Hello David
As a genealogist I think you'll find it's often the way the
Registration Clerk happens to right it down at the time.
At the front of every English/Welsh birth register there are
instructions as to how the register should be filled in according to
different circumstances, there is also a note about the spelling of
names according to gender ie Jesse/Jessie, Francis/Frances etc. As the
registers are not normally seen by the public this probably isn't
common knowledge. There's also a note about variations in spelling of
names such as Sidney/Sydney.
Of course not all Registrars got it right every time! especially in the
early years when many of the informants were unable to read and write
so couldn't check what he'd written. I have a friend born 1949 who's
Deirdre instead of Dierdre because the Registrar couldn't spell.
Some Registrars had problems as new names were introduced. Phyllis
especially caused trouble - Phylis, Philiss, Phillys etc, also Alison -
Alicon, Alicean. Nowadays though many parents take delight in
concocting odd names.
Brenda
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/
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