I was at the library today behind a young woman who was getting her first library card. I was feeling all warm and fuzzy (I’m a nerd and love it when kids are excited to read), and the librarian asked her what her name was. She said (phoenetically), “Ja-nees” (like [name]Janis[/name], but with a hard ee sound). The woman apparently typed, “[name]Janice[/name]” or some such spelling, because the girl blew up, and became very upset that the woman had spelled her name wrong. The librarian apologized for her mistake and asked how the young lady spelled it. “J-A-H-hyphen-N-H-Y-S.”
[name]Gee[/name], how wondrous that the librarian wasn’t able to divine that spelling.
Not sure if I told this story in full, but the opposite thing happened to me when I was 6 or 7. My name is [name]Karen[/name]. K-A-R-E-N. The most common spelling, nothing fancy. An adult had written my name down on a list, which for some reason, could not be re-written, and up where everyone could see. They had spelled my name C-A-R-Y-N. I did have a fit. I would not play. [name]Even[/name] at that age, I thought that person was quite ignorant and I refused to participate because of it. I might have over-reacted a little.
I can’t imagine growing up in a personal world where your own parents spell your name wrong so you have to expect this sort of thing, it’s not the stranger’s fault, etc.
Aww, that’s sad. Jah-nhys (Jah-Nhys?) was really upset, too, which seemed like an overreaction, but it was so genuine that I felt badly for the girl. I wonder if she will change it or grow to love it because it is different or just get all Stockholm Syndrome about it.
Yooneek names never cease to amaze me…