Survey Reveals UK’s Top Auto-Corrected Names: Is Yours Mistaken for a Typo?
Study Reveals Most Autocorrected UK Baby Names – Is Yours on the List?
By Xantha Leatham, Executive Science Editor | Updated: 14:10 BST, 12 May 2025
Autocorrect is both a blessing and a curse. While it catches typos, it often turns simple messages into chaos—like changing “Googled” to “fondled” or censoring swear words to “duck.” Now, a new study highlights how even baby names are victims of autocorrect’s overzealous edits.
According to research by I Am Not a Typo (IANAT), 43% of UK baby names are autocorrected or flagged as errors. Young adults aged 16–24 are hardest hit, with nearly two-thirds facing name corrections. The team analyzed 2023’s registered names using Microsoft Word’s UK dictionary settings to identify the most problematic.
Top Autocorrect Offenders
Girls’ Names:
- Ottilie: Auto-changes to “Otto lie” on iPhones.
- Ayzal, Aiza, Imaan, Fiadh, and Iyla also frequently corrected.
Boys’ Names:
- Zaviyar: Marked as a spelling error with “no replacements found.”
- Zayaan, Teddie, Finnley, Kiaan, and Izhaan follow closely.
Parents often face frustration when their chosen names are flagged as errors (stock image).
Tech Giants Urged to Fix Autocorrect
IANAT’s findings coincide with their book 100 Incorrect Baby Names, which protests tech systems dismissing culturally diverse or unique names. Last year, the campaigners called on companies like Apple and Microsoft to update their dictionaries.
Cathal Wogan of IANAT states: “If a name is too ethnic, interesting, or culturally divergent, autocorrect brands it a typo. We want tech giants to fix this—our job isn’t done until 43% of