Advice on Baby Name Spelling

Updated on November 23, 2008
L.W. asks from Thiensville, WI
24 answers

My husband and I are trying to decide on a name for our little girl. We both like the name Callie (Cal-Lee) although think it should be spelled Calleigh. When I have done name searches I find nothing under Calleigh, but quite a bit on the name Caleigh- although I beleive this spelling is pronounced (Kay-Lee). I don't want to burden our daughter with a made up name, or have her live her entire life correcting others pronunciation (or spelling for that matter). So, what do you think? Unbaised opinions would be great. Is Calleigh a legitamate name, is Caleigh pronounced (Cal-lee or Kay-Lee) or do we just scrap it and find something else?

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So What Happened?

Thanks to everyone for all your input. The more people I talk to the more I hear, "oh, so and so named their daughter that" so I think although it is a bit unusual now, it is catching on in populartity- so hopefully will not be a life long burden.

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S.G.

answers from Milwaukee on

The simple and easiest way would probably be Cali. But however you decide that is a beautiful name so definately keep it!

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K.G.

answers from Appleton on

If you want the easiest pronunciation based on spelling I think Callie is the way to go. I think it is a cute name and would keep it, but agree that having to correct mispronunciations and misspellings everywhere is a nuisance.

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M.M.

answers from Milwaukee on

Keep it simple Callie is fine. All the other spellings seem odd to me.

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D.S.

answers from Green Bay on

I was thinking just like you are for my daughter 5 years ago...and I think the way you have it "Calleigh" would be Cal- lee. I also named my daughter Calli but wanted to be different so I just dropped the "e" at the end. (Callie) They're is also a girl that babysits for us and her name is Calleigh (spelled just how you want too) So yes, i think its very legitamate!!

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N.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Honestly, no matter which spelling you go with, you will always have people who will mis-pronounce it and the misspelling is a absolutly going to happen. With that said -- My name is Nicole (nicknamed N.) and both names, even though SIMPLE to pronounce, are misspelled ALL the time. Further, some kids, expecially teenagers will LOVE having a name that is different. I think if you stick with it, just remind your daughter as she grows that you gave her an extra special name because she was an extra special person to your family.

I think it is a beautiful name. Good Luck.

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S.C.

answers from Milwaukee on

I would say that Caleigh would be pronounced Kay-Lee. Not sure if Calleigh would be pronounced correctly as she goes through life. Honestly, if I was a teacher and was pronouncing the name I would probably say Kay-Lee. Sorry.

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D.P.

answers from Milwaukee on

I like the spelling Kally

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M.M.

answers from Milwaukee on

I agree with anne I think it would be least confusing if you spelled it callie or calli. Caleigh would be pronounced as kay-lee, my husband and i was considering that name for awhile with two Ls it would be less confusing but still a little confusing. good luck.

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A.

answers from Madison on

Although Callie is not a 'legitimate' name according to my husband, because it's not in the bible, I'd spell it Callie. It's less like to be mispronounced, and seems less pretentious than "Calleigh."

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R.P.

answers from Madison on

You've already received lots of opinions, but here's one more:) While you should obviously go with what looks and sounds best to you, I have to agree that when I first saw your note, I read the name "Cal-lay", not "Cal-lee". So I'd imagine you'll run into that a lot more than if you spell it Callie. We spelled our child's name Finley (Finn-lee), which is a less usual spelling than Findlay or Finlay, but we wanted to avoid the mispronunciations "Fined-lay" or "Finn-lay".

My name is R. and although people never know how to spell it and sometimes mispronounce it, I appreciated having an unusual name. While it's more popular these days I never had another girl in class with "my" name, which was nice. And monogramming is available all over, so you don't have to worry about getting correctly personalized items anymore if you care about that. Although for safety reasons, the advice lately is not to put kids' names on their stuff conspicuously (backpacks, etc.) Not to bring up a sad topic.

Most things I've read say that unusual names are great, but wildly odd spellings can make things harder for kids or make them appear "stuck-up".

On a side note, I found one of your responder's comment that names not found in the Bible aren't "legitimate" to be ridiculous. Ethnocentric, self righteous and just plain sad are others. Though some folks would have it otherwise I'm still grateful that the U.S. has a separation of church and state and allows religious diversity. Commitment to liberty, justice and freedom of thought/speech/religion is real patriotism.

Peace to all this holiday season!

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J.H.

answers from Appleton on

I like the spelling of calleigh. any kaylee's i have ever known use a K even with the leigh spelling. I like the name Calleigh. we considered it for our daughter but went with bailey instead.

