Euneek Spelengs for Baybeez
Brandyn or Brandon? Or Maybe Brandinn? Brandan? How about Brannden?
Perhaps you've thought about using a more kreeaytiv spelling for your child's name. Ask yourself- Why? (you can also just kut to the chayce and jump down to the How to Make a Kreatyvleigh Spelde Naim section). Many people consider alternate spellings to look overly cutesie at best, and uneducated and misspelled at worse. Why is this? Many people have cited the recent trend to spell C names with Ks for example. Kasey, Khris, Kameron--to some people they look modern and new. But to others, they reminds them of local misspelled establishments. Do you have a beauty salon in your town called Kut & Kurl? How about a Kountry Kitchen restaurant? To many people, this seems a bit tacky and overly cute. But, to each his own. Before you go spelling your child's name differently, Picture it written down on a plaque:
...or
how about:
Do these look professional to you? Do you care? To some people they don't. It's just something to consider.
When you've pictured those, then ask yourself the following question:
why do I like different spellings?
- I want my Khaytelynne
to stand out from all of the other Caitlins! (you can click
here for 154 more ways to spell Caitlin)
Maybe so, but at the end of the day, when you yell "Khaytelynne!" in a crowded playground, it will be indistinguishable from all of the other mothers/fathers/grandparents/babysitters there who are yelling "Katelin!" "Caitlin!" "Kaitlyn!" etc. Do you really want your child to have a name that is only distinguished from the names of several of his or her classmates by the way (s)he has to spell it out all the time? Picture a little girl in first grade, learning how to spell. "My name is K-H-A-Y-T-E-L-Y-N-N-E" - Everyone is spelling
names funny these days! With all of the Jazzmyns, Jasmyns, Jazmins and
Jazzamynnes, my Jasmine will have to spell her name out all the time anyway!
Yes, but here's where you have to put yourself in someone else's shoes. There are acceptable alternative forms of names: Katherine, Catherine and Kathryn for example. Isn't it easier to say "Katherine with a K" over the phone, than spell out "C-A-T-H-I-R-Y-N-N-E?." Jazmin might by fine, but Jazzamynne? Try to control the impulse to add extra letters! - where should I
draw the line?
It's hard to know where to draw the line. Write the name out and have someone else look at it. Ask yourself the following questions:- Is it easy to pronounce?
Alesia: is this uh-lee-see-uh, uh-less-ee-uh, uh-lesh-uh...Is the name easy to pronounce at first glance?
here are some names that could be pronounced a number of ways: Alia, Casi, Kalyn...It's always easiest when a name is unambiguous in pronunciation. - Does it contain
a lot of extra letters?
Look at Ellexxus, for example- do you really need the extra L and X? Would Elexus do it for you? - Is there a 'standard'
way to spell it?
Will people always spell your little Emmah's name Emma 99.99% of the time? Would this bother you? - Is there another
name that is spelled the same, but pronounced differently?
For example, I know a Karyn who pronounces her name kah-RIN. Unfortunately, 99.9% of Karyns out there pronounce their name like Karen. It makes names even harder to pronounce when they look like another, more common name!
- Is it easy to pronounce?
- Lastly, are
you spelling, Hannah like "Hauna" to distinguish her from the millions
of other Hannahs out there? If so, you may want to choose a less common
name. Remember, Whether your daughter is Hauna, Hahna, Hanna, Hana or
Hannah, she still has a really common name. For
alternatives to common names click here.
Ways to Make A Kreatyvleigh Spelde Naim OK, you've read all this, and you still like unusual spellings. Here are a few common ways people change spellings of names. Who knows? Maybe your spelling will become standard! After all, Kathryn is much popular than Catherine, and Mikayla is the most common spelling of Michaela these days
1. Take out an "I" and add a "Y"
This is a common way of altering spellings. But be careful, "y" often looks like it should make a long "i" sound (like in Kyle, Tyler and Skye). People will probably know that Bryttani is pronounced like Brittany, and not like Brighten-ee, but sometimes it can be confusing.Allyson Maryssa Myriah Alyxandra Eryn Lyndsay Madyson Caitlyn Alexys Tailyr Myranda Trystan Krysta Eryka Kameryn Kristyn Jaryd Nicholys Bryttany Quynn People also use the letter 'y' to replace a long "i," as in
Mykel Ryley Chyna Mya The trickiest 'y' replacement is when you want it to make a long 'e' sound (as in Kyra and Lyric). Traditionally, the 'y' as long 'e' started in English to replace a Greek letter when writing Greek words in the Latin alphabet. in English, since 'y' in the middle of the word usually sounds like a short 'i' (Allyson) or a long 'i' (Bryan).
