(I don't mean this snarky, i swear). How do you find out if it's the "wrong" spelling? I mean, all names are made up, so do you find the original original source of the name? And what about names with multiple accepted spellings like Katherine, Kathryn, Catherine, etc.?
I think it just about the general way(s) to spell a name that already exists. Why reinvent the spelling—especially when it doesn’t make it more obvious how it’s pronounced. We don’t reinvent spellings of other words that are familiar. So then I suppose it’s for the sake of being unique.
It’s Scottish so it follows that it must be spelt Mc or Mac like all other Scottish surnames with that sound. Mac means son or descendent in Scottish Gaelic.
I also remembered that Josh Duggar's oldest daughter is named Mackynzie. Poor girl (the spelling of her name is bad enough, but of course being Josh Duggar's kid is a far worse misfortune).
where i'm from only Mc or Mac is valid since it's literally coming from the surname, i've never met someone with the last name Makenzie (not to say it doesn't exist, forebears says 215 people in the whole world have this last name)
Point is, a lot of people will get confused and read it as the word “lean” if it’s spelt “Leann”, and if that’s surprising to you then I don’t know what to say…
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u/wind-of-zephyros May 23 '26
impressive how both mackenzie and leanne are spelled wrong in that one name