What constitutes a "creative" spelling?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2004
What constitutes a "creative" spelling?
9
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 10:55am

What constitutes a "creative" spelling?



  • A variation of a name which is not the most 'popular' way to spell it?
  • A spelling of a name not listed in baby books?
  • ANY name spelled differently than the most 'popular' spelling?
  • Thoughts on this???


You will not be able to change your vote.


Avatar for haarlasr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 11:16am
I voted a variation of a name that's not the most popular spelling, but that's not quite what I meant. Some names have several "standard" spellings (like Catherine/Katherine/Cathryn/Kathryn), and I don't think any of those would necessarily be considered "creative". Maybe they were at some point, but they're not anymore. Most names, though, probably have one main spelling, and the rest are variations of that.

Let's just say that I know a creative spelling when I see it. ;-)

Just my 2 cents,

Stephanie w/ Megan (6/6/03) and baby girl #2 due 11/25/04

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 11:34am
I voted for "a spelling not listed in baby name books" but I'd say a more accurate statement for how I feel about it is, "a spelling that is not one of the traditionally accepted variations". For example, I think Sean, Shawn, and Shaun are all traditional spellings (with Sean the most so), and they all reflect different cultures, etc that share the same name. However something like Shaywn (just made that up) is creative. Anything made up I'd call "creative spelling". I'm not a fan, lol.
Amy, mom to Nate (9), Calvin (7), and Tobias (4). You can find me at my blogs:

Avatar for mommy_times_3
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 3:51pm
I wasn't sure what to vote. There are some names that have lots of variations and there are some that don't. It really bothers my eye to see names that are so far off the standard spelling, it's like the parents sat there and tried to come up with every possible sound variation to change the spelling. For example- there is a poll below where Ethan is spelled Eathen. I just can't handle names being that scewed. Or when people substitute with a Y in every possible place (especially annoying with boy names).

There are some names (like Katelyn) that have so many different spellings, it doesn't really matter how it's spelled.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 7:32pm
I agree with Stephanie. Some names have a variety of widely accepted spelling variations (like my DD's name Kathryn for example). I don't consider these "creative spellings". To me creative spellings are those not listed in baby books. For example Cahrieghe instead of "Carrie", Mykull in place of "Michael", or Osstin for "Austin" etc.
Avatar for lesetlo
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 9:15pm
A spelling selected/created with the primary goal of being unlike any of the known spellings of a name, and usually deviating from common spellings in most/all syllables. My SIL's name, for instance, is an unusual and probably unlisted one, but only by one letter (double "f" in Jenniffer) and not with the goal of being unique. So close to "any spelling not listed in the baby books," but intentionality is a big factor. Creativity implies a particular intentionality, IMO, more than a particular result.

Ironically, tho, "creative" spellings usually follow pretty predictable patterns: y's for i's, k's for c's, f's for ph's (or vice versa), g's for j's (or vice versa), "eigh" for "ee," etc. I guess that's to be expected, though, since there are only so many substitutions one can make while remaining phonetically understandable.


Edited 10/26/2004 9:21 pm ET ET by lesetlo

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2004
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 10:57am
Any name that has to be spelled out for someone or corrected once spelled. Just like the examples given - Cahrieghe instead of "Carrie", Mykull in place of "Michael", or Osstin for "Austin" etc.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 2:31pm
I am a traditionalst by heart. I think that creative spellings just set the child up for a lifetime of mispronounciations, spellings and corrections.
Avatar for tuffykenwell
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Fri, 10-29-2004 - 2:11am

To use my sons name as an example: The name Rhys has 3 accepted spellings that I know of....


Rhys (the traditional Welsh)


Reese


Reece


anything other than that I would consider "creative"....so Rease or Reisse or whatever would be creative.


Steph

Steph, momma to Rhys - May 17, 2002

momma to

Rhys, Niamh, Isla and Deirdre!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Fri, 10-29-2004 - 9:43am
I'll ditto mommy times 3.. There are lots of accepted variants of certain names (Elizabeth & Mary come to mind first). I don't take everything I read in a baby name book as gospel and try to double and triple check their sources before I accept a spelling as "alternate". It also has to follow the rules of phonics, to me. "Y" substitutions for every available vowel just make me hysterical with laughter.. there are some vowels that "Y" will never sound like in a thousand years and folks who think that it does make me wonder if they managed to pass the 4th grade.

But I wouldn't blink at Catherine/Katherine or Elizabeth/Elisabeth.. But would at Kathyryn or Elysybyth.....