]Emory[/name_u] seems more masculine to me. Iā€™ve also met an [name_f]Emeri[/name_f] before and found the spelling to be ok.
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]
[name_f]Callie[/name_f] - I also like the look of [name_f]Caleigh[/name_f] too.

12

I enjoyed everyoneā€™s views!

I didnā€™t want it to become a debate about which spelling is most legitimate. I was basing it more on which spelling has been used the most throughout naming history in the English alphabet, so traditionally itā€™s more popular despite currently being less popular than other spellings.
i.e.

  • [name_f]Leila[/name_f] has been in the top 1000 since before 1900, [name_f]Layla[/name_f] wasnā€™t in it until the 1970ā€™s
  • [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] has been in the top 1000 since before 1900, [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] wasnā€™t in it until 1990ā€™s

I also wasnā€™t trying to say that variations were somehow ā€œcreativeā€ spellings either. I was just saying that certain names in general have lost their luster to me because of so many different spellings, legitimate or not. For instance, Iā€™d never use the name [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] purely because there are 50+ ways people have chosen to spell it - from legitimate [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] to wack-a-doodle Maddiylynn.

13

Traditional for me :blush: i think it comes from having a common name using a traditional spelling, whereas most people use the common spelling- it feels so special being a [name_f]Rebekah[/name_f] in a sea of Rebeccas!