Hurricanes always used to have female names. Then, some years ago, they started alternating year to year. In odd numbered years they would continue to use female names. In even numbered years, they use male names. Andrew came in 1992. This year we’re doing guys names, and so far we’ve had Charley, Gaston, and…FRANCIC. Not FRANCES.
I wouldn’t get my knickers in a twist if it were just ordinary people making this mistake. After all, Francis isn’t that common a name anymore. But when I see the same error being made in prominent TV shows and newspapers, it just sticks in my craw, I tell you.
Dude, the S of P should know better by now. If every single media outlet including the guys doing the briefing direct from NOAA were getting the name ‘wrong’, I might do a little research before starting a Pit thread.
I blame all those people who invent weird and wonderful spellings for their children’s names, which means that nowadays you can’t know how anyone’s name is spelled without asking. Like “My name is Bob, spelled Boob, but pronounced Bob” or “I’m Katherine, but it’s spelled Qathrrynn”.
Just yesterday I told a colleague “I’m looking for an E girl’s name for my second child” and after coming up with a few suggestions she said “What about Isabelle?” I say “that starts with an I” and she answers “just spell it with an E - Esabelle”. Heresy!
Right – friends of my son’s were fond of the animated movie Aladdin, so when they named their second daughter, they called her Jazzmine. Right – spelled like that, as in where you excavate Miles Davis ore. (Resisting the temptation to make a pun on Kid Ory! ;))
But sometimes the “funny spelling” is accurately the original, like Caitlin (pronounced Kat’-LEEN, though Jazzmine’s older sister was Katelynn, spelled and pronounced like that). My wife has a problem with the name “Shawn” – the proper spelling for that pronunciation is Sean.
It might also be a good idea for parents to realize that their baby is going to grow up someday, and Timi or Riki is going to be quite embarrassed at using that name as a candidate for County Sheriff or on a technical paper.
On a tangential note, any reason why the names are all French, or French-like, recently.
Gaston? How many Americans are named Gaston? Hermine? Now Frances? Of course, Frances is not particularly French, that I know of, but it’s just France with an “s” on it. Any anti-French sentiment showing up here?
