Vent, Rant & Cringe

[isoldereverie.livejournal.com]

So one of my best friends is due with her first child in a few weeks. They have had a name picked out for a while: Kenley. Now, this isn't my style, but I think it's ok. It's pretty straight forward. It feels familiar, if that makes sense, and it's not too "out there." I also haven't heard it before so there aren't dozens of Kenleys running around. Overall, I considered it a good name.

Then she announced yesterday that they changed the spelling to Kynlee. I wanted to throw up. That looks like Kine-lee to me and immediately puts it in the realm of wtf? spellings. I desperately want to "encourage" her to use the original spelling, but I have no idea what to say!! I don't understand why the change in spelling. I just don't get it. Maybe that would be a good starting point. Just ask why they like the crazy spelling better.

Should I even try to say anything? Am I over reacting? Does anyone else feel driven to save babies from bad names, especially when the (imo) slightly insane mother is a very close friend?

Comments

[mrsbenglish.livejournal.com]

You could just kindly tell her that spelling it differently makes it look like a completely different name...
If she's a close friend I'd hope she wouldn't get upset with you for sharing your opinion.

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

they're not even pronounced the same o_O
Kynlee, apart from awful, sounds more like Kin-lee, not Ken-lee.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

tell her that it looks more like kin-lee instead of ken-lee, and that it'll more than likely be pronounced incorrectly, which will be fristrating as anyone who's ever had their name mispronounced can tell you (weird names or otherwise)

[morphinae.livejournal.com]

Ugh, how trashy. I have no help though :( I've always found people are stubborn and will defend their choices till death (of the friendship).

[blosmbee.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say anything to discourage it. Baby naming is so personal, and you might put the friendship at risk.

One of my friends is naming her child something I don't really agree with. Pretty much all you can say it something like "Well, that's unusual! That name really fits with your and your DH's personality and style". You don't have to pretend to love the name, but you can't be rude about it either without a high risk of pissing off your friend. Her child's name will probrably be more important to her than any friendship, so keep your mouth shut, and snark out of her earshot ;P

[invisiblepet.livejournal.com]

While I agree with you that it is an awful spelling, I wouldn't say anything. It's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but it's not worth your friendship. It's not YOUR kid.

It always bothered me when people would throw in their .02 at my name ideas. If she's that set on it, let it go.

[lovablemess.livejournal.com]

You could tell her they're not pronounced the same? Otherwise, I'm not sure I'd be so straight forward in saying something.

[sittingsage.livejournal.com]

I agree with blosmtx and invisiblepet leave it alone and let it go if you value the friendship. The name and its spelling wont make the child any less wonderful/beautiful/bright--it will be the series of sounds that your friend uses to call the most amazing thing that she and her SO have ever created, if she loves the name, let it be.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I agree with a few other comments: they are not going to pronounced at all the same, and that's what you should let her know. Kynlee is going to be pronounced kin-lee. If she actually asks your for your opinion, let her know how ugly and trashy and tacky it is.

I wouldn't even consider those two the same names.

[jyl-mac.livejournal.com]

I would come straight out and say that in the English language there is no way that is not pronouced Kine-ley and remind her that her daughter will have to correct every single person she meets until the day she dies. ;]

[classiestkid.livejournal.com]

I feel like that spelling totally changes the pronunciation of the name, tell her if she wants anyone to say/spell it properly to keep the original spelling.

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

I would tell her that you like the name, but the spelling seems confusing, and that a lot of people will think it's pronounced Kin-lee instead. Don't say it's awful, but say that it's confusing, and that the original spelling is much more straight forward -- that's what I would do.

[helloxkellyyy.livejournal.com]

It's her child, let her spell it the way she wants.

[korrrrri.livejournal.com]

IMO none of us are really fit to judge what is horrible/great with names for anyone else. Everyone has different styles. If I were you I would question what made you fit to decide all different spellings make for bad names. How would you feel if someone told you that your name was horrible because of some set reason? I know I wouldn't like it.

