Names Your Spell Checker Rejects
When
I last updated this list in 2008, MS Word had added a whole
bunch of names to their dictionary. However, since then (and
it's 2018, 10 years later), they have added a ton more! In fact,
it even has alternate spellings, including Jaxon, Jaxson,
Karter, Kaleb, Kamran etc. (They even have Norah, my name, which
has traditionally been seen as a misspelling of either "Torah"
or "Noah") The only main names (not alternate spellings) in the
2016 Boys' Top 500 it rejects are: Jace
(it suggests "Jake" or "Jayce"), Xander (it suggests "dander"),
Jayceon (suggestions: Jaycee or Jayson), Jax (suggestions: jacks
or jabs), Jaziel (suggestions: Jadiel, jazzier). For
girls, it rejects: Everly (suggestions: evenly, every),
Daleyza (suggestion: dialyze), Kamiyah (suggestion: Kamiah),
Cataleya (suggestion: Catalina), Kensley (suggestion: Kinsley),
Annalee (suggestion: Anna Lee), Zuri (suggestion: Zuni),
Raylee (suggestion: Rayleen),
Samiyah (suggestion: Saniyah),
Aislinn (suggestion: ailing),
Adalee (suggestion: Adele),
Milani (suggestion: Milan),
Maylee (suggestion: Maylene),
Zaylee (suggestion: Baylee),
Avalynn (suggestion: Adalyn),
Elora (suggestion: Eldora),
Laken (suggestion: Liken),
Azariah (suggestion: Azaria),
Jamiyah (suggestion: Janiyah),
Gracyn (suggestion: Gracin),
Adley (suggestion: Daley),
and Arleth (suggestion: Arleta).
From
the original list, the only ones it still rejects are: Adia
(honestly, besides the song by Sarah McLachlan, this name is
pretty uncommon), Annelise (though it is OK with Annalise,
Anneliese and Annelies), Bronwen (likes Bronwyn, though), Cari
(suggests "care"), Caryl, Cosette, Dorrie, Eglantina, Elodie,
Eustacia, Fifi, Fionnuala, Hetty, Jordana, Karyn, Liesl,
Lorinda, Nanci, Odelia, Odetta, Onora, Oriane, Pammy, Petula,
Phyllida, Prunella, Quinby, Ronette, Rosaleen, Rosamund (but is
Ok with Rosamond and Rosamunde), Roseline, Viveca, Xavieria,
Xena, Avi, Avram, Charleton, Conor, Dax, Eamon, Finbar, Isidore,
Jakob, Maxfield, Xeno and Yorick.
OK
I don't know about your spell checker, but I have MS Office 98.
The Word spell checker isn't perfect. However, I was impressed
that it knows names like Ashleigh and Claudine, and accepts
different spellings for Daryl, Darrell and Darryl.
So, if you want a name that has been unsullied by Microsoft, dig into this list! there is a list of Girls' names as well as a list of Boys' names. Oh, and just for fun, I've put one of the suggestions that the spell checker gives to replace the "misspelled" name! (note: "nss" means "no spelling suggestion," or that the computer has no clue)
UPDATE-- I made this list around 2000, 8 years later I now use a newer version. The 3rd column tells if these names are now accepted! If not, it tells some other things it suggests as replacements. Strangely enough, it suggests completely different words from the older version!
