General 'baby-naming' question... - Page 2

[Ruthla]

Use a name that you and your DP love. I wouldn't eliminate a name JUST because it can be hard to pronounce, nor would I intentionally select a hard-to-pronounce (or hard to spell) name.

Another option would be to use the name but spell it phonetically instead of using the original spelling.

[~Megan~]

Depends completely on name! If its one of those crazy Celtic names that is so hard to pronounce that no one could possible know.....I love the sound of the names but what a PITA!

[CanadianMaple]

I think it depends on the name too but I am leaning toward saying no. I have a very uncommon last name and that's annoying enough, I can't imagine having to spell out my first name too when people are writing out my name.

[philomom]

Originally Posted by kdaisy

I voted "no" because both me and my sister have "weird" spellings to otherwise normal names. And we have hated it our whole lives. Ok, it hasn't traumatized us, but I consider it a pain none the less. No one has ever pronounced my sister's name correctly upon first seeing it. So much so, she often goes by the mispronunciation...some people know her as that!... doctor offices and such.

Just my opinion though...it is your babe!

Yep, I could have written that post. My name is "one letter off" from the norm.... think Tyna instead of Tina. I have always had to say my name for folks and spell it out, too. What were my parents thinking?

[zoebugsmom]

I dislike made up names and creative spellings of classic names so I'd never use something like that. If I were very Irish I could see us using Siobhan or another classic Gaelic name. Classic and a part of your heritage? Yes. Made up name that no one can pronounce? No.

[heidirk]

Like Dvorah?

Which is closest to the Hebrew phonetic spelling of Deborah.

But then I grew up with Heidi and lots of people misread/pronounced that!

[mommyddeville]

Originally Posted by philomom

Yep, I could have written that post. My name is "one letter off" from the norm.... think Tyna instead of Tina. I have always had to say my name for folks and spell it out, too. What were my parents thinking?

That's exactly my experience. My name is one from "normal" and I hated it while growing up, and I still dislike it. My last name was also abnormal. . . long and hard to pronounce. Started with "Sch" and was 10 letters long. I hated having to spell my first and last name for everyone. I just wanted a normal name with a normal spelling, the entire time growing up. Now, my kids have very "normal" names, and I love it.

[DBZ]

I've always hated it when people have mispronounced my name. They think there is a car in it. I never blamed my mother for this. I get annoyed at the people who say my name wrong, especially after I've corrected them.

Kara

[meadowmoose]

Originally Posted by Smokering

I feel obliged to point out that even a perfectly normal name can be misheard and mispronounced.

I agree. My name is Kate, and I get called Katie or Kathy or Katelynn quite often. It's not even Katherine, just Kate. Weird little thing, but it always bothers me. I also agree with PP who said to not give a kiddo a common name with a weird spelling. My niece is named "Jeszica" and I'm still not totally sure if it's pronounces "Jessica" or "Jezzica".

[eastvillage]

Yep, I'm with most of the posters here. My name is (real unpopular lately) Hilary. Sadly, it's spelled with one "L" instead of the traditional two "LL"s. Have been spelling it my whole life - never had those name stickers in the stores available to me - a wholly disappointing experience. I like my name, just wish it was spelled traditionally.

[i*wish]

Okay, I'll tell the name. I didn't want to say before b/c I know people would give their thoughts on the name and not the PITA that it may be! Also I'm afraid b/c I've gotten fairly negative reactions irl from family/friends....It's a runner up name from baby #1 and I still love it (which says a lot b/c that was like 3yrs ago).
Okay the name is --->

Isla

pronounced EYE-la

I think more people are hearing of this b/c there is a celebrity with this name, Isla Fisher (married to Borat whose real life name I can't spell). She was on Regis yesterday and he kept calling her Lilah (which is another name I like and may end up using...)

Anyhow, I just know that anyone who has not seen/heard this name will call her EEESLA .... the Spanish pronunciation.... since is this is the most common pronunciation for the word. *sigh* I don't know if that would ruin her life or not.... wish I could ask her.

Thoughts?
I'm sure it'll be a boy anyway and for him I have NO names whatsoever (help?)

Thank you all...