Alycia Syerra Alyah Kristyne 2. Add an extra "Y"
Some people thinks this looks fancy, and livens up an otherwise boring name. You can make a "Y" emphasize the long "a' sound, as in:
Jaycob Shayne Layne Jaymie Caysey Caytlin Or to add a little bit to names with an "ia" in them (made popular by the singer Aaliyah):
Mariyah Briya Nataliya Nadiya Taliya Liya Tatiyana Tiyana Sofiya Briyanna 3. Fun with names ending in the long 'e' sound
This is perhaps one of the oldest tricks in the book. Long before daycares and Kindergartens were populated with Kaylis, Jaycies and Hailees, there were Nancis, Sherris and Amis. The most popular endings are "i" "ee" and "ie." We'll start with those.-i Ashli Keri Shelbi Cori Brittani Molli Laci Lindzi Hayli Codi -ie Ashlie Kerrie Shelbie Corie Brittanie Mollie Lacie Lindzie Haylie Codie -ee Ashlee Kerree Shelbee Coree Brittanee Mollee Lacee Lindzee Haylee Codee You can also add '-ey' to names ending with plain 'y' and take the 'e out of 'ey' names:
Ashley => Ashly Kerry => Kerrey Corey => Cory Jenny => Jenney Lacey => Lacy Molly => Molley Hayley => Hayly Brittany => Brittaney Kelsey => Kelsy Brandy => Brandey likewise, "leigh", the older English spelling for Lee, can be used in names containing "lee" "ly" or "ley"
Ashleigh Kayleigh Emeleigh Leighann Leigha Kyleigh Kelleigh Hayleigh Carleigh Nataleigh 4. K: The "J" of the New Millennium
When I was growing up, everyones' names began with J (Josh, Julie, Jennifer...) Today, the letter 'k' is much more in vogue than any other, and it's much Kooler than the plain old letter 'c.' This has been the case for as while, as stores such as Kwik Fill and the Kleen Korner probably exist in your town. K stands up and takes notice more than C. However, if your last names begins with K, don't be tempted to use too many K names for your child!
Kasey Nikole Kaitlin Kortney Kallie Karly Kassandra Jessika Khloe Kaden Korey Kody Nikolas Kristopher Zackary Kameron Dominik Kole Kandace Kassidy Karrie Kalvin Kortney Jackeline Konnor Beky Kurtis Or, you can add a "c" where a "K" would normally go. The trouble with this is that it doesn't always work. (Kevin = Cevin? I don't think so!)
Cayla Caren Cristin Cate To get over the "c" sounding like "s" problem, you can add another "c", or a "k," or even 2 "k"'s...
Beccy Beky Bekky Zaccary Zackary Zakkary Ric Ricc Rikk Marck Erick Mickaela 5. Add an extra "h" to names ending in "a".
Sarah and Hannah have been excepted spellings of Sara and Hanna, probably longer than the non-'h' spellings. Of course, this because the silent "h" on the end actually stands for a Hebrew letter in the original Hebrew forms. However, in this vein, many parents are following suit with other names. Be careful what you add an "H" too, though. Some people may think you're trying to alter the pronounciation. for example, I know a little girl named Annah. When people see the 'h', they think her name should be pronounced "Onna." However, her mother just liked the extra 'h', and pronounces it ann-a (rhymes with banana).Lots of names with an 'a' in them can be pronounced 2 different ways. Take for example the name Tara. Do you pronounce it like tair-a or like tar-a? I've known people with both pronounciations. Most people are militant about their pronunciations as well. Many parents have discovered that by adding an 'h', it makes names more likely to be pronounced the way they want. Tahra, for example, would most likely be pronounced to rhyme with star rather than stair at first glance. However, be careful that the "h" doesn't change the pronounciation. For example, Kayhla might not look the same as Kayla at first glance.
You can also use an "H" to separate syllables, a la Johanna. In German, Johanna is pronounced /yo HAH na/, but in English, it is usually pronounced like Joanna. This trend has been popularized more by the singer Rihanna.
Tahra Siahra Amandah Michaelah Sahra Briahna Alexah Kaylah Tahlia Hahna Jennah Shaniah Kayhla Lihanne Briannah Karinah Alexahndra Mikhayla Alyssah Dakotah Mahli Emhily Kaylah Emmah 6. Mess around with long 'a'.
