What do you think about what we call our kids?

My elder daughter is Kirstin, a popular Scottish variant of Kirsten, which appears throughout history in our family name. I had wanted to call her Chloé, but was overruled by a higher authority - Mrs.Lightning.
 

Capt Lightning said:
My elder daughter is Kirstin, a popular Scottish variant of Kirsten, which appears throughout history in our family name. I had wanted to call her Chloé, but was overruled by a higher authority - Mrs.Lightning.
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well Chloe is one of the most Common popular names in the Uk for girls.. so Kirstin was a better choice..
 

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hollydolly said:
...or in the case of the UK.. our most recent Prime Minister 's name wasn't even Boris... :D..his name is Alexander..
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He chose Boris over Alexander? Wow!

So many first names have common spelling variations that people need to spell them out, regardless how well-known the name might be. I've known some of each of the following:

Linda - Lynda - Lynnda
John - Jon
Mark- Marc
Neil - Neal
Jenifer - Jennifer
Carol - Carole
Karen - Caren
Hanna - Hannah
Sara - Sarah
Stephanie - Stefanie
Erma - Irma
Jerold - Gerald
Katherine - Katharine - Catherine
Steven - Stephen
Kristine - Christine - Khristine - Cristine (same variations but with an A at the end)
Derrick - Derek
Garrett - Garett - Gerit - Garret
Nicholas - Nicolas - Nickolas
Debra - Deborah

And so on.

As a few on this forum know, my real name isn't unheard of as a name - though it's never in the top 100. However, it's a well known word that's only four letters. Even so, I typically have to spell it out because it's a common Asian name, but with the final letter dropped.
 
StarSong said:
He chose Boris over Alexander? Wow!

So many first names have common spelling variations that people need to spell them out, regardless how well-known the name might be. I've known some of each of the following:

Linda - Lynda - Lynnda
John - Jon
Mark- Marc
Neil - Neal
Jenifer - Jennifer
Carol - Carole
Karen - Caren
Hanna - Hannah
Sara - Sarah
Stephanie - Stefanie
Erma - Irma
Jerold - Gerald
Katherine - Katharine - Catherine
Steven - Stephen
Kristine - Christine - Khristine - Cristine (same variations but with an A at the end)
Derrick - Derek
Garrett - Garett - Gerit - Garret
Nicholas - Nicolas - Nickolas
Debra - Deborah

And so on.

As a few on this forum know, my real name isn't unheard of as a name - though it's never in the top 100. However, it's a well known word that's only four letters. Even so, I typically have to spell it out because it's a common Asian name, but with the final letter dropped.
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The only Asian woman I've known in this area is Holly.. but I don't know if it's a common Asian name or not. She's Korean.
 
StarSong said:
So Cal has a very significant Asian population. My name with a different spelling is popular for boys and girls among Korean, Japanese and Chinese people.
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I have to say.. ( as I know your real name).. that I've never heard of any Asians here having the shortened spelling of your name...
 
hollydolly said:
I have to say.. ( as I know your real name).. that I've never heard of any Asians here having the shortened spelling of your name...
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I'm obviously sensitive to it - the first time I told my first name to someone who was filling out a form and was asked whether I spelled it with an E or without, I was nearly speechless. Now I half expect the question.
 
My wife was given the name Jacqueline, when born, but has gone by the name of Jacquie for her adult life. In this case, the shortened version was her choice . Not surprisingly, most folks use the more common Jackie when writing her name but at 86 I doubt if she's considering a spelling change.
 
DaveA said:
My wife was given the name Jacqueline, when born, but has gone by the name of Jacquie for her adult life. In this case, the shortened version was her choice . Not surprisingly, most folks use the more common Jackie when writing her name but at 86 I doubt if she's considering a spelling change.
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My cousin with that given name has always gone by "Jacky." Not sure why, just her preference, I guess.
 
I don't know about other places, but where I lived as a kid we were sometimes given a nasty rhyme that went with our name. I was Carol the barrel. I was stick thin so I have no idea where that came from. @JaniceM said her cousin went by Jacky which made me think about this. If she grew up where I did she'd probably be wacky Jacky or something. Kids are mean.
 
Capt Lightning said:
Mark or Marc? A story that a comedian told on radio, and swears that it is true....

He was in a pub waiting to get his drink, when he overheard a conversation between two female customers...

"...... has had her baby"
"What did she have?"
"it's a boy. They're calling him 'Mark', but with a 'C'.
There was a puzzled pause.....
"You mean 'Cark?' "
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jokes.gif
 
caroln said:
I don't know about other places, but where I lived as a kid we were sometimes given a nasty rhyme that went with our name. I was Carol the barrel. I was stick thin so I have no idea where that came from. @JaniceM said her cousin went by Jacky which made me think about this. If she grew up where I did she'd probably be wacky Jacky or something. Kids are mean.
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My sister's name is Jackie... we had the same rhyming thing when were kids.. she was called Jackie the Pak* couldn't get away with that now...
 
Capt Lightning said:
On reflection, it was a strange choice as it is taken to mean 'follower of Christ' - and we're all Humanists.
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I gave my daughter a name with an obvious meaning, like Rose. But no one ever said, "A beautiful flower." They'd exclaim something like, "The symbol of [whatever]!" Or even, "How did you know she'd have rosy cheeks?"

A Jeopardy contestant said her father gave her an unusual name because he didn't want a religious name. Then they found out that it meant Lord/God.

It seems one can't win.
 
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