[philomom]

Isla would make a wonderful middle name. Which, in my opinion, is where the oddball bits of the parent's personality are "allowed" to seep through.

Ron Howard's kids all have middle names of the cities they were conceived in. That's kinda cool.

[Steve's Wife]

Originally Posted by philomom

Ron Howard's kids all have middle names of the cities they were conceived in. That's kinda cool.

I guess that only works for the traveling kind, huh All my kids would probably have the same middle name.

[mischievium]

I think Isla is fine-- similar to the pronunciation of "island." Yes, she will probably have to correct a lot of people, but it's not as difficult as a lot of names previously listed. At least there is an English word for people to associate it with and I think the actress is popularizing the name a bit so that should help. Really, I'd use it if I were you.

[lilkat]

I'm another Kate who is frequently called Katie or Kathy, even after I correct people. So, again, a "normal" name doesn't guarantee a lack of confusion. I think you should go with your instincts and not worry too much about her needing to clarify. Plus, I think that Isla is a beautiful name!

Originally Posted by 1babysmom

Now, on the other hand, I went to high school with a girl named Eilyetheiae- pronounced "Alethea". I'd NEVER complicate a name like that, for the sake of my child AND everyone else! LOL

That's the name we've picked for our dd's middle name. Eilyetheiae is the correct Greek spelling (she's the Cretan goddess of childbirth). I've also seen it spelled Eileithyia. But we're simplifying it to "Elethea".

[shanniesue2]

Originally Posted by mommyddeville

That's exactly my experience. My name is one from "normal" and I hated it while growing up, and I still dislike it. My last name was also abnormal. . . long and hard to pronounce. Started with "Sch" and was 10 letters long. I hated having to spell my first and last name for everyone. I just wanted a normal name with a normal spelling, the entire time growing up. Now, my kids have very "normal" names, and I love it.

LOL!!! This is 100% my situation...Maybe we're related!?!?!?

My name is Shannan (note the a instead of the o). Middle name is spelled one letter off, too... and maiden name is 10 letters long beginning with Sch...

[Shiloh]

There's a kid named Neeve in my son's class I didn't connect it with the name spelled Niahm...People can mispronounce anything just because you name your kid John doesn't mean it won't get trashed pron. wise..

I am still toying with a gaelic name for #4...complete with accent..
Chànain I might go for an english spelling of it but....I toy with it

[Khourtniey]

Yes... Both of my boys have names that are "hard" to pronounce.. Aloshua and JrehKaia (though we call him Kaia) ...

Even the easiest names will be mis pronounced and spelled differently.. If you like the name, use it

[Khourtniey]

Originally Posted by HidaShara

My two cents worth...

I like odd names, but I don't like "made up" names for the sake of "originality". Siobhan's a good example - this is an EXCELLENT Irish name with good history. If people can't pronounce it, tough titties for them. They'll learn. But calling your kid "Jessykka" instead of just "Jessica" seems meaningless and stupid to me. People will spell it wrong for life, and for no good reason except that the parents felt that they were being Unique And Beautiful Butterflies.

My DH is of another opinion - he has a Persian name that he has always hated. Dispite the fact that it is pronounced exactly as it is spelled, everyone gets it wrong and makes up random sounds for it. His name is "Imshan" - people have called him Imjar, Emshin, Mishan, and in one memorable case, M-shard. So he's kinda sensitive about names being clear. He is *still* bitter about his name. He wishes he had been called something "normal".

Our differences on the position can mostly be boiled down to the fact that we have different temperments. He's a shy, quiet guy who was picked on a lot as a kid. He doesn't like to stand out. Me, I'm pushy and opinionated, and think you can grow into a cool name. In the end, I think what your kid will think of his/her name will come down to what kind of a person he/she turns out to be.

Charlotte

Even the oldest names were "made up" at one point..

[_betsy_]

I think Isla's gorgeous! You will get a lot of IZ-la's though. If that will bother you, maybe try it as a middle name?

I'm Betsy. It's not that wierd of a name, but you should see and hear how often it gets butchered. I get Besty all the time, by grown adults. People want to call me Becky, Stephie, Stacy, you name it.