It's the name poll!

[conuly]

Abdul has a relative, an uncle or something, named Cupid. Every time I hear this, I remember the guy I knew at PS 188 named Eros.

So...

Which is worse? Cupid-rhymes-with-stupid or Eros-rhymes-with-gross? Or the classic Jeremy-sounds-like-germy?

Comments

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

See, and my pet peeve is people who give even a second thought to the names parents give their children.

I was actually a post in childfree, because someone didn't like my middle child's name. Finbar. We're Irish, it's unheard of in our circles, and in a city of Schlomos, Borises, Shaniquas and other varied names, does it matter? I got teased as ANN MARIE.

[conuly]

I've got nothing against actual names, like Finbar (especially when it has to do with your own ethnicity), or middle names.

I really, really, really hate names that are set up specifically to be mocked (Eros is NOT a name) or names which are deliberately misspelled (Kymberli is also not a name. Neither is AlYys, or T0mas) or words-as-names (Apple isn't a name either. Stick it as a middle name if you MUST have it. Same goes for Moon Unit).

Real names? Good. Fake names? Not good. Dooming your kid to have to correct people's spelling and pronunciation, forever? Evil.

[ex-chaos-by-699.livejournal.com]

I was going to reply to this, but conuly said everything I wanted to say anyway.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

My daughter's middle name is Rain. Most everyone (adults and peers) seem to like it.

And let me tell you, I need to tell people how to spell Ann Marie, and get it right. And Hughes. No one can spell or pronounce that. If something as simple as that can't be done, then I don't feel the least bit concerned that a person with a different name has the same problems as someone with a simple name.

And Tomas is a proper spelling.

[conuly]

Yeah, but T0mas isn't.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

I thought you were emphasizing the lack of H.

That's not a legal name though, is it? Can you have numbers instead of letters, legally?

[conuly]

Well, if you can change your name to a symbol like Prince did, and if you can name your kid "Firstname Lastname Version 2"... yes, you can, legally.

[conuly]

I don't feel the least bit concerned that a person with a different name has the same problems as someone with a simple name.

There's a difference, though, between ordinary misunderstandings and giving your kid a name and spelling it so "kre8ivly" that they'll be doomed for life. Why make life harder than it has to be?

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how much harder it makes it, is my point, since the world is full of idiots who can't figure out how to pronounce HUGHES.

(I get HUGE and HUG-HES. Hard G. And then HES, as in HE IS.)

I will admit personally I dont LIKE overly creative spelling, but since I saw how people will nitpick something like Finbar, I've realized how hurtful it is when people slam parents for it.

[conuly]

Oh, I wouldn't slam the parents. However, if it is before the naming, I'll try to subtly and politely tell them the correct spelling, emphasizing ease of pronunciation and spelling. If afterwards, I'll try to sneak in a simple, easy to spell nickname. Like Ana for Angelique, though that's a bad example (as Angelique is easy to spell, at least it is mihi).

And, of course, weep for the afflicted where the parents can't see. Kymberli. *sighs*

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

My darling spousal unit wanted to spell our daughter's name the Gaelic way (Which isnt even a name, its a word). Ceili.

I told him I: was not going to let her live her life being called SEE-LEE, and it was out of the question.

She, of course, is at an age where she thinks that's so cool and why didn't we do that? *sigh*

And the Kim one, isn't uncommon in that people substitute I for Y all the time. Or the girl does it herself, usually in the teen years.

Go to a teen mothers community now and then on LJ. You'll leave twitching.

[conuly]

Kimberli wouldn't upset me nearly as much as Kymberli. KYMBERLI! This is our friend, the letter Y. It doesn't like to be in the middle of words? Y? Because it's shy.

[leora.livejournal.com]

The argument for creative spellings is generally that it gives the child a name that stands out, which gives them an advantage in the job market. Done right, it probably does.

I prefer to use archaic, pretty, but uncommon names. However, I would prefer a child with a creative name than another doomed to a massively common name. I hated growing up knowing that someone else ~on my block~ in a small suburb had my identical name same first, middle, and last name with the exact same spelling.

[conuly]

As for Anne-Marie, that's my mom's name :)

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

See, I have to tell people "No e, no hyphen, two words" all the time.

And then I have been called:

Ann Marie
Anna Marie
Ann Maria
Anna Maria
Rose Mary
Rose Marie
Rose Ann

And as far as the teasing, Anna Maria Alberghetti ALL THE TIME. Or just Anna Maria in a really thick cheesy Italian accent. Bleah. Although I didn't get teased for the Italian side of my family, I got called a Nazi because my family came from Germany. Even though they were HERE at the time. Nazi, baby killer, asked if the lampshades in my house were made of skin, etc. It was awful. :(

Kids can be cruel.

[conuly]

*grins* I know. It's horrible. My name has to tell people "Anne-Marie. Ay en en eee! Hyphen! Marie" all the time.

[gingembre.livejournal.com]

My name has to tell people "Anne-Marie. Ay en en eee! Hyphen! Marie" all the time.

Wow, I didn't realize "Connie" was a separate entity. ;-)

[conuly]

Wow. Chalk it up to a brain fart. Naturally, I meant "Mom".