[pie_eater]

We had a local basketball team where every girl on the starting lineup was named “Katelyn” and all were spelled differently.

I propose we take all names, put them into a computer that separates them by sound, and whatever the most popular spelling of that name is, everyone with that name gets the same spelling. So if I ask someone what their name is and they say “Haley”, I don’t then have to ask “how do YOU spell that?” So Allison, Alison, Allisyn, Alisyn, Alysin, Allysin, and Allysyn all get one spelling. I don’t care which one wins, but we as a people need to agree that all we are doing is screwing up our childrens’ future by giving them a stupid way to spell their names.

[KarlInOhio]

I propose we take all names, put them into a computer that separates them by sound, and whatever the most popular spelling of that name is, everyone with that name gets the same spelling.

I'll agree only if you make all of the people named Carl change their names.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I don’t think it’s anyone’s business what parents want to call their children or how people choose to spell their names.

[Bluebird Singing]

NOOOOOO! For some people, spelling has personal meaning.

For all of those spellings of “Allison” you posted, I can understand why there might be variations. I disagree. I think variety is fun. : ))

“Alison” was originally a boy name, anyway. So you have accepted something that was once non-traditional: girls having boy names.

http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Alison

[Fiji Hill]

I agree that we should, indeed insist on the correct spelling of names. “Lawrence,” “Ann,” “Linda,” and “Lynn” are frequently misspelled. “Nannette” seems to be misspelled more often than it is spelled correctly (spelling it with only two “n’s” is wrong). Even the wife of George W. Bush’s vice president insisted on spelling her first name wrong!

[kitkat]

>>>I propose we take all names, put them into a computer that separates them by sound, and whatever the most popular spelling of that name is, everyone with that name gets the same spelling.>>>

Years ago, my son had a girlfriend named Laurie. At least I assumed that was the correct spelling because it was what we were all used to. I left a note on the refrigerator in which I spelled her name “Laurie.” Son was unhappy that I misspelled her name and said that it was spelled “Lori.”

I left a second note which said simply, “Sori, Lori.” Son was even more upset.

I’m still laughing.

On another note, I feel sorry for the teachers who have to remember all the new spellings.