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babynamesI know this is not something most people think about a lot but I guess it could never be far from my head and I tend to look at names with three (or sometimes four, but rarely) different perspectives. I speak fluently 2 languages, not so fluently but still good enough 3 and add in all the other languages I catch on after a few minutes of listening to it it goes up to 5 or 6. Because of this, it's hard for me to see these names being spelled like they 'sound' and not see them as names that make no sense.
I know not a lot of people think on this but I don't know... I mean languages and traveling is something I grew up believing to be extremely important and when I have children the idea of them speaking only one language is kind of... out the window, so I tend to go for correctly spelled named because of things like this.
Everyone in any language that uses the alphabet English uses is going to recognize Olivia, even if the sound changes from one language to another it is a solid true name. Now, what happens when someone who doesn't speak English sees the name Alivia? Well to Spanish speakers the sound changes dramatically and French speakers would probably not even recognize it. Sure, names won't all sound right in all languages but they can be recognized. My sister's name changes in our main three languages but no matter where she works Irene will always be a recognizable name to her bosses, clients and co-workers, no matter if it's pronounced EYE-reen, ee-WREN-nay or ee-WREN. Of course this also happens to names that are a bit more obscure, like for example Aurora. Sure, the pronunciation of said name changes dramatically but it is also recognizable.
The point is, we want the absolute best for our kid's future and sure, names sometimes are nuts and change but I think people should think really on the future a lot more and when you think of misspelling a name think about if that's truly a) necessary and b) optimal for a child's future. Of course naming is your decision and I am *not* saying that you should think of every name out there and try and pronounce them in different languages because that's something that not even I do and some names will not be able to be pronounced in every language or will be extremely difficult (one of my favorite names, Rhiannon, is a tongue twister to my parents) but when you have a name that is in the popular range like Ophelia, Olivia, Elijah, etc. then changing them to Afilia, Alivia and Elyjah only makes it dumb, unrecognizable and honestly changes the whole name! Not to mention... it makes parents look dumb.
I know not a lot of people think on this but I don't know... I mean languages and traveling is something I grew up believing to be extremely important and when I have children the idea of them speaking only one language is kind of... out the window, so I tend to go for correctly spelled named because of things like this.
Everyone in any language that uses the alphabet English uses is going to recognize Olivia, even if the sound changes from one language to another it is a solid true name. Now, what happens when someone who doesn't speak English sees the name Alivia? Well to Spanish speakers the sound changes dramatically and French speakers would probably not even recognize it. Sure, names won't all sound right in all languages but they can be recognized. My sister's name changes in our main three languages but no matter where she works Irene will always be a recognizable name to her bosses, clients and co-workers, no matter if it's pronounced EYE-reen, ee-WREN-nay or ee-WREN. Of course this also happens to names that are a bit more obscure, like for example Aurora. Sure, the pronunciation of said name changes dramatically but it is also recognizable.
The point is, we want the absolute best for our kid's future and sure, names sometimes are nuts and change but I think people should think really on the future a lot more and when you think of misspelling a name think about if that's truly a) necessary and b) optimal for a child's future. Of course naming is your decision and I am *not* saying that you should think of every name out there and try and pronounce them in different languages because that's something that not even I do and some names will not be able to be pronounced in every language or will be extremely difficult (one of my favorite names, Rhiannon, is a tongue twister to my parents) but when you have a name that is in the popular range like Ophelia, Olivia, Elijah, etc. then changing them to Afilia, Alivia and Elyjah only makes it dumb, unrecognizable and honestly changes the whole name! Not to mention... it makes parents look dumb.
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Date: 2009-12-30 12:07 am (UTC)I only speak English fluently, so I only worry about what a name will sound like/if it will be easily pronounced in English. Not that that is really the ultimate determinant for me, since I would definitely use Saoirse, and I do like Niamh. I took French for six years and Spanish for one and I have no idea how any of my names would be pronounced in those languages.
I just wouldn't change the spellings of the names I like because I don't feel the need to be creative. My only choices are when it's something like Sebastian (which I hate) or Sebastien (which I love) - when a name has more than one legitimate, commonly accepted, spellings.