First name with most spelling variations?

[tdn]

What common first name has the most spelling variations with the same pronunciation? For instance, Mohammed and Muhammed are pronounced the same, but Mahmoud isn't, so doesn't count. Neither does Joe/Jose. Neither does Jon/John, as Jon is usually short for Jonathan.

I'm thinking that the winner has to be Kristin/Kristen/Christin/Christen etc.

[Avarie537]

I would guess "Caitlin."

Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Kaitlin, Katelynn, Katlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelin, Katlynn, Kaitlin, Caitlyn, Caitlynn.

[EvilTOJ]

I've seen Vikki, Vikky, Viki, Vykki, and Vycci. Seriously, the last one I just talked to a few minutes ago.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by EvilTOJ

I've seen Vikki, Vikky, Viki, Vykki, and Vycci. Seriously, the last one I just talked to a few minutes ago.

Vicki, Vickie, Vicky? Some of those are short for Victoria, but others clearly are not.

[Giles]

Originally Posted by EvilTOJ

I've seen Vikki, Vikky, Viki, Vykki, and Vycci. Seriously, the last one I just talked to a few minutes ago.

What about Vicki and Vicky?

However Catherine/Katharine/Cathrin/etc. has a lot of variations.

[RealityChuck]

From Thinkbabynames.com:

Catherine has 191 variant forms: Cait, Caitey, Caitie, Caitlin, Caitlinn, Caitrin, Caitrine, Caitrinn, Caitriona, Caitrionagh, Caity, Caren, Cari, Carin, Caron, Caronne, Carren, Carri, Carrin, Carron, Caryn, Carynn, Cass, Cassey, Cassi, Cassie, Cassy, Cat, Cataleen, Cataleena, Catalin, Catalina, Cataline, Catarina, Catarine, Cate, Cateline, Caterina, Catey, Catha, Cathaleen, Cathaline, Catharin, Cathatina, Catharina, Catharine, Cathatyna, Catharyne, Cathe, Cathee, Cathelin, Cathelina, Cathelle, Catherin, Catherina, Catherinn, Catheryn, Cathi, Cathie, Cathirin, Cathiryn, Cathleen, Cathlene, Cathline, Cathlyne, Cathrine, Cathrinn, Cathryn, Cathrynn, Cathy, Cathye, Cathyleen, Cati, Catia, Catie, Catlina, Catlaina, Catreena, Catrin, Catrina, Catrine, Catrine, Catriona, Catrionagh, Catryna, Caty, Cay, Caye, Cazzy, Ekaterina, Kait, Kaitey, Kaitie, Kaitlin, Kaitlinne, Kaitrin, Kaitrine, Kaitrinna, Kaitriona, Kaitrionaugh, Kaity, Karen, Karena, Kari, Karin, Karon, Karri, Karrin, Karyn, Karynn, Kasia, Kasienka, Kasja, Kaska, Kass, Kassey, Kassia, Kassy, Kasya, Kat, Kata, Kataleen, Katalin, Katalina, Katarina, Katchen, Kate, Katee, Katell, Katelle, Katenka, Katerina, Katerinka, Katey, Katinka, Katha, Katharine, Katharyn, Katharyne, Kathee, Kathelina, Katheline, Katherin, Katherina, Katherine, Katheryn, Katherynn, Kathi, Kathie, Kathileen, Kathiryn, Kathleen, Kathlene, Kathleyn, Kathline, Kathyleen, Kathrine, Kathrinna, Kathryn, Kathryne, Kathy, Kathyrine, Kati, Katica, Katie, Katina, Katka, Katla, Katlaina, Katleen, Katoushka, Katrena, Katrine, Katrina, Katriona, Katrionaugh, Katryna, Katushka, Katy, Katya, Kay, Kaye, Kit, Kittee, Kittie, Kitty, Trina, Trine, Trinette, Yekaterin and Yekaterina.

Many of these don't really fit into the question raised by the OP, but you're still left with around 100 that do.

