Why do people think changing the spelling of a common name will make it more unique?

I don't get the trend of adding random letters to names. I recently saw Jacob spelled Jaykub. It's still the name Jacob, but now the kid will get made fun of.


Why not just give your child a unique name instead of weirdly spelled common name?

Why do people think changing the spelling of a common name will make it more unique?
I'm right there with you!





Aside from a few names with valid variant spellings - Katherine, Ann, Jonathan - I find that the changes almost always make the name less appealing.





Once upon a time, it used to be that someone might use Krystal instead of Crystal or Ami instead of Amy. Those were bad, but not trainwrecks.





But Krisstelle? Eighmey? And, oh heavens, Jaykub?





You're right. The name *sounds* exactly the same, but looks ridiculous.





I like an unusual name, but stocking up at the Vowel Store does not a distinctive name make!
Reply:I agree. It's a pet peeve of mine. However some people don't know how to spell so they sound it out and what they hear is the name....
Reply:I agree. My name is Erika, it's an alternative spelling to Erica but its not strange, it's definately heard, plus it's the German spelling. I get it mispelled so much, I can't imagine why people need to MAKE UP spellings to be different. I have seen it spelled Ericca, Eryka, Ericha and I think it's rediculous. And especially common spellings, people are definately going to need the kids to correct them.
Reply:Jaykub just looks phony, made up, %26amp; rediculous. Now that I look at it, Jaykub just looks kinda feminine. Girly version of Jacob. LOL!!! I really don't get it.......................... either.





That's overly, overly unique.
Reply:I agree with you about spelling common names in unique ways, it really is stupid, I know a girl named Christian, but it's spelled Khrystian or Kristopher instead of Christopher... but I know a family who adopted their little boy from Russia, and his name is Jaykub, that is a common alternate spelling in other countries.
Reply:Beautifully said. ;) And I couldn't agree more!





If baffles me that someone could think Jaykub or Emmuleigh in any way unique! They're still THE most common names out there ... only with the added misfortune of being misspelled. So not only do little "Jayk" and "Emmu" still have overwhelmingly common names in general, but their parents -- and, unfortunately, the children themselves -- will now be seen as ignorant to boot! Definitely a poorly-thought-out method of naming. :(





Especially when, as you mentioned, there are so many truly unique, intriguing, properly-spelled names to choose from. It seems those who purposefully misspell a common choice in the name of originality simply don't want the hassle of actively seeking out a name that actually IS uncommon. Shame!
Reply:Well cerain spelleings look prettier, like Ashley as Ashlee, or Micheala as McKayla, or Makayla. I think Jaykub is a bit much, but kids really don't get teased as much as parents think they do! I mean, besides parents who are teachers, how would parents know that their kid is getting teased?!? I should know, as I am a 6th grader, and never in my life have I seen a kid get teased because of their name! Only one kid in my grade ever gets teased but that's because she is a highly over-dramatic B***h!
Reply:I think it is for people too un-original to think of a good name on their own, so they change the spelling of one they have heard 1000 times and think themselves clever
Reply:i fully agree babes. people are tards.


at the end of the day, if its still said the same theres no point. the kid will have to write the messed up name on schoolwork, application forms, CVs.... god, how embarrassing!


and it probably doesnt make the kid unique, becuase chances are someone else out there is called the same thing, spelt the same way. its just condemning a child to a lifetime of humiliation, and difficulty for those it comes into contact with xxx
Reply:How do you spell ghetto? getoe?
Reply:Ew that spelling "Jaykub" looks ridiculous. I don't know why people do that. Like I named my daughter "Abigail" and people still ask me how I spelled that. How many ways are there to spell Abigail?? It's the most common name ever!
Reply:because, either way you spell it, it still says the same thing, so let parents spell their children names the way they want to,!
Reply:A "unique" (or idiotic, really) spelling does not make the name ANY different than its normally spelled counterpart. If the name sounds the same, it IS the same name....





I once saw the name Christel, and I had to have someone point out to me that it's pronounced like "Crystal"... sad....
Reply:I agree with you


A wrong spelling of a common name, does not make it unique, it's just a name spelled wrong


If there are three Jacob's in the class, they will be Jacob A, Jacob B and Jaykub C. It still is the same name.


I am not sure why people think using a common name, spelling it funny, makes it unique. It does not
Reply:I don't get the trend of people naming their kids impossible to spell, difficult to pronounce names. So many people want their child to be the only one on the planet with a certain name. All they're doing is condemning their children to a life of pronouncing and spelling their names for everyone they ever come in contact with. What's wrong with normal, regular names? Your child will still have his/her own personality!





*Just a small pet peeve of mine: nothing can be "more unique". That's a grammatical error that's becoming more and more common. "Unique" means one of a kind. Either it's unique or it isn't. %26lt;steps down off of soap box%26gt;
Reply:Because they are lame.
Reply:Unique names/spelling are highly overrated. Spellings like that don't make the name any better. They just make the parents seem illiterate.
Reply:I totally agree slaughtering an ordinary name just looks uneducated. I've seen Addilynn (supposed to be Adeline)! ICK!!!!
Reply:Most baby names books has a section where they suggest actually changing the spelling to make the name more unique.
Reply:it is a preference on the way the parents like the name spelled. take my name for instance. My name is Dedra but most people spell it Deidre as in Deidre Hall who plays on days of our lives. but both pronounced the same.