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Help[Opinions] Re: Havyn
in reply to a message by Geri
It doesn't really "look uneducated" in real life, on a real person, IMO ... unless that person comes across as uneducated. What people perceive when they see an unfamiliar spelling, is lower status than a familiar name with a "correct" spelling. Lower status than the judging person sees herself as having. Because we feel dumb when we don't know how to read a name - we expect to be able to read your name, and if we can't, we'd rather decide it's you who is dumb.
One can rationalize that there is a "correct" spelling that does not use a Y, of which someone might seem "ignorant." Nevermind that replacing vowels with y has been used to indicate a personal name for a long time, and by many kinds of people.
When it's not attached to a person, doesn't a name with a Y in in look ... you know ...a little ... mediocre? I dunno, look at some, and compare your reaction to them, with your reaction to the Y-less versions. Maybe you see what I mean?
Katheryn, Carolyn, Camryn, Dyann, Edyth, Allyson, Robyn, Jayne, Krysti, Karyn, Jacquelyn, Elayne, Lynda, Caitlyn, Angelyn, Lyndsay, Danyelle, Madyson, Madelyn, Olyvia, Mykenzie, Jordyn, Ryley, Lauryn, Jasmyn, Devyn, Jadyn, Kevyn, Ashtyn, Ayden, Destyni, Macyn, Haydyn, Tristyn, Addisyn, Jayce, Iyla ...
versus Katherine, Caroline, Cameron, Diane, Edith, Alison, Robin, Jane, Christy, Karen, Jacqueline, Elaine, Linda, Caitlin, Angeline, Lindsay, Danielle, Madison, Madeline, Olivia, Mackenzie, Jordan, Riley, Lauren, Jasmine, Devin, Jaden, Kevin, Ashton, Aidan, Destiny, Mason, Hayden, Tristan, Addison, Jace, Isla ...
These lists look different to me. The latter one just makes me feel more comfortable. You?
To me it's like, the less familiar a Y-name is, and the more familiar the conventionally spelled version is, the less "classy" and more try-hard they look. It doesn't really affect how much I like them, tastewise. I either like them or I don't. But when they're unfamiliar, or are words (like haven), that Y is what I'll grab onto as a reason it looks bad to me.
Pretty much all names that are surnames, or have some alteration off a conventional spelling, or are unusual word-names, come off as effortful, at least on paper. I mean, they're liable to be interpreted as "lower-class-than-I-strive-to-be" by many people, because they draw attention and force you to learn something outside your experience - as if they were asserting that the named person is so important and special, you ought to try. As if they needed to assert that.
Personally I don't think Havyn looks awful. It's about like Robyn - I have to learn it, but it's not difficult, and I assume the y is to distinguish it as a name and not a word.
Unless you don't pronounce it as haven ... then it's too much, too distracting and demanding for me to like.
I think if it's said like "havin'" that's ... well, the word having isn't namey. It'd be pretty weird. People are teachable though, and if people like the person they'll learn not to mind the name.
By the way I named my kid a name with an unconventional spelling and (to some) a non-intuitive pronunciation. I decided I didn't give a rip if it annoyed people. So I'd be a hypocrite if I told you you ought not name your daughter Havyn "have-in". Go ahead ... all I'd suggest is, just be sure that you'd want to be named that, yourself.
- mirfak
One can rationalize that there is a "correct" spelling that does not use a Y, of which someone might seem "ignorant." Nevermind that replacing vowels with y has been used to indicate a personal name for a long time, and by many kinds of people.
When it's not attached to a person, doesn't a name with a Y in in look ... you know ...a little ... mediocre? I dunno, look at some, and compare your reaction to them, with your reaction to the Y-less versions. Maybe you see what I mean?
Katheryn, Carolyn, Camryn, Dyann, Edyth, Allyson, Robyn, Jayne, Krysti, Karyn, Jacquelyn, Elayne, Lynda, Caitlyn, Angelyn, Lyndsay, Danyelle, Madyson, Madelyn, Olyvia, Mykenzie, Jordyn, Ryley, Lauryn, Jasmyn, Devyn, Jadyn, Kevyn, Ashtyn, Ayden, Destyni, Macyn, Haydyn, Tristyn, Addisyn, Jayce, Iyla ...
versus Katherine, Caroline, Cameron, Diane, Edith, Alison, Robin, Jane, Christy, Karen, Jacqueline, Elaine, Linda, Caitlin, Angeline, Lindsay, Danielle, Madison, Madeline, Olivia, Mackenzie, Jordan, Riley, Lauren, Jasmine, Devin, Jaden, Kevin, Ashton, Aidan, Destiny, Mason, Hayden, Tristan, Addison, Jace, Isla ...
These lists look different to me. The latter one just makes me feel more comfortable. You?
To me it's like, the less familiar a Y-name is, and the more familiar the conventionally spelled version is, the less "classy" and more try-hard they look. It doesn't really affect how much I like them, tastewise. I either like them or I don't. But when they're unfamiliar, or are words (like haven), that Y is what I'll grab onto as a reason it looks bad to me.
Pretty much all names that are surnames, or have some alteration off a conventional spelling, or are unusual word-names, come off as effortful, at least on paper. I mean, they're liable to be interpreted as "lower-class-than-I-strive-to-be" by many people, because they draw attention and force you to learn something outside your experience - as if they were asserting that the named person is so important and special, you ought to try. As if they needed to assert that.
Personally I don't think Havyn looks awful. It's about like Robyn - I have to learn it, but it's not difficult, and I assume the y is to distinguish it as a name and not a word.
Unless you don't pronounce it as haven ... then it's too much, too distracting and demanding for me to like.
I think if it's said like "havin'" that's ... well, the word having isn't namey. It'd be pretty weird. People are teachable though, and if people like the person they'll learn not to mind the name.
By the way I named my kid a name with an unconventional spelling and (to some) a non-intuitive pronunciation. I decided I didn't give a rip if it annoyed people. So I'd be a hypocrite if I told you you ought not name your daughter Havyn "have-in". Go ahead ... all I'd suggest is, just be sure that you'd want to be named that, yourself.
- mirfak
This message was edited 1/10/2019, 10:06 AM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I'm okay with y spellings in some names (although they can be a nuisance; I said "no, with a Y" for years until I stopped bothering and let people misspell my nickname).
Word names are different, though...it almost seems disingenuous to me when they're changed? I wonder, why pick a word name if you don't actually like the word? It's like the parents are trying to disconnect sound from meaning, which is a futile endeavor when the sound is recognizable as a word...I don't understand why it'd be worth it, especially since most of the words are already relatively uncommon as names.
Word names are different, though...it almost seems disingenuous to me when they're changed? I wonder, why pick a word name if you don't actually like the word? It's like the parents are trying to disconnect sound from meaning, which is a futile endeavor when the sound is recognizable as a word...I don't understand why it'd be worth it, especially since most of the words are already relatively uncommon as names.
This message was edited 1/10/2019, 12:05 PM
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I totally agree.
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Well, I basically agree with you - if I recognize a word-name, then it just looks to me like a confusing error, and think why would you want to separate a word-name from the word? But, if it's not too aesthetically displeasing to me, I get used to it quickly. I'm accustomed to learning fairly arbitrary name spellings. Elisabeth, Norah, Aiden, etc. Even when I don't find them aesthetically pleasing myself. I do find some respellings pleasing, so I try to understand them that way.
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