The long 'a' syllable is very trendy in the USA right now. Names like Katelyn, Kaylee, Jacob, Caleb, Nathan, Taylor and others are topping the baby names charts. Creative spelling-minded Parents are finding many ways to spell out the long 'a' sound. The most common ways are: just plain 'a' (like in Jada and Jaden), 'ai' (Aidan), 'ae' (Michaela), and 'ay' (Kayla).
a Kalin Mikala Kalee Caden Jada ay Kaylin Mikayla Kaylee Cayden Jayda ae Kaelin Mikaela Kaelee Caeden Jaeda ai Kailin Mikaila Kailee Caiden Jaida eigh Keighlin Mikeighla Keighlee Keighden Jeighda The long 'a' sound can also be made by "ei" and "ey". However, these combinations can also be pronounced like long 'e' (Leila sounds like Leela) and long 'i' (as in Maia). Be careful when using these combinations--they might mean a lifetime of your child saying "KAYLA! K-E-Y-L-A. Not Keela, not Kyla--Kayla!"
Keyla Leyla Jeyda Micheyla Keila Leila Jeida Micheila 7. Play with the -n ending
Many of today's names end in the 'n'. The sound before the 'n' best represented by a schwa (or upside-down 'e'). However, to spare your child the agony of learning this new letter, (any my computer doesn't even have one on it) you can try a variety of letters to make this sound. Just about any vowel will work. Ironically enough, even though the sound is closest to a short 'u' (as in "up"), the 'u' is probably the vowel that would work the worst in this position! Justun, Kevun, Karun, Kaylun? See what I mean?Madisyn Allisyn Brandyn Peytyn Jordyn Kevyn Madisen Allisen Branden Peyten Jorden Keven Madisan Allisan Brandan Peytan Jordon Kevon Madisin Allisin Brandin Peytin Jordin Kevan 8. Add a Silent "E"
Silent "e"s certainly make names look fancier. However, you know the old song "who can turn a van into a vane, who can turn a man into a mane...it's elementary for silent e..." Don't go too crazy, or you could change the whole pronounciation of your child's name. For example, does Robin = Robine?
Abigaile Autumne Robyne Shaye Eleanore Caitlynne Brittanye Blaire Taylore Starre 9. Replace an "s" with a "z"
Z is certainly more jazzy and has more zip and pizzazz than its soft, sleepy counterpart. Names like Zack, Zoe and Zane are climbing up the charts. Why not add a Z to a few names that already have the Z sound?Izaiah Alexzander Daizy Rozalyn Lyndzey Izabel Izaac Jazmine Suzanna Zavier 10. Add or take away double consonants
Do you really need the extra 'n' in Jennifer? Would Alyssa look better with two L's? Adding and taking away consonants is another common way to alter the spellings of names. However, be careful--sometimes you can alter the pronounciation as well. For example: Callie, Cali, and Calie. Which one whymes with "tally"? which one rhymes with "Hayley"?Take Away a Letter Add a Letter Jenifer Hayllie Jesica Emmily Britany Allyssa Alysa Rachell Tifany Sarrah Vanesa Maddison Isac Dyllan 11. Add a capital letter in the middle
Many times people with compound names add a capital letter in the middle. If you're using a surname with a Mc or a Mac, this is not such a big deal. MacKenzie is just as recognized as Mackenzie. Some people string together 2 names of people to make one name and capitalize the name in the middle to show the two names. For example, I know a girl named JoAnn. she was named after Grandpa Joe and Grandma Ann.LeeAnn MaKenna McKenzie KimberLee BriAnna MiKayla JoEllen BrookeLynn 12. Substitute "Ph" for "f" and vice-versa
After all, these both make the same sounds, why not? "ph" and "f" are used for different forms of the same names in many languages already! (like Raphael and Rafael)(see rule #4).Geophrey Christofer Jennipher Dafni Phaith Feebe Phiona Fillip Phylicia Josef/Josefine Tiphany Ralf Phallon Sofie Phelicity Stefanie
13. Add An Apostrophe
If a name begins with the sound of a letter (as in Emily=Em (M), Deandre=Dee (D) etc.), sometimes you can add an apostrophe in place of a vowel. Be careful, though. Many computer forms will reject the apostrophe and will print your child's name as Rriel instead of R'riel and K'lee becomes Klee, which changes the pronounciation.
M'ily D'Andre C'aira G'anna J'son K'lee R'riel Gabri'L D'anna J'don You can also use an apostrophe if a name starts with a quick consonant sound. Some people like to separate consonants with apostrophes as well. I think this second method is a little confusing. After all, the purpose of an apostrope is to replace a letter (i.e. don't=do not), but hey, whatever floats your boat!
M'Kayla K'sandra J'nay S'mantha M'chelle Sky'lar Jen'a Ai'sha Miche'lle
Putting it All Together
We don't advocate using more than one spelling change rule per name, however, some people do! Kreatyv Spellings such as Kaytelynne, Brytnee, Knicklaus, Dommenik, Konnyr, K'saundra, and Alyxzandra have been recorded. So, have fun. But remember, your child will spend his or her lifetime spelling the name out for people!