http://pollysweet.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] pollysweet.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] babynames2008-01-15 04:34 pm

Spelling question

 Ok, first time in this community! I love talking names but we already picked out our girl name about a month ago... just two weeks after finding out that we are having a girl. 
There is still some debate over how to spell it. We are pretty sure how we want to spell it, but I am curious of others thoughts. My husband is too....
As of now her name is Zoey Violet.  How many of you think it is wrong if it isn't spelled Zoe?  

Some of our reasoning is- For one thing, my husband's name is Joe but he goes by Joey. (some may think this is a good reason not to use the name but he loves that it is close to his name and I love the name itself and am suprised he is letting me have it! So I am ok with that) But it would seem silly to spell hers differently ... sort of breaking the house rule... right?
Also, we both agree that when you read the name Zoe... though you know how to pronounce it, it is a name that sort of stops the eye for a second while your brain says.. (that is Zohee-not Zo) That bugs me.
Also, we live in the south, it isn't a common name here- (I don't know if it is common anywhere else either) and I hate to say it but there are many people in our area who probably are not familiar with the name. (including in our family).

Hubby thinks that when she grows up she might want it changed. I say she can drop the Y if she wants to later. 

I would love to know what you all think ... with all of this in mind. TIA!!

[identity profile] sweatydog.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Zoey has always looked better to me. I always want to pronounce "Zoe" like "Joe" and If people can mispronounce my name as common as it is people will definitely miss pronounce "Zoe" I say make it as easy to figure out as possible or or else she'll spend a life time of correcting people.

[identity profile] krysteener.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I love the name either way.

If you think that people in your area aren't familiar with it/won't pronounce it right, then go with Zoey.

I've actually never considered that Zoe looks like Joe and should be the same lol But that's so true. And other people might think that too.

All that said, I do prefer Zoe.

[identity profile] krysteener.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I love Zoey Violet btw.

[identity profile] sotypical42483.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I would still spell it Zoe. That name has to be getting more popular, esp because of Chloe, so I think people will be more familiar with it when she is hitting grade school age and stuff than you realize. How often are people going to see her name and then have to say it without her saying it first anyway? maybe in school and stuff, but a simple "It's Zoe *correct prn*" takes 2 seconds.

[identity profile] sweatydog.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
You'd think so, but my name was #3 in popularity the year I was born and people still had a problem with it.

[identity profile] sotypical42483.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
People are stupid and will have a problem with any name. I don't think people spell their kids name based on how dumb other people are.

[identity profile] sweatydog.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
No, but it sucks and I think people should at least consider how their kids will feel about it.

[identity profile] neroli.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
I fear some do! Exhibit A (http://www.newbabynews.net/hospitals/mmc1/public/mmc1birthannouncement.pl?babyID=h1-6913)

[identity profile] freezemyazaleas.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I like Zoey a lot better than Zoe.

[identity profile] rowan-belle.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I like the look of Zoey so much better.

[identity profile] miss-tee.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Zoey Violet

[identity profile] corielcries.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
When I was younger I used to think Zoe was just Zo instead of Zoey. I think Zoey looks more complete then just Zoe.

[identity profile] tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
The y is redundant, I think. It's definitely Zo-ee and people will pronounce it correctly. With the y, it seems like you're saying "Really, her name is zo-EE, people!" I'd just go with Zoe. It looks more sophisticated, cleaner, and correct. Zoey looks kind of childish.

[identity profile] sandtree.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
I agree.

[identity profile] alexandria-skye.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
thirded
the extra y looks *really* weird to me...
:)

(zoe violet is cute!)

[identity profile] coolteamblt.livejournal.com 2008-01-18 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Fifth. I just think it looks wrong.

[identity profile] easter.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
Spell it how it's supposed to be spelled and people will deal. I think Zoey looks silly for an adult but Zoe is really classy looking for all ages.

[identity profile] tokyo.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
I think Zoey looks better. :)

[identity profile] cherrysorbet.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
I don't really like the name either way, but I think I prefer Zoe...

[identity profile] jordle.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 07:20 am (UTC)(link)
I love Zoey spelt with the y. I think it looks much prettier. My best friend is Zoe but if I was ever going to use it (I wouldn't! but if I was) I'd definitely spell it Zoey.

[identity profile] bobinwales.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 10:18 am (UTC)(link)
How many of you think it is wrong if it isn't spelled Zoe?
Mee! Haha. I don't know, it just looks like you've added a random letter on to make it match your husbands name!

Just use Zoey as a nn. I think it sound's really 'little kid'-ish. I don't know. Does that make any sense?

[identity profile] glitterberrys.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I prefer Zoe myself, and it's close to Joe, even thought they don't rhyme :) Zoey looks too cluttered or something to me.

Cute name, though :)

[identity profile] glitterberrys.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I also can't picture "Zoey" on an adult. Zoe works for a kid and an adult, IMO.

[identity profile] th3-unicorn.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
*raises hand* I do.

Zoey is so nick-namish and she's gonna spend the rest of her life adding that extra y everytime she's having people write down her name. Then everytime after that she's gonna say "Thank you, mommee".

[identity profile] kyo-o.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Zoey looks very very silly and has allways struck me as slightly kre8tyve. Zoe, however, is a lovely name!

[identity profile] schuklins.livejournal.com 2008-01-16 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
My niece's name is "Zoe" (pronouced "Zoe-ee"). They actually write it with an accent over the "e."

[identity profile] yellowsummers.livejournal.com 2008-01-17 02:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I think there was a Zoe on some show I watched when I was little, so the pronunciation has always been easy for me. I don't like the look of Zoey.

[identity profile] the-good-ship.livejournal.com 2008-01-20 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Zoey looks silly to me.
However, where I live I think most people would know how Zoe is pronounced, so it's not a problem.