Girls' Names
| Name | What you could replace it with | Update 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Abbie | Abu | babies |
| Ada | Adam | addax |
| Adia | adieu | Asia |
| Agatha | Agate | apathy |
| Aimee | aide | accepted! |
| Alanna | alone | Alana |
| Angelina | Angelica | accepted! |
| Angeline | Angolan | Angelino |
| Annelise | annualize | annelids (heheh these are segmented worms) |
| Antonia | antennae | accepted! |
| Ariana | arraign | Adriana |
| Arianne | Aryan | Marianne |
| Audra | aura | accepted! |
| Aurelia | aureole | accepted! |
| Babette | babes | barbette |
| Beatrix | Beatrice | beatniks |
| Becca | BCE | Mecca |
| Belinda | blender | accepted! |
| Benita | bent | accepted! |
| Bernice | Burnoose | accepted! |
| Beulah | blah | accepted! |
| Bianca | bionic | accepted! |
| Brenna | brine | buena |
| Bria | bra | Brie |
| Brianna | brain | accepted! |
| Brigid | brigade | frigid |
| Britta | brattier | Brita |
| Bronwen | browned | Brownian |
| Brynn | briny | breen |
| Calista | chalets | cellist |
| Cara | career | accepted! |
| Cari | Cairo | car |
| Carina | cairn | accepted! |
| Carissa | carouse | caresse |
| Carlin | Carolina | accepted! |
| Carly | carry | curly |
| Caryl | carrel | acryl |
| Cecily | Celica | accepted! |
| Charmaine | Charmin | Char Maine (!?) |
| Cher | cheer | chef |
| Chrissie | Christie | accepted! |
| Chrissy | chrism | Christy |
| Christa (but not Krista) | chorister | accepted! |
| Christabel | charitable | Cristobel |
| Christiana | Christen | accepted! |
| Clarice | cleric | accepted! |
| Clarissa | Claris | accepted! |
| Clementine | nss | accepted! |
| Cordelia | Cornelia | cordeliers |
| Cosette | Costa | cassette |
| Darby | drably | accepted! |
| Darcy | Darkly | accepted! |
| Daria | dairy | aria |
| Darla | drama | accepted! |
| Dawna | Dona | dawned |
| Dianna | dinner | accepted! |
| Dorcas | dirks | orcas |
| Dorothea | Dorothy | accepted! |
| Dorrie | dowry | Doric |
| Dulcie | dulcet | dulcimer |
| Effie | elf | accepted! |
| Eglantina | eglantine | eglantines |
| Elinor | elixir | Eliot |
| Elissa | leis | Eloisa |
| Eliza | Eloise | accepted! |
| Elodie | elude | melodies |
| Emilia | Emily | |
| Emmeline | nss | emplane |
| Esme | asthma | semen |
| Esmeralda | emerald | accepted! |
| Etta | etc. | accepted! |
| Euphemia | euphoria | ephemera |
| Eustacia | eustachian | Eustace |
| Eveline | Evelyn | eyeliner |
| Fabiola | foible | fibula |
| Felice | feline | fleece |
| Fifi | fife | Fiji |
| Fionnuala | nss | biannual |
| Flavia | flabbier | fluvial |
| Gemma | gems | gamma |
| Georgiana | Georgians | accepted! |
| Germaine | Germanize | accepted! |
| Glynis | glens | gayness |
| Graciela | glacial | accepted! |
| Greer | greed | accepted! |
| Gwendolen | Gwendolyn (the 'e' spelling is actually the original) | Gwendolyn |
| Gwyneth | nss | accepted! Thanks Ms. Paltrow! |
| Halle | halloo | hall |
| Halley | haled | accepted! |
| Hallie | Haley | hillier |
| Hattie | hate | accepted! |
| Henrietta | Henries | accepted! |
| Hayley | Harley | Hailey |
| Hetty | hefty | jetty |
| Hilda | whiled | accepted! |
| Hildegarde | nss | Hildegard |
| Honora | honoree | honorary |
| Hortense | hornets | hotness |
| Ianthe | nss | anthem |
| Imogen | imagine | Imogene |
| Ida | Id | accepted! |
| Ines | inks | fines |
| Inga | Inca | ingot |
| Isabella | Isabelle | accepted! |