[Ca3799]

I think 'Monique' may have a lot of spelling variations. Recently, I saw it spelled 'Maniaq'- LOL!
'Meet my daughter, Maniac!'

[Cat Whisperer]

"Your daughter's a maniac, a maniac on the floor..."

I agree with Catherine and all variations thereof.

[Zeldar]

First one to come to mind: Antoine. Sean is another.

[Ignatz]

My biggest problem is with Alan, Allan, Allen. My boss is one of them and I always have to look it up to get it right.

[Markxxx]

There's Marc, and Mark and Marq and Marck and Marke

I've known people with all those spellings and none were short for anything

[Drain Bead]

Antoine is pretty bad. A fun thing to do is look at early NFL preseason rosters and see how many different spellings of Antoine you can find. Highest I've seen is the low teens, and that wasn't counting Antonio.

[thelurkinghorror]

Originally Posted by Avarie537

I would guess "Caitlin."

Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Kaitlin, Katelynn, Katlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelin, Katlynn, Kaitlin, Caitlyn, Caitlynn.

Technically, Caitlin is the Irish version of Kathleen, and is pronounced similarly. Kaitlin, Catelynn, and all those are pronounced a bit differently.

Probably won't win, but:

Carrie, Cary*, Kari, Cari, Kerry, Kerri, Keri, Carey, etc.

I guess we should set a bar that each variant has to be in the top x names or appear on a baby name site or something. Else I could just say that Kreiaghhhj is a variant of "Craig."




*Usually male

[Blue Mood]

I agree that it's gotta be Katherine, with at least 32 variants, NOT including variants such as "Katharine" that would have three distinct syllables, or "Katrine" which would be pronounced differently.

Cathrin, Cathryn, Cathrinn, Cathrynn
Cathrine, Cathryne, Cathrinne, Cathrynne

Catherin, Catheryn, Catherinn, Catherynn
Catherine, Catheryne, Catherinne, Catherynne

Kathrin, Kathryn, Kathrinn, Kathrynn
Kathrine, Kathryne, Kathrinne, Kathrynne

Katherin, Katheryn, Katherinn, Katherynn
Kattherine, Katheryne, Katherinne, Katherynne

[Markxxx]

But K and C are pretty much interchangeable so that gives names with K and or C (as well as S and C) an advantage

[pravnik]

Lindsay has got to be up there somewhere, and in the running for surname as well. From "Clan Lindsay" on wikipedia:

Spellings
The Lindsays are arguably the clan with the most diverse variations when it comes to spelling their name. Known spellings include:

Limesay Linday Linde Lindeci Lindensay Lindesa Lindesaia Lindesaie Lindesans Lindesay Lindesaye Lindese Lindesee Lindesei Lindeseia Lindeseie Lindesey Lindesi Lindesie Lindesins Lindessay Lindessaya Lindessaye Lindessey Lindesseye Lindessi Lindesy Lindesye Lindeszey Lindey Lindiesay Lindisay Lindisin Lindissa Lindissai Lindissay Lindisseia Lindsa Lindsai Lindsay Lindsaye Lindsey Lindsseie Lindyesaye Lindyssay Lindyssey Linsai Linsaie Linsay Linsey Linsee Linsley Linzee Lyncay Lynde Lynddesai Lynddessay Lynddessaye Lyndesai Lyndesay Lyndeseia Lyndeseie Lyndesey Lyndeseye Lyndesheie Lyndeshey Lyndesie Lyndesins Lyndessai Lyndessay Lyndessaye Lyndessey Lyndessy Lyndesy Lyndesya Lyndey Lyndezay Lyndisay Lyndissai Lyndissay Lyndisseye Lyndsa Lyndsaia Lyndsaie Lyndsay Lyndsey Lyndseye Lyndsy Lyndysay Lyndyssay Lyndyssey Lynsay Lynse Lynsey

Clan Lindsay

[SciFiSam]

Originally Posted by thelurkinghorror

Technically, Caitlin is the Irish version of Kathleen, and is pronounced similarly. Kaitlin, Catelynn, and all those are pronounced a bit differently.