[singhappy02.livejournal.com]

I've met a couple Kenley's in my time, but at least spelled Kinley.

May I ask where you're from? Because honestly if you're down south anywhere...it's going to be pronounced Kyn-lee no matter how she spells it. I have a cousin named Kensley (maiden name on her mom's side) and it's always Kyns-lee....never Khens-lee

[singhappy02.livejournal.com]

ETA: This was not to slam the south. I am a born and raised Southerner.

[memorymaze.livejournal.com]

I prefer Kenlea, but that's the name of the street I grew up on, so I'm biased.

Kynley is awful.

Kenley good.

Kinley ok.

[moobiewons.livejournal.com]

I think Kynlee is awful as well, but I wouldn't say anything if she doesn't ask for your opinion.

In the end, the truth is that it's really none of your business since it's her kid and not yours.

[the-good-ship.livejournal.com]

Maybe you could mention in a round about way that it's a pretty unusual name anyway, so why is the "unique" spelling needed. That's if that's the reason they've gone for that spelling.

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

The "some set reason" being typical American pronunciation? It's not like we arbitrarily decided it was stupid (okay, I'd think Kenlee was dumb too). Kynlee honestly would not be pronounced the same as Kenley. It just isn't.

It's like the difference between Kellie and Kylie. They don't make the same name.

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

It is totally true though. Short i and short e are almost always pronounced the same way here. I honestly can't even distinguish between them anymore if other people are saying them differently.

[twitchywoman.livejournal.com]

I am just reminded of that Bulgarian version of American Idol contestant with Kenley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RgL2MKfWTo

[veracity]

Kynlee looks cheap in my opinion; something you'd see on Maury or Springer. Which means when she applies for things like college, jobs, an official documents, she'll have to fight the negative first impression. Not to mention the constant misspellings on things like yearbooks, school documents, passports, licenses, etc will mean having to go back continuously to get corrections. It's going to make her life that much difficult. Kenley is unique enough that she'll stand out and it'll be a conversation starter without costing a first impression.

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

Amen.

I also say that if you really feel strongly about it, bring it up gently when she's in a relaxed mood. I wouldn't let it go, just because she's trying to be distinguished.

[veracity]

Exactly. Don't bring it up in the middle of an argument or a stubborn moment because she might just get completely married to the idea for that reason, and the child will end up with the larger cost. *says the girl who was almost named Misty Morning.*

[0o-faerie.livejournal.com]

Just do as you planned: ask why she changed the spelling. Just don't ask: 'Why in the world did you change it to that ridiculous cheap tacky spelling?!' ;)

If she did it to be more 'unique', point out all the Madysyns and Jaydins walking around. A stronger argument however, is the one some other people have mentioned already: Kynlee is not pronounced like Kenley, and will be often misspelled.

If she's not convinced...just leave it. Good luck!

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

I think you know what you're taking about then! Misty Morning? Wow.

[veracity]

I know, right? Guess what kind of morning I was born on? The funniest thing would have been that as a night owl, I hate mornings. I'm so glad my godmom suggested Jessie, which my dad morphed into Jessica. Original it's not, but it's better than Misty Morning. My initials would have been MMH. That just doesn't look right for some reason.

[fleckerbug.livejournal.com]

It is horrible. I don't really care for the name but it was at least palatable without the new spelling. I also don't think it looks like Ken-lee or Kine-lee, But Kin-lee. If your close friends, I'd just tell her that kre8tyvlee spelled names are somewhat tacky (say it more nicely, lol), but also that their new spelling changes the pronunciation.. suggest that even if they want an interesting spelling it helps to still have it spelled correctly.

[idrinkacidrain.livejournal.com]

My god, me too. And they don't seem to understand that I'm attacking the name, not them, and even with my proper retaliation ("I know a girl Ashley." "Doesn't make Ashley a girl's name, I could be named Refridgerator or Desktop and it wouldn't be a name, I know a boy named Sarah etc. whatever." "Yeah.. but... HER NAME IS ASHLEY!!!!" ) they are stubborn and tend to hate me, even though I don't comprehend why.