# What first name, other than the obvious ones, seems to have the most spellings?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-first-name-other-than-the-obvious-ones-seems-to-have-the-most-spellings/819893>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 20, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-first-name-other-than-the-obvious-ones-seems-to-have-the-most-spellings/819893 "2018-08-20T01:13:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-first-name-other-than-the-obvious-ones-seems-to-have-the-most-spellings/819893/61 "2018-09-11T04:02:00Z")

</div>

I just saw a BBC report about a baby named Vanellope. It rhymes with “Penelope”.

After my BFF’s mom died, his dad dated 3 women in the months that followed, once he decided to start doing that. One was named Wylma, another was named Willma, and the one he ended up marrying is named Wilma.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-first-name-other-than-the-obvious-ones-seems-to-have-the-most-spellings/819893/62 "2018-09-11T04:36:43Z")

</div>

> [@nearwildheaven](#):
>
> I just saw a BBC report about a baby named Vanellope. It rhymes with “Penelope”.

No doubt named after the character “Vanellope von Sweet” from “Wreck-It Ralph.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-first-name-other-than-the-obvious-ones-seems-to-have-the-most-spellings/819893/63 "2018-12-01T00:02:40Z")

</div>

> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> I hear these all the time. Also Abcde (pronounced Absedee), Nosmo King (last name was King, mom looked up and saw a No Smoking sign), La-A (pronounced LeDasha, because “the dash don’t be silent”) and twins Beneatha and Betweenda Sheets.
> 
> Urban legends, all, until I’m shown a cite.
> 
> ETA: When someone tells me in all seriousness about ABCDE, I ask if they were aware of her little brother, FGHIJ. I pronounce it Fujij.  
> mmm

Here’s a current cite for [ABCDE](https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/30/us/abcde-southwest-apologizes-scli-intl/index.html).

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-first-name-other-than-the-obvious-ones-seems-to-have-the-most-spellings/819893.md?page=3)