L.C.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

IMO, Caliegh would be pronounced Kaylee, but with 2 ls like you are suggesting it would be pronounced Callee. Most of my kids have 'normal names' but they are spelled a little differently, but no one gets them wrong. I like being different!

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S.L.

answers from St. Cloud on

That's what we named our first daughter. I had never heard the name before and now I hear it and see it spelled different ways all the time. We spelled it Calli.

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J.M.

answers from St. Cloud on

I feel that if you and your husband have agreed on a name, stick with it, Calleigh is a legitamate name. I dug out my baby name book and I also did not see the spelling you have chosen and I thnk that is great!!! I feel go with the spelling and pronunciation that you want. I think your daughter may have to correct people at times and clarify the spelling, but I feel that will make her unique. At least she will not be saying " I am Sara W. or Meghan W." due to having 2 or 3 girls with the same name in her class. I feel follow your heart. There are at least 25 diferent ways to spell that name in my book, why not add one more? Good luck with your decision.

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L.S.

answers from Omaha on

I just googled "baby names" + "Calleigh" and it came up on several web pages, so I would say it is totally a legitamate name!! And I would pronounce the spelling of Caleigh as Cal-lee. To me, the name Kayleigh would be pronounced with the Kay sound. How about Caileigh? Just have fun with it! Good luck!
L.

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E.A.

answers from Milwaukee on

Well, that's a pretty name. I think the orginal way you spelled is right though. Cal-lee (callie) Or Kellee wolud even be a different way fof spelling kelly or spell it with a. One new a mother who named her son christopher. She spelled it chrystopher. So, just think about it, maybe even put two frist names togther that sound really neat, that come from family or poeple you know. That's just in case you decide to scrap the other name. Good luck! And congradulations.

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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

Hey!! i am due for a c-section on 10-30 too!! at the St. Cloud hospital!! how about you??

about the name thing..... callie is cute-- spelled that way too. i can honestly say-- if my parents would have named me calleigh or caleigh i would have been mad. do your kid a favor and keep it simple!!you'll never regret giving them a name that people actually get right!! :)

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M.H.

answers from La Crosse on

I agree with your spelling. I would pronounce it Callie. I have a six year old daughter named Kailee and I think Caleigh would be pronounced Kailee not Calleigh. I hope this isn't too confusing.

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C.F.

answers from Milwaukee on

That is what I was going to name my daughter Claire but spelled Kaleigh. You spell it however you want to!!! My oldest is Cassie but everywhere we go we still have people call her Kasey like "Kasey at Bat." If that's the name that is calling you to name her, name her that.

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T.L.

answers from Rochester on

I agree that you should spell it how ever you want to.

My youngest daughter's name is Mali. It is pronounced "Molly" ~ similar to the African country. She is always being called "Maah-lee" rhymes with your Callie but it doesn't seem to bother her too much since it only happens with those people who don't know her. Once she corrects them, it doesn't ever happen again. My sister Leta has an unusual name and any other name wouldn't fit her as perfect. Normal is boring and it's our differences that make us unique.

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K.K.

answers from St. Cloud on

I think that you should spell it and pronounce it the way you want. My youngest son is named Brice. Most spellings for it is Bryce. My husband and I thought it would be nice for hime if his name was not spelled the exact same way the books say it should be spelled. It is your child and you have the right to name her what you want.

K.

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K.S.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hi L.,
I would think Caleigh is pronounced Cal-lay.
I think Calleigh, I would pronounce Call-aye.
I personally think you should try to make it more simple like Calee or Kallee, thats just my opinion.
leigh, I feel is pronounced "lay" not "lee"
My daughters name is Kiera and I had the same problem with trying all different spellings and I decided just to make it simple for her sake. There going to be the ones who have to live with and constantly write their name soo... I thought making it simple was the best thing.
Hope this helps your decision making.
Regards,
K. S.

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T.S.

answers from Wausau on

I'd say spell it how you and your hubby want. We have as well and her name is Rachel and we get people calling her Rochelle alot and we just say no sorry her name is Rachel and is is almost 7 so I just think it's the way life is. It's crazy but as long as you love them thats what will count in the end.

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K.G.

answers from La Crosse on

L., my name is Kären Jo (that's 2 dots above the a to make it Car in). I've had problems all my life with people pronouncing it Karen, which most people wounld see it as, even with the 2 dots. I love my name but it does become a burden at times. I can never have personalized items as most companies won't put the 2 dots. I have a daughter who we named Stephany. At the time I thought the y at the end was the normal way to spell it becuase I had went to school with a girl who spelled her name that way. Well, I found out the Stephanie was the normal. So now she's haveing problems finding anything personalized.

I say think ahead to whether you feel your daughter will have problems as she grows up with people either mispronouncng or mispelling her name. Do what's best for her!

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