POLL on the spelling of this boy's name?

[GOmamab15]

Clarke is a family name, I'd like to add it to the top of our boy's list (we don't find out til 1/28)
I'm concerned that it might be hard for a first name and may need to use it as a mn instead, because of the "e" at the end.  What do you think? 

[frecklesnbrains]

I like the name. Are you super-attached to the "e"? It would simplify things if you used Clark, but I think it's fine with the "e" too. It's not a weird or made-up spelling, just slightly less common.

Just don't use it at all if your last name happens to be Kent.

[Flair Underwood]

Either way is a real name... I wouldn't see "Clarke" and think "Clark-ie", but I think maybe it makes it look like more of a last name with the "e". I think it's a little rough for a first name, but old fashioned. I think it is a very lovely mn.

[babyzebra]

I like that name and know someone who has it! The Clark I know spells it without the e, but I think it's good either way. Just be ready to correct people often on the spelling if you use the e.

[GOmamab15]

Jan 3, 2016 13:16:23 GMT -5 babyzebra said:

I like that name and know someone who has it! The Clark I know spells it without the e, but I think it's good either way. Just be ready to correct people often on the spelling if you use the e.

This is what I'm afraid of. 

[GOmamab15]

frecklesnbrains , I feel like it wouldn't be worth using it if I left off the "e", just because that isn't how it's spelled as the family name, ya know?

Flair Underwood , yes it is a last name in my family. It's also used as a middle name in my family too, for a couple people who don't have that as their last name.

Actually, it's pretty odd but there are 5 people in my family who have the "first and last name" of my husband, last name Clarke. So if for example my husband's name was Ben Smith, there are 5 Ben Smith Clarkes from my side of the family. I kinda like the idea of a Clarke Smith to sorta continue that tradition, without actually being a junior. But I'm leaning towards using Clarke as a mn cuz it would still have that significance and less corrections would be needed.

...my top girl's name, also a family name, also has a silent "e" at the end so I may have to suck it up and get over correcting people! But I always felt like I didn't want my LO to have to correct folks their whole life. Oh well, I have till June to figure it out!


Cookies for you all for reading/polling:

[csat]

I would definitely pronounce as Clark and think it's fine either way, given the family significance I would spell it as you'd like.

While there may be some correcting here and there I doubt it would be that often. I have a fairly common name but there are more then a few 'correct' ways of spelling it so while it's not a pronounciation thing I'm always asked how to spell my name or have to correct people on the spelling and it's never bothered me.

[babyzebra]

Jan 3, 2016 13:23:32 GMT -5 GOmamab15 said:

Jan 3, 2016 13:16:23 GMT -5 babyzebra said:

I like that name and know someone who has it! The Clark I know spells it without the e, but I think it's good either way. Just be ready to correct people often on the spelling if you use the e.

This is what I'm afraid of. 

Yeah it could be annoying to correct people, but honestly, there's lots of people with names that have to tell people how they are spelled. IMHO, a pronunciation issue would be a much bigger deal, and I don't think you would have that at all with that spelling.

Now, as the mom, I would probably call him "Clarkie," but that's different!

[vivela]

I have a simple, one syllable name that 95% of people spell wrong (it is not a common name, so people spell it without the double letter it has). It honestly isn't a burden to spell it for people, or even that people somehow manage to mispronounce it all the time. It just becomes habit.
As a result, I have no intention of sparing my own LO the inconvenience of an unusual name. Most of my family members have unusual names and we all like them anyway

[frecklesnbrains]

I also have a name that gets misspelled often, because it has both a masculine and feminine form but most people are more familiar with the masculine. It's also never bothered me much.

I do like Clarke (or Clark) as a middle name. As an aside, I'm having an easy time with MNs for boys (we have a bunch of family names that will be appropriate) but finding a FN has been hard! So far H and I only agree on one (I guess that's all we need though!) We have to let it grow a bit though.

ETA I need a cookie now...

[manybellsdown]

I'm with the others. My name is super common but has two spellings, and I've had to correct, or I'm asked to confirm spelling, my entire life. My maiden name was also incredibly foreign and difficult for people to spell. All the correcting all the time was never more than a minor annoyance, and I'm so used to it now.

Also, I would never ever think Clarke would be pronounced Clarkie. I think you're safe there and should use it how you please! I love family names.

[nymama917]

I agree with the others that I would say it Clark. I think you may have to correct peope on spelling because it seems like more of a last name spelling but I have a first name with 2 common spelling and I often have to correct people or an just asked to confirm. It's never bothered me so don't let that be too much of a deterrent. My daughter has a middle name that was a family name and I'm totally happy with my decision to make it a middle name. Still feels just as special in case they was a worry for you about making it a middle. I think it's s fine name in either spot.

[bgkc4]

I definitely think no one is going to confuse the pronunciation of the name. I LOVE the name Clarke with or without the "e." I agree with you that keeping the "e" is best since that is consistent with your family's last name. I have a very common name that only has 1 primary spelling, however I still get asked how to spell it on a regular basis. People ask because they say they occasionally come across other's who spell it differently. So it doesn't matter how your LO's name is spelled, you could spell it "Clark" and someone might still ask him one day "Is it Clark with an "e" or without?"

[sandandsea]

I think it's easy enough. If Clarke is a first name in your family with that spelling, I think it's fine. If it's a last name it's also very trendy as part of the last name as first name trend that's been around the past decade. Your child will have to correct everyone on the spelling their entire life, but they'll get used to it and it's not the end of the world. Clark is much more simple, but probably not as meaningful.

[Kevinmac]

I think you could go either way with it. With the e he will most likely have to correct people. I think people get used to correcting others though and are often proactive about it spelling it first before someone can spell it wrong.

[cattuccino]

For what it's worth, I think having the variation at the end makes it easier to clarify than a variation in the middle. A quick sentence of "Clark with an "e" at the end" makes it easy I think, and not a big issue.

DD has a name with an added letter at the end that many don't use, and sometimes it feels like a nuisance, but it easy to clarify.

And I agree with everyone there will most likely not be a mis-pronunciation of the name