In a message dated 19/10/02 00:28:23 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > > I agree you cannot count on spellings being proper for the sex of the > person. I have a female cousin who spells her name Beverley, normally the > male spelling. She had a great uncle whose name was spelled Beverly, > normally the female spelling. Errors tend to continue because they cause a > mind set. Even today you'll find given names misspelled because the parents > didn't know how it was spelled and spelled it how they thought it sounded. > You can probably even find someone who will argue that I've got the > spelling > reversed. > > I am one of those Dennis who thinks the spellings should be the other way round. My daughter is Beverley which I understand to be correct for a female. It would seem that your relatives consider that to be correct also. Any females with that name that I know or have come across here in the UK have been spelt with the 'ey'. As for Francis(es). In my ggrandfather's army records his daughter's birth record shows her as Francis but her birth certificate says Frances. So yes, it is important to allow for variations. Regards, Sandra