Probably won't win, but:

Carrie, Cary*, Kari, Cari, Kerry, Kerri, Keri, Carey, etc.

I guess we should set a bar that each variant has to be in the top x names or appear on a baby name site or something. Else I could just say that Kreiaghhhj is a variant of "Craig."




*Usually male

Do you count Carrie and Kerry as variants of the same name?

Originally Posted by Blue Mood

I agree that it's gotta be Katherine, with at least 32 variants, NOT including variants such as "Katharine" that would have three distinct syllables, or "Katrine" which would be pronounced differently.

Cathrin, Cathryn, Cathrinn, Cathrynn
Cathrine, Cathryne, Cathrinne, Cathrynne

Catherin, Catheryn, Catherinn, Catherynn
Catherine, Catheryne, Catherinne, Catherynne

Kathrin, Kathryn, Kathrinn, Kathrynn
Kathrine, Kathryne, Kathrinne, Kathrynne

Katherin, Katheryn, Katherinn, Katherynn
Kattherine, Katheryne, Katherinne, Katherynne

Yup, gotta be Catherine. Especially since you could include Katharine/Catharine with an a, too, as I've known a few people with that spelling who've pronounced it with two syllables, just like the spelling with an e.

[thelurkinghorror]

Originally Posted by scifisam2009

Do you count Carrie and Kerry as variants of the same name?

Etymologically and literally? No. But in practice, someone wants to name their precious Carrie, so decides to go with Kerry or invent Kerreigh or whatever.

[SciFiSam]

Originally Posted by thelurkinghorror

Etymologically and literally? No. But in practice, someone wants to name their precious Carrie, so decides to go with Kerry or invent Kerreigh or whatever.

I think that would only be in those areas where Kerry and Carrie sound the same. I thought that, even there, people would be aware they're not the same name, just like I know that write and right aren't the same word.

[WomanofScorn]

You wouldn't really think there could be many variations to Denise, but, behold:

Deniece, Dennise, Denyse, Deneese, Denese, Danise I've even seen a D'nise.

Sheesh.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I've seen Jasmine, Jazzmyn, Jazmin, Jasmyn, Jasmin, Jassmyn, Jazmyn and countless other variations.

[WhyNot]

My daughter's a Caileigh. (I only know one other that spells it that way.) In her preschool class were Kaylee and Callie, and she's got a cousin Kali (all pronounced "kay-lee"). Other variations include Caylee, Cayleigh, Kalee, Kallie, Callie, etc.

I'm not sure if it's the most, but it's got to be up there. I think it's a relatively new popular name that a lot of people like the sound of, but it's not so old or made famous by one person to cement just one or two spellings of it into our culture. I suspect that, if it doesn't have the most spelling variations in lists in books (which include historical or creative spellings not commonly used), it probably has the most spelling variations in widespread and common use today.

[pulykamell]

Originally Posted by WhyNot

My daughter's a Caileigh. (I only know one other that spells it that way.) In her preschool class were Kaylee and Callie, and she's got a cousin Kali (all pronounced "kay-lee").

Is KAY-lee for "Callie" a usual pronunciation? I've always heard it to rhyme with "tally," but I only know two Callies and they're both in their 30s, so perhaps it's a generational thing.

[WhyNot]

Originally Posted by pulykamell

Is KAY-lee for "Callie" a usual pronunciation? I've always heard it to rhyme with "tally," but I only know two Callies and they're both in their 30s, so perhaps it's a generational thing.

Her teacher said it's her second "KAY-lee" spelled that way, but yes, I would have guessed "to rhyme with 'tally'", myself.

(And don't get me started on Kali. I think I've ranted about that before. It just doesn't make sense!)

[OpalCat]

I came in to post my name, but it's Katherine, and already been mentioned repeatedly.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by scifisam2009

I think that would only be in those areas where Kerry and Carrie sound the same. I thought that, even there, people would be aware they're not the same name, just like I know that write and right aren't the same word.

You think the people that come up with abominations like Mykynzy care?

And that's just the worst one I could find where the pronunciation is obvious.