Why Does Everybody Misspell My Daughter's Name?

While I realize that some names have several common spellings, many names get misspelled or mispronounced for very good reason: the parents couldn't think of a truly unique name, so they settled for a unique spelling. And then they get mad when the whole world doesn't get the memo. How are we supposed to know that your little Madison or Nicholas is actually Maddisyn or Nikkolis? They think 'Hey, look at me, I'm creative!' all the while dooming their kids to a lifetime of confusion (on the part of everyone they meet) and frustration (on the part of the kid).

Let's all say it together now: "Creative spelling is NOT creative thinking!"

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I love my name, Virginia, a lot. I think it is a very pretty, classic, but currently relatively uncommon name. I also love my nickname of Ginny. However, because I am in my early 20's, I am from the generation of Jennifers. That means whenever I tell people my name is Ginny, they think I am a Jenny, or even more wrong, a Jennifer. It is a very understandable mistake. My only problem is when I have pointed it out to people, and they still make the mistake. At least I can thank Harry Potter for making Ginny are more recognizable name. I used to have to deal with people seeing it written down and thinking it was pronounced Guinea. I do get ridiculously excited whenever I see personalized stuff with Virginia on it, and you should have seen my glee the one time I found a Ginny.

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Both sides of my family are irish, and they named me Kerri. Seems like a simple name, but if you just hear me say it, it's hard to spell. People always wonder if it starts with a K or a C, if the next letter is an e or an a, if there is 1 R or 2 in the middle, and does it end with a y, an i, an ie or even an ey?
I mostly get Kerry, Keri, Kerri, Kerrie, and Carrie. But I've also seen
Kerie, Kerrey, Kerey, Kari, Karrie, Cari, Cary, Carey, and lately Kyrie. LOL.
It's usually pronounced keh-ree, but spent time in the south when i was a kid where everyone there pronounced it "kah-ree" like carrie.
Either pronunciation is fine with me. As for spelling, If it needs to be spelled properly for records or work, people genuinely ask. Otherwise I enjoy seeing the creative ways people think it "should" be spelled.
Every once in a blue moon someone will surprise me and ask what Kerri is "short for". I never know what to say, "nothing" sounds so inadequate.
I'm always tempted to make something up on the spot, like Kerrisimo, Keralda or Kerrisanthemum.

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My name is Tanina. Pronounced exactly as it is spelled: tuh-knee-nuh. It is often misspelled (i.e. Tannina, Tenina, Tania) or mispronounced (i.e. Tina, Tanya, Taniya, Selena...?). I am almost always asked to repeat myself when asked my name and am subject to many puzzled expressions when my name is given. But, you know what? I wouldn't change my name. Ever. I live for those funny looks and when people say, "Well, that's different...", it is a compliment. That is what my parents wanted for me; something different. Why wouldn't anybody want that? It is just an extra unique asset to each person's individuality. Not that I don't like traditional names; I ADORE them. But, I would never knock a parent for trying something original with their child's name.

Sure it is impossible to find refrigerator magnets with "Tanina" etched into them, but if it grinds your gears that much maybe spending a little extra money would be worth it to you to get trinkets personalized. It would also give it that extra personal touch that make unique names fun. Or just don't spend anything and take a funny-shaped rock home instead. Whatever floats your boats.

Names are beautiful. All different spellings and pronunciations. That is just what I think. :)

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My name is Janis I was named after my fathers cousin Janice. NO ONE gets it right! I've seen Janice, Janis, Jannise, Janus (the Greek god of January), and Janise. I've been called Jan, Janet, Jane, Janie, and a host of names that are unmentionable. My sons' name is Bret, after Bret Hendican, a hockey player. His grandparents called him Brat for the first 2 years, even though I had written it out for them numerous times. I got to the point where I just chalked it up to them being older folks and unable to hear well and left it at that.

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All you bone-heads who opt for special spelling of their kids names, what do you expect!

It's like the movie stars who complain about their fans not leaving them alone. Yeah just wait until no one recognizes them.

Let call our kids etrtweiroe, now why doesn't any body get it right, boo hoo!

You make the kid special not their names.

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We named our daughter "Catherine" after my mother. She is now 40 years old and I have been surprised to notice that very few people have spelled her name with a "K". I guess that we live in the "C" belt rather than the "K".
I was named after my father "Earl". The most common spelling that I get of my name is "Erline" or "Erleen". Actually it is "Earlene". Very few people get it right the first, second or third time and sometimes never.

