What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?
As someone who has a usual name which is a Hebrew version of a Greek name, I can assure you naming your child something original is a huge mistake. I rarely tell people my legal name.
The children and then adults will spend their lives having to correct people on pronunciation and spelling. They will have people say don’t you mean your name is X? I’ve lost count of how many times people have corrected me on my own name.
You don’t have to give a most popular name of the current time. Search names popular in a different time period for something less common now but spell it correctly.
I saw a boy with his name embroidered on his backpack. It was Kamdyn. Not Camden like it should be. How many times in his life will he need to correct people on the spelling? That’s just one example.
I need to make it clear that if the name has a traditional spelling in another language, then go for it. But if you just want your Liam to be Leeham don’t do it. I once met a boy named Shun. I think the parents just didn’t know how to spell Sean/Shawn. So if your son or daughter is Emerson don’t spell it Emersyn. Totally different sounds. Same with Jordan not Jordyn, Charlie and not Charleigh.
I won’t even mention always having your name as marked as misspelled in a computer document. It’s a pain.
With so many things to deal with and worry about as you grow up, don’t add to the angst by giving them a huge hurdle at the very beginning.
My life on an unexpected path 