View Message

I love love the name, it's on my top list for the next baby. I adore it both spellings, but I think I'd go with the e over the a, simply because it looks a tad nicer, it's more mythological and I would rather it be correct and have to correct some people then "dumb down" for a small percent of people. I think it's lovely with Collin and Charlotte.

Go with Lorelei. Lorelai is a stupid spelling. I hate Gilmore Girls, anyway.

I much prefer Lorelei to Lorelai. I like Gilmore Girls as much as the next girl, but I prefer the traditional spelling. People will know how to pronounce it. I don't think changing one letter would be an "homage" to someone; I think Lorelai would just seem like you're naming her after the character on the show. Lorelei, Collin, and Charlotte is a cute sibset too imo.

I'd stick with Lorelei. It's not confusing, IMO, and I'll always pick a traditional spelling over a misspelling that sprang from pop culture.

---

I read your response to Anneza, and I have to caution you against counting on people's ignorance. When my aunt and uncle named their second daughter, they opted for "Jackelyn," rather than "Jacqueline." My aunt felt Jacqueline was too difficult, and that most people would automatically drop the "qu" when trying to spell it, since it's not strongly enunciated in many accents. The result is that my cousin has had a lifetime of people spelling her name wrong by choosing the most traditional, common, and accepted spelling, and my aunt and uncle, frankly, look stupid...like they are the ones who didn't know how to spell the name they chose for their own daughter.

---

Lorelei far outstrips Lorelai in usage (ranking #501 vs #800 in the most recent SSA data) and has a history that pre-dates Gilmore Girls. If there is a minority out there who can't grasp the pronunciation with the -lei spelling, so what? Why pander to their ignorance?

I would still stick with the Lorelei spelling and people can just get used to it!

---

Edited to add: If it's a mythology name you are after, have you considered Freya, Maeve, Clio, Luna, or the many others? These may be easier for people to understand and then you can eliminate that problem of people getting confused by Lorelei. Maybe you could use it as a mn instead?

This message was edited 12/28/2014, 3:15 PM

I think Lorelai makes the pronunciation clearer, but Lorelei looks much prettier, more "complete", and mythological-magical. I'm afraid Lorelei is one of those names that is destined to be misspelled no matter which version you pick anyways!

---

But, look on the bright side - whichever you choose, you're bound to get both spellings out of it when people try to write it for themselves. So you get it all! :)

---

I love Lorelei but it is a hell of a name to find a nice combo for (in my opinion). So I'll just throw some random ideas out there, and maybe you'll be inspired:

---

Lorelei Veronica
Lorelei Amelia
Lorelei Ada
Lorelei Eleanor
Lorelei Sophie
Lorelei Juliet
Lorelei Rose
Lorelei Melinda
Lorelei Elise
Lorelei Elizabeth, Lorelei Elisabeth
Lorelei Stella
Lorelei Maeve
Lorelei Eve

I think that Lorelei is good the way that it is.

Lorelei isn't what I'd call a classic name - I don't find cannibal mermaids remotely attractive, and nor did most namers until very recently - but the -lei spelling is accurate. The -lai spelling is irritatingly inaccurate and people will be constantly "correcting" it.

---

How is Lorelei confusing?

---

In your place, I'd name her Laura, Harriet, or Laura Harriet. Or Harriet Laura.