Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
WHAT’S THE RIGHT SPELLING?
Kallie writes:
My mother is the last of her family line, with no brothers. She took my dad’s name, so her part of the Maitland family ends with her. When I was a kid and someone brought it up, I thought it sounded old-fashioned and sexist. Maybe part of me still does. But now that my grandparents are gone, it means more, especially as we start our own family.
My mom always jokes that her maiden name means “evil genius.” I understand that’s maybe taking creative license, but I kind of love it.
When my husband and I started talking about future children’s names, I floated the idea of using Maitland as a middle name and he agreed.
But now that we’re expecting our first, a daughter, he asked what I thought of naming her Maitland.
I kind of like the idea, but maybe I like it better if we spell it Maitlyn, like Kaitlyn with an M. My husband loved that idea, and now we’re sort of leaning toward this spelling.
If it matters, that’s how my mother’s family always pronounced the name, with “lin” at the end, not the “land” sound. The D is silent, if that makes sense.
When I told my sister, she hated it. She said it’s not the same name, and it’s too cute and creative, and it’s not a good last name to use as a first name to begin with.
To be fair, we both have K names that are a little bit of a pain sometimes, and I know hers is more of an issue than mine. But I don’t think Maitlyn is the same thing at all.
I regret telling her, but I also want some feedback about whether maybe she’s saying something I need to hear.
So … should we name our daughter Maitlyn or Maitland? And is my spelling a horrible idea?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
THE CASE FOR MAITLYN
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
Also … Oof! That’s some serious feedback from your sister – and your daughter’s aunt.
Without knowing anyone involved, let’s say this: our ideas about names are almost always based on our personal experience with our own name. So let’s agree that your sister doesn’t think she, personally, would enjoy being named Maitlyn … or Maitland.
But that doesn’t really answer your question, does it?
So let’s keep a few things in mind:
- We have absolutely no way of knowing how our children will feel about their names in the future. Maybe your daughter will find Maitlyn confusing and burdensome. Or maybe she’ll love the connection to her grandmother. Either is possible; most of us end up somewhere in between.
- We do know how we feel about a particular name now. It sounds like Maitlyn is the name that feels right for this child.
- We can objectively compare any name we’re considering to popularity data. This can either build our confidence in the name, or make us re-think it.
That last point is where I want to spend our time.
FINDING THE RIGHT SPELLING FOR MAITLYN
So if the question comes down to Maitlyn or Maitland, I’m going to vote for the former. Here’s why:
- Kaitlyn peaked around the year 2000. This Caitlin/Kathleen cousin became the. most popular spelling of the name. That makes me think lots of us a) know a Kaitlyn and b) instinctively see/hear Maitlyn as Kaitlyn-with-an-M.
- Madelyn is the most popular spelling of the name now. Madeline also ranks in the US Top 100, but Madelyn is about a dozen spaces ahead. Evelyn ranks in the current Top Ten. So -lyn ending names are familiar. No name ending in -land (or -lynd) ranks in the current Top 1000.
- Mae names are having a moment. Maeve ranks in the US Top 100. Maisie is rising fast. Names like Mae, Mabel, Macy, and Mavis are all current. Maitlyn fits right in.
Maitland has been used as a given name, in small numbers, for boys and girls alike over the years. It’s almost certainly for the same reasons you’re considering it now – a family name.
Maitlyn has seen occasional use, too, beginning in the 1990s. That’s almost certainly thanks to the influence of Kaitlyn.
While it’s quite rare, and would doubtless take some explaining and a bit of let-me-spell-it-for-you, I think it works.
My only other advice would be to choose a more conventional, classic feminine middle name. Maitlyn Elise or Maitlyn Celeste, maybe?
I love so much about this letter. That you’ve thought about carrying forward a ‘dying’ surname, that your partner brought up the idea of using it up front (!!), that you’re flexible with making it more ‘user-friendly’ and that you’re open to hearing your sister’s feedback but also opening this up to neutral opinions. You’re making the naming process so incredibly thoughtful and I hope your daughter appreciates this.