| Isolde | assailed | insole |
| Janie | Janice | accepted! |
| Jenna | Jeanine | accepted! |
| Jenni | Jennie | Joni |
| Joelle | jowl | jelled |
| Jordana | Gordian | Jordanian |
| Josefa | Joseph | Josef a |
| Julianna | julienne | Juliann |
| Kandy | dandy | kindly |
| Karina | Kaaren-weird! | marina |
| Karyn | Karen or Karin | Kareem |
| Katelyn (anything but Caitlin) | Kathleen | lately |
| Katrina | quatrain | accepted! |
| Katya | Katei (what is this?) | kayak |
| Kaylee | Kailua | kale |
| Kaylin | kaolin | Kaplan |
| Keely | keenly | keels |
| Kelli & Kellie (but not kelly or Kelley) | cello | Elli-- Kellie is accepted! |
| Kirstin | Kristin | Kerstein |
| Krissy | prissy | kiss |
| Kristy (but not Kristi) | Christi | accepted! |
| Lili | Lisle | Lila |
| Lilia | Lilly | accepted! |
| Lilian | Lillian | lilia |
| Liliana | Lillian | Ileana |
| Liesl | libels | leis |
| Lucie | lucite | accepted! |
| Lorinda | Lorna | Florida |
| Leonora | leaner | accepted! |
| Leticia | lettuce | accepted! |
| Liza | Lima | Liz |
| Lara | larva, lard | accepted! |
| Layla (but not Leila) | Kayla | loyal |
| Mabel | male | accepted! |
| Madge | mange | accepted! |
| Maeve | mauve | mauve |
| Mariel | married | marvel |
| Marnie | maurine | marnier |
| Matilda | nss | accepted! |
| Maud (but not Maude) | mud | accepted! |
| Mavis | maxis | accepted! |
| Meghan (but not Meagan) | Megan | accepted! |
| Monique | Monaco | accepted! |
| Morgana | Morgan | Moran |
| Nanci | Nancy | Nance |
| Natalya | nattily | natal |
| Nerissa | nerima | narcissi |
| Nicolette | nucleate, isolate, iolite | insolate |
| Nuala | null | Napa |
| I couldn't find a single girls' name beginning with "O" that it wouldn't reject! | ||
| Odelia | Delia | Delia |
| Odetta | Odessa | codetta |
| Odile | audile | oldie, oiled |
| Olivia | olive | accepted! |
| Onora | onoda | anorak |
| oona | Oota | ozone |
| ophelia | aphelia | accepted! |
| Oriana | Orion | orient |
| Oriane | Orin | orange |
| Paloma | Palooka | Paola |
| Pammy | Mammy | Sammy |
| Petula | petiole | spatula |
| Philippa | Phillips | philippic |
| Phyllida | payload | hillside |
| Pia | pi | pea |
| Pilar | pilaf | polar |
| Priscilla | Pricilla (isn't Priscilla the correct spelling?) | accepted! |
| Prunella | purulent | propellar |
| Queenie | quinoa | quinine |
| Quinby | quinsy | Quincy |
| Quinlan | nss | accepted! |
| Quintana | Quentin | accepted! |
| Rena | RNA | accepted! |
| Renata | rental | renate |
| Rhiannon | rhinos | accepted! |
| Rianne | Iran | rained |
| Ronette | renovate | brunette |
| Rosaleen | Roselyn | Rosales |
| Rosamund | Rosalind | roamed |
| Rosanne | rosin | accepted! |
| Roseline | Rosalie | robeline |
| Rumer | Rumba | ruler |
| Scarlett | scarlet | scarlet |
| Selena | Helena | accepted! |
| Shana | shin | shank |
| Shawna (but not Shauna) | Sherwin | Shawnee |
| Shayla | Sheryl | shawl |
| Sheena | shinier | accepted! |
| Shoshana | shoeshine | Shoshanna |
| Sophie | Sofia | accepted! |
| Stefanie | Stefan | Stephanie |
| Sukie | suck | sulkier |
| Talia | tail | talkie |
| Tallulah | nss | accepted! |
| Tamar | tamer | accepted! |
| Tammi | tame | Tammy |
| Tamsin | Tasmania | tamping |
| Taryn | terrain | tray |
| Tessie | Tessa | tissue |
| Thea | tea | the |
| Thomasina | Thomson | Thomason |
| Tori | toro | torsi |
| Traci | trachea | accepted! |
| Trisha | trashier | accepted! |
| Trudi | trod | trade |
| Ulrika (but not Ulrich) | nss | Ulrike |
| Una | USA | unit |
| Valentina | valentine | valentines |
| Vanna | Vern | vans |
| Velma | vellum | accepted! |
| Verna | versa | accepted! |
| Viveca | vive | Rivera |
| Wilhelmina | nss | accepted! |
| Willa | wilier | accepted! |
| Winnifred | Winfred | Winifred |
| Xavieria | nss | Xavier |
| Xena | Xenon | Lena |
| Xenia | XENIX | accepted! |
| Yasmin | yams | gasman |
| Yolanda | nss | accepted! |
| Zara | Zaire | zero |
| Zena | Zen | Sean |
| Zenobia | nss | Kenobi (!) |
| Zia | zit | zeal |
| Zoe | Zoë (oh excuse me, I must put in the diresis!) | zoo |
| Zora | Zorro | sore |
Boys' Names
| Name | What you could replace it with | 2008 update |
|---|---|---|
| Abner | abler | banter |
| Alastair | nss | Alistair |
| Algernon | Algerian | accepted! |
| Ari | arid | air |
| Arlo | Arco | Carlo |
| Asher | ashore | accepted! |
| Avi | avid | avian |
| Avram | Abram | arm |
| Balthazar | nss | accepted! |
| Barnabas | nss | accepted! |
| Barnaby | brandy | accepted! |
| Blaise | blasé | braise |
| Braden | brained | accepted! |
| Brody | broody | accepted! |
| Cedric | cardiac | accepted! |
| Charleton | charlatan | Charleston |
| Conor | condor | color |
| Dabney | Derby | Disney |
| Damian | Admin | accepted! |
| Damon | domain | accepted! |
| Dax | Dacca | dad |
| Devon | demon | accepted! |
| Dudley | deadly | accepted! |
| Dunstan | Dustan | Dustin |
| Eamon | Eaton | Ramon |
| Elijah | nss | accepted! |
| Elroy | Leroy | accepted! |
| Eustace | mustache | accepted! |
| Evander | evader | vander |
| Ferdinand | nss | accepted! |
| Finbar | Finable | fibber |
| Flann | flab | flannel |
| Fraser | farmer | accepted! |
| Frasier | Friseur | accepted! |
| Freddy | Friday | accepted! |
| Gareth | garter | accepted! |
| Gomer | gore | goner |
| Howie | Houwa | bowtie, hotwire |
| Huey | hooey | accepted! |
| Hyman | hymnal | accepted! |
| Isidore | insider | Isadora |
| Ivor | ivory | Igor |
| Jakob | Jacob | Jacobs |
| Jarrett | garrotte | accepted! |
| Jarvis | jars | accepted! |
| Jeb | Jew | jab |
| Jedediah | Jeddah | Jeremiah |
| Keanu | Quean | accepted! |
| Leonardo | Leonard | accepted! |
| Linus | lineups | Linux- ironic that the inventor of Linux's name isn't accepted, but his product is! |
| Lorne | Lorene | accepted! |
| Lucius | Lucas | luscious |
| Lyndon | London | accepted! |
| Malachy | Malachi | Malachi |
| Marius | Marquis | accepted! |
| Marmaduke | nss | marauder |
| Maxfield | Mayfield | Medfield |
| Maximilian | nss | accepted! |
| Mervin | Melvin | accepted! |
| Nestor | nester | accepted! |
| Nicky | niece | accepted! |
| Oswald | nss | accepted! |
| Percival | nss | accepted! |
| Primo | prom | accepted! |
| Quinlan | accepted! | |
| Quinton | Quentin | accepted! |
| Reese | reissue | accepted! |
| reuben | Rueben | accepted! |
| Rhys | rays | accepted! |
| Rocco | Rococo | accepted! |
| Rory | ropy | accepted! |
| Rufus | roofs | accepted! |
| Soren | saurian | siren |
| Stevie | stove | Steve |
| Thor | throe | accepted! |
| Tristan | Triton | accepted! |
| Vic | VIP | accepted! |
| Virgil | virgin | accepted! |
| Vito | vivo | accepted! |
| Willy | wily | accepted! |
| Xeno | Reno | xenon |
| Xerxes | Xeroxes | accepted! |
| Yorick | York | doric |
| Yvan | van | Evan |
| Zach | sack | accepted! |
| Zachariah | Zechariahs | accepted! |
| Zeke | eke | accepted! |
| Zoltan | molten | sultans |