The Power of Names
Jen recently posted a funny piece about names and the obnoxiousness that goes along with them. I tend to like names that are unique, but not too unique. A little bit traditional, but creative enough that not every person is walking around with the same name. I find it bizzare when people take a “normal” name and spell it so strangely you can’t figure it out. I think it’s helpful if you can look at a name and actually pronounce it. Somehow I think this is helpful in life, but perhaps I’m wrong.
A while back I stopped at a local coffee shop to grab a cup and the woman behind the counter asked my name so she could write it on the cup. I stated it and she said, ”Do you spell it K-O-R-T-N-I-E-E?”
I looked at her with that deer-in-headlights stare and said, quite slowly and deliberately, “No…. I spell it the normal way.”
She laughed, almost snorted, and said, “Well that’s how I spelled my daughter’s name. When she was younger she hated it. Now she thinks it’s cool.”
I grabbed my cup and turned away, refusing to even acknowledge her. I understand it’s your kid and so you have to right to name it whatever the hell you want. But now there is a girl out there who will grow up with the name Kortniee and everyone who meets her will automatically assume she’s a stripper. Because a normal person would have choosen to spell the name the usual – dare I say – the correct way. When you take a name as beautiful as mine and butcher it to the point where it is no longer a name, but a weird smashed up jumble of letters, well I take a little bit of offense to it.
And this isn’t an attack on people or their creativity. I understand the desire to give your child a slightly different name. But I also think that should be paired with a little bit of sensibility since they will have to live with it for the rest of their lives. And poor Kortniee is out there somewhere, probably going to law school because she feels the need to prove that she’s not a bimbo. Keep trying Kortniee, we’ll never believe you.
I really don’t get that. Seriously. Whether it is Madison or Madisyn it is still the same name! It’s not unique if you spell it different. Normal spellings, people. Just do it.
OMG! Well obviously I fall into this situation, however, my spelling is not completely crazy. I use to hate that my mom chose to be different because it was always spelled incorrectly. Now, I like it since it is somewhat unique, but still hate when people spell it incorrectly. The only time it doesn’t piss me off is in the situation where I did not spell it out for them but when people send me emails and it says “Amy” I get highly pissed because it’s spelt out in my damn email address. It’s a sore spot as you can see!
I am a victim of having a hard name to spell. I think I spell it the normal way, if there is one. But I’ve gotten a various array of mis-spellings, and I also have a quite difficult last name. It gets old after a while when people try and guess how to spell it…
I would have guessed XOURTNEII … that’s the common spelling around here…speaking of around here…we do have hash clubs…I found them…
I enjoy your blog…If I every get ambitious and figure out to post links to blogs I like…you will be there…big day I know…