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we have a Sean, Caetlin, and Faelynne, and noone ever gets any of them right

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It has been interesting to read how people deal with people misspelling/mispronouncing their names. My name is Joanna, and I usually get called "Joanne". And it's been spelled Jo Anna, Joan, Johannah, etc. I don't care, I just answer to anything that starts with a "J".
When people make a mistake, I just smile and nod. I don't correct them unless they ask. I take the same tactic when people say "SHE is so cute!" about my baby boy. I figure it does no harm to let a perfect stranger go on her way thinking my boy is a girl, or that my name is Joanne instead of Joanna. It saves them they embarrassment of knowing they made a mistake.

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My daughters name is Katelynn Anne. Kate was my grandmother's middle name, Lynn my step-mom's and Ann was my mom's middle name. I added the "e" to Anne. Her name is usually spelled right now that she is 8 but for the the first 5 years of her life my mother-in-law kept spelling it wrong. LOL. My boys are Alan and Triston, Everyone spells them Allen and Tristan or Tristen. Oh well, as long as my kids can spell their names right that is I care about.

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no one misspells my name but people constantly mispronounce my name! My name is Andrea which is pronounced AN-DREE-A. ANimal, DREam, A. People pronounce it as AHHN-DREE-UH, AHH-NDRAY-UH, If I know I'm going to be seeing these people often, I will correct them. If it's someone who I won't see again, I don't bother correcting them. Oh, well!

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My daughter's name is Kaitlyn and I thought long and hard how to spell it. I wanted it to be unique and not the traditional spelling. When she was born (16 years ago) it was very difficult to find anything but the traditional spelling. She was about 5 or 6 when she saw her name spelled the way we spell on a personlized item in a local store. Yes, her name is frequently spelled wrong, but we just laugh as we know there are many variations.

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I am forever pronouncing my name, Ashleah and spelling it out at offices, work, university. Everyone spells it Ashley, Ashleigh, Ashlie, the list goes on, Whats funny is that my best friend in kindergarten was called Ashlea which was confusing on a whole other level.

the one thing i hate is when someone pronounces it ash-lee-A, which is something my high school gym teacher did for the entire 6 years i was there, he was not a quick learner obviously.

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My daughters name is Sydnee and it is super hard to find anything with her named spelled this way. Its usually Sydney, Sidney nothing like that. I would love for her to have the pencils with her name on it. And my youngest is Carly, I've seen it spelled from Carleigh, Karlee, Carlie, and the list goes on. I

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My name is Caryn (like Karen). I can totally understand where you're coming from. I can never find anything with my name on it. When I was a kid I hated how my name was spelled because all the Samantha's, Lisa's, and Kelly's had stuff with their name on it. People always try to add on to my name calling me Carolin or Cathrine (which is my mom's name... we have the same initials). I'm 21 now and I have really learned to love the spelling of my name. I think its very unique and have only ran into a handful of other women with the same spelling as me. I love my name so much and think that it's so one-of-a-kind that I plan to have my daughters' middle name be my first name. I'm an "o" away from a Crayon.

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My first *and* last names are difficult to spell and pronounce, I know that, but what peeves me is that those who learn it easily are always the ones who are smarter and kinder than your average Joe, which to me says that the others just don't care or can't be bothered.

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Tyrence. That is my boyfriend's name. He goes by Ty and has since a little boy. The curse, people try to call him Terrence, Tyrese, Tyson, etc... the MEGA curse, he has male relatives named Tyrese, (his brother who goes by Ty now as well) Tyson, Tylon, Tyquan, and female relatives named Tysha, Tynesha, Misstysha and I think there are more. People can never pronounce or spell his name right. One at least hopes for one or the other. I'm thankful when its Terrence people say, its the closest... it burns me good when people say Tyrese since there is clearly an N in there.

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I, for one, love having a name thats different, even with the various spellings and pronunciations! My name is Tamara (pronounced Ta MA ra, accent on the second syllable).....some people say TAMara (rhyming with camera)...and people spell it all sorts of ways, with an "h" on the end, with an e instead of an a.....but you know what? I dont complain! Its nice having a name thats unique, and has a meaning (palm tree), a nickname when I was young (tammy) but now the more sophistaived Tamara.

My sons are Alexander and Arran. We call Alexander "Alec" but everyone wants to turn it into Alex! As for Arran (named for the scottish island), everyone wants to spell it the biblical way....but thats okay, thats a cool name, too! So, I dont complain!

What do you all think of Alec and Arran as boys names? Be truthful Im just interested in perceptions! Im american but live in Scotland and wonder what people on both sides of the atlantic think.

Tamara Zaida(my middle name!)

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My name is Dianne, and a lot of my father's family spells it Diane. I've also gotten Diann, Dian, Dyan, and odd pronunciations like Dienna (Like Vienna, but with a "D") and Deneen. I'm still trying to figure out why it's so hard to put 2 "N"s in my name when the name "Anne" has 2 "N"s in it, too.

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