What do you think about the trend of giving children unique or oddly-spelled names?

This is not so new. My sister is almost 60 now, and our mother spelled her name "special". She got so tired of it she changed the spelling to normal. Even my name is spelled slightly wrong for style. Which makes it very easy for documents to get screwed up. Spent an entire day getting my drivers license fixed once. You'll notice it is the least educated (like my mom) who do it.

Some spellings are okay. some people don't do it to be unique. For example here are some exceptable spellings: Haley - Hailey, Hayley Catherine- Katherine, Kathryn Sarah - Sara Rachel - Racheal Caitlin - Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Kaitlin Annoying spelled names: Madison- Madisyn, Madyson Emily - Emmaleigh Haley - Hayleigh Jessica - Jessikuh caitlin - Kaytlynne, Kaytlynn

I think there are some parents who have figured out a way to abuse chilodren without ever raising a hand in anger.

I think it's odd and unique at the same time.

There are a lot of people that still love the good old fashioned names (I'm one of them) and I doubt they ever die out.

I think it shows a lack of thought and care for your child to give it a stupid name. Get hamsters or other short lived animals or dolls to practice names on.

I know some adults who've changed their names to make them more sensible or easy to pronounce and spell.

I'm not against unusual names but I'm thinking of the silly ones.

What say your pretty little "Sweetie" or "Rosebud" grows up to be large and spotty?

Dunno.

My brother's name is Herbert, we call him Herbie, and in Aus, it's not common at all. I have only heard of one other Herbert here, and that was my great uncle.

He used to get teased with "Herbie goes bananas".

If it happens to be the name of a movie character, and it would be a huge window of opportunity for bullies to make their lives hell, i think it would be wise to steer clear of those names.

Think Gargamel.

Editted to add:

My goodness, did you hear about the poor child named Adolf Hitler who's mum kicked up a stink because she couldn't get someone to write her child's name on a cake? And her other kids like "Aryan Nation" and there were two others. Shocking.

my names is kurtis, instead of curtis.... i like it better because alot of poeple in school and stuff have the name curtis, and it makes it easier to sort stuff out between us both

Yes it matters.

To give a child a name which no one can either pronounce or spell is cruel in my opinion. My mother had a name she had to spell and pronounce, she named all her children with easy, common names so we wouldn't have to bear the burden.

What parents don't understand is their child will be special in their own way regardless of their name.

While I would try not to judge someone by their given name, I can't say that unconsciously I would exactly that, just to save my customers and co-workers the hassle of pronouncing it correctly.

Look at all of Sarah Palin's kids: Track, Trig, Tripp, Bristol..what kind of names are those? It's becoming more widespread.

I have little respect for parents, mostly mothers in my experience, who do that, If it is not compatible with the recognized rules of spelling and pronunciation(and I speak only for the English language) then it is not a good idea... why would any one inflict upon their child a lifetime of having to spell and pronounce their name for every one they meet