# Help me spell my daughter's name! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316 "2003-01-27T19:46:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/61 "2003-01-30T07:36:27Z")
Alison. I’d add more comment, but I’m off to put on an Elvis Costello cd. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/62 "2003-01-30T08:20:49Z")
another vote for a standard spelling “Alison” or “Allison”. She can always modify it when she hits those teenage years and get in peoples faces about spelling it Aellysone or whatever to prove her individuality. It’s another thing to have to correct other people when she’s just a little one. Christ, I’m sick of all these trendy alternative spellings. I’m all for traditional ethnic spelling if it means something special to you. Baby name books and on-line sites boasts of thousands of names, when it should be thousands of variations. ---
**Author:** ![Shemem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Shemem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shemem)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/63 "2003-01-30T08:48:07Z")
We have an Alison in our family, and we do call her Al. Though she is forever irked that her last name also ends in “-son.” ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/64 "2003-01-30T12:16:09Z")
Personally, I think that, if your last name is difficult in any way, you should go with the standard spelling. We named our kids with the default versions of their names (Nicholas and Dorothy). Good choices as it turned out because our last name is VERY unusual and we have to spell it every time we give it – every single time. It lessens the annoyance somewhat to not have to spell both names. My husband’s first name is also the default version (Kevin), so he, like the kids, only has to spell (and spell and spell) the pesky last name. Me, I didn’t get so lucky. My name is Tamara, so I usually have to spell it too – it is the standard spelling, but many people aren’t familiar with it. And, if I use my nickname I _always_ have to spell it – there are just too many versions of Tammy/ Tammi/ Tami. This is why I call myself Jess! Your choice for your daughter (very pretty, BTW) will be complicated by the fact that there is no consensus on the default spelling, other than that there should be no ‘y.’ So go with Allison or Alison, whichever you prefer and she’ll soon learn to say “With one ‘l’ (or two 'll’s).” Jess ---
**Author:** ![Buckeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@Buckeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckeye)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/65 "2003-01-30T13:41:23Z")
I’m with Jess. I have a horrible last name that has to be spelled everytime. I gave my daughter a variation of a name that should start with K, but I used a C. She absolutely hates that I did. She can find absolutely nothing with her name on it, and now she has to spell her first and last name for everyone. That’s what I get for trying to make her unique. It really worked!:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/66 "2003-01-30T14:24:23Z")
Another vote with Jess; my last name is **guaranteed** to require spelling, so I’m glad I’m a Nicholas (or Nick, as it turns out). Granted, the name thing might be different in the UK where I’m from, so perhaps this only counts for half a vote, but… Oh, and over here, Alison (one ‘L’) is the norm (and a _very_ nice name, btw). ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/67 "2003-01-30T14:38:47Z")
Throatwarbler Mangrove ---
**Author:** ![Rosebud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rosebud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rosebud)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/68 "2003-01-30T14:54:16Z")
I like “Alyson.” Though, inspired by lsura, I’d also like to suggest this: _~AlYsOn~_ ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/69 "2003-01-30T16:17:02Z")
Yet another vote for “Alison” or “Allison.” A couple of the Y spellings look nice, but it’ll be a major pain for her down the road. I’ve usually seen the two-L spelling, but either is fine in my book. Sometimes people can’t spell the traditional spellings, either. “Rachel.” Not “Rachael,” thought that IS an accepted variant, and depending on the situation I don’t always correct it. But never ever ever “Racheal.” And only one person ever got away with calling me “Rach.” I HATE that. Excuse my vent. My last name is not uncommon but nobody can spell it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/70 "2003-01-30T22:05:05Z")
It’s a lovely name. Be wise - listen to the advice posted here. Do not be cutesy. Avoid the Ys. Every time I’ve seen it spelled with a Y in this thread, I’ve pronounced it in my head as “Alley-son.” With the long e sound - “Alley-son.” Every time it was spelled with an I, I’ve pronounced it in my head normally. Think on this - others will use the same pronounciation. Unless, of course, that’s what you want. Two Ls, one L - that doesn’t matter so much. But the Y 1) is annoying; and 2) changes the pronounciation. Snicks ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/71 "2003-01-30T23:32:33Z")
As it turns out, “Allison” is a much more common spelling in the U.S. Allison was the 44th most popular baby girl name in 2001. Alison was 231st. Allison has been the more popular spelling since the 1960s. In the 1950s and before, Alison was more popular, but the name wasn’t used much at all. [http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babynames.cgi](http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babynames.cgi) FWIW, I still like “Alison” better. ---
**Author:** ![benson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@benson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benson)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/72 "2003-01-31T00:58:38Z")
I’m an Allison. My mom picked my name, dad picked the spelling. I’m eternally grateful that he chose to spell it with two L’s. I think it looks better that way (or maybe I’m just used to it). I loved Alyson and Allyson when I was a kid and wished that my parents had chosen to spell it either way but now I realize what a headache it would be! Most people seem to automatically spell it with two L’s without asking. They never ask about whether it is Y or I. I already have to spell my last name three times for people, I would hate to have to go through that with my first name. Plus if you use Allison, you can buy all the cutesy name stuff for your kid and it will most likely be there. I hardly see Alison anymore, and never Alyson or Allyson. So obviously, my vote goes for Allison. Maybe I’m just biased, but I honestly like it best. What a great name you’ve chosen. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316/73 "2003-02-01T00:05:29Z")
Due to the fact that my parents wanted to get arty, I have an unconventionally spelled first name. Frankly, it’s a pain in the clacker. I’m even giving substantial thought to changing it legally. I still won’t rule it out. In order to get around the whole thing, I go by the name “Nick”. Just that - an ordinary spelling that no-one can fuck up, right? The only problem is that anyone who knows how to spell my name (having been corrected, on average, 60,000 times) loses the ability to spell “Nick”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-spell-my-daughters-name/151316.md?page=3)