I think you can only do what all other parents do – make the best decision for your family and your child, then be open to how your child will feel about it someday (give them options.) So Maitlyn or Maitland is fine. Your sister will come around once her niece is here. Like someone said, it comes with many nicknames too – Mae, Maisie, M, Matey, or many other sweet tweaks.
I can see how people are encouraging using the surname as-is. That’s the ‘truest’ honour. But if spelling it Maitlyn so you can more easily use the pronounciation your mother uses, and can say ‘It’s Maitlyn, like Caitlyn with an M’, so be it.
I used family names tweaked for both my daughters. They’re very natural tweaks, no one bats an eye. That’s my loose rule for such honours – if you can explain it in one sentence that most people will get right away, it’s still an honour. Said aloud, no one will even know it’s spelled differently! “Her name is Maitlyn, which is my mother’s maiden name.” Done.
I love when surnames can be used up front, especially when they’re passed down through the maternal side. Congrats to you two.
Beautifully said, and a great point – when your partner suggests preserving your family surname, that’s really meaningful, isn’t it?
I honestly like the idea of Maitlyn. I had a friend whose surname means scarlet in a different language, but spelled differently. Yet she names her daughter Scarlet, and we all knew it was after her family surname. The respelling of her child’s name made sense and we knew she was honoring her family by that spelling.
The same concept applies to Maitlyn. I love how you can get many nicknames from Maitlyn. I think your kid will love her name regardless of how it’s spelled because it’s a namesake and a sweet story behind it.
Spelling it Maitlyn or Maitland will mean people will struggle on pronouncing and spelling, I’d say go with the spelling you like, because in the end, it only matters what your partner and you like.
Congrats on your upcoming baby!
If the D is silent, I would name her Maitlan. It’s still close to the surname, doesn’t make you think of Kaitlyn and avoids the “land” pronunciation.
Maitlan Rose.
Maitlan Louise.
Maitlan Elizabeth.
Maitlan Grace.
Maitlan Victoria.
Also, in my opinion, it’s a great surname to use as a first name!
You’ve both chosen a wonderful name with history and meaning. Congratulations!
Maitland. You’re going to need to spell it out for people regardless of whether it is Maitland or Maitlyn. Might as well use the original spelling. You’ve heard and liked it your whole life. You’ll never regret it.
Maitlyn has a bunch of nn’s such as Mattie, Millie & Minnie. However it could be quite confusing? im pretty torn
I would go with the original spelling of Maitland and pair it with a classic, feminine middle name. I think Maitlyn will cause a lot of spelling, pronunciation, and “oh I thought you said Kaitlyn” frustrations for your daughter down the road. If I saw Maitland, I would think “oh, family name”. If I saw Maitlyn I would think “this must be a typo, it’s supposed to be Kaitlyn”
Maitland Rose
Maitland Grace
Maitland Elizabeth
Maitland Lucille
Maitland Jane
Maitland Estelle
Maitland Eleanor
To me, Maitland is gorgeous! Sounds like a Hollywood star. You’ll get the occasional raised eyebrow but I suspect most people will swoon. I’m swooning.
Maitlyn, to me, reads a bit more like a modern mashup, and like you were trying to get to “Kaitlyn.” I hope you’ll consider the original spelling; it’s so lovely!
Spell it Maitland. That is the name. That is the way you honor your family. I think Maitlyn would be a major pain to spell, pronounce, and live with.
I think Maitlyn is adorable and sounds less “heavy” than Maitland. Go for it!
Hi-I think you could go either way. I think if you spell it the traditional way, people will tend to pronounce the “d” at the end. With the other spelling, they won’t. However, if you want to keep the original name, maybe just use the traditional spelling and – yes – give her a more traditional or conventional middle name is case she even wants to go back that. I think there are a lot of girls with family names that people just get used to and they sound distinctive. A nickname will probably arise somehow too. So I guess my vote is for “Maitlland.”
Best wishes!!