Is my name so hard to spell?

[NikolaiI]

I've wondered this for a couple years now. It's just that of all the times someone has spelled it; I believe at least 50% of the times they've chosen another variation such as Nicolai, Nicholai, Niccolai, Nikolail with an l instead of I, even Nickolail. It's never bothered me, but I've just wondered, do people do it on purpose just for fun, or is it by accident, or what? I only wonder because I always am careful about others' names, even if it takes me a couple of times because I haven't heard it before, like Scheherazade or weltanschauung.

Btw, of the different variations, I think I like Nicholai or Nicolai best.

[Vonny]

I'm sure your name is misspelled accidentally. You have a very nice name, but I had never heard it before you. It isn't hard to spell, but it is unusually spelled. I find that I want to put a "c" in it. I don't know if I've misspelled your name. If I have, I apologize.

[NikolaiI]

Oh, thanks. No don't apologize, actually it doesn't bother me at all. In fact Nicholai, the way you wrote it, I think, is my favorite... Nikolai is a very common Russian name; that's the name I wanted but it was taken so I added an "I," which in my mind always stood for Nikolai Ilyich. If you read any Russian stories, you'll see a ton of Nikolai's, and it depends on the translator but I think usually they are spelled that way. Besides that way Nikolay has been common, and Nikolaj. It's as common as John is in America; right up there with Petyr, Vassily, Vladimir, or Ilya.

I think the "I" at the end confuses people.

[prendrelemick]

Don't worry NickoliI, I miss-spell everyone's name. Poor eyesight, poor memory and poor typing skills - that's me.

[NikolaiI]

No problem prendrelemick ;]

[papayahed]

I've misspelled your name, just recently I really looked at it and realized it's an "I" at the end.

I guess I'm more visual, I see your avatar and I know it's you.

Wasn't there a bunch of studies where it shows that the mind will fill in what it thinks it should be.

[NikolaiI]

I've misspelled your name, just recently I really looked at it and realized it's an "I" at the end.

I guess I'm more visual, I see your avatar and I know it's you.

Wasn't there a bunch of studies where it shows that the mind will fill in what it thinks it should be.

Could be, but they've known that for a very long time. :)

[papayahed]

Could be, but they've known that for a very long time. :)

Right, but I've been looking at your name since 2007, that's 4 years, and only recently realized it's an I at the end. Granted we don't converse much but I do see your screen name quite regularly.

[NikolaiI]

Right, but I've been looking at your name since 2007, that's 4 years, and only recently realized it's an I at the end. Granted we don't converse much but I do see your screen name quite regularly.

Yep, and I stopped writing your name "Papayahead" after twice or three times writing your name, but who's keeping track? ;)

Actually your name was difficult for me, because for a long time I did keep remembering it as "papayahead."

I do think I understand what you mean though - although not completely, of course - that you operate more visually or through images. I certainly understand that everyone's mind works in a slightly different way. I guess I do always pay a lot of attention, or at least, can't help noticing the individual order of letters or numbers or other symbols. It probably comes from chess.

[qimissung]

ditto! It took me quite awhile before I realized there was an I at the end of your name-same with papayahead, I mean papayahed, that she didn't have an "a" in her name. Oops, my apologies to you both. I like both your names. :yesnod:

[Olga4real]

Oh, thanks. No don't apologize, actually it doesn't bother me at all. In fact Nicholai, the way you wrote it, I think, is my favorite... Nikolai is a very common Russian name; that's the name I wanted but it was taken so I added an "I," which in my mind always stood for Nikolai Ilyich. If you read any Russian stories, you'll see a ton of Nikolai's, and it depends on the translator but I think usually they are spelled that way. Besides that way Nikolay has been common, and Nikolaj. It's as common as John is in America; right up there with Petyr, Vassily, Vladimir, or Ilya.

I think the "I" at the end confuses people.

Aah! Thank you for clarifying.
I thought you were Nikolai the first, Emperor of Russia, King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Finland :smilewinkgrin:

[Themis]

Actually your name was difficult for me, because for a long time I did keep remembering it as "papayahead."

Who doesn't? I know it's wrong, but I can never really get past the 'has got a papaya as a head' thing. If I am talking to papayahed, I always check the spelling twice before sending the message. (Yes, there it went again, that little 'a' that doesn't belong. :rolleyes5: )

As for your name, NikolaiI: I think it's always an accident when people type a name differently. I'd automatically write it as "Nikolai" because the 'k'-version is more common where I'm from and I happen to know a 'Nikolai' in real life.

[osho]

Nikolai, I am used to this name and I do not find the spellings uneasy and unfamiliar. I have read several of your posts and that got me accustomed to your name.

[NikolaiI]

Who doesn't? I know it's wrong, but I can never really get past the 'has got a papaya as a head' thing. If I am talking to papayahed, I always check the spelling twice before sending the message. (Yes, there it went again, that little 'a' that doesn't belong. :rolleyes5: )

As for your name, NikolaiI: I think it's always an accident when people type a name differently. I'd automatically write it as "Nikolai" because the 'k'-version is more common where I'm from and I happen to know a 'Nikolai' in real life.

Pap's name is easy! Just remember - there are 9 letters, and only 3 A's :p


Aah! Thank you for clarifying.
I thought you were Nikolai the first, Emperor of Russia, King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Finland :)

Hahaha yeah I realized that later, that it fit Nikolai the first too, but it wasn't on my mind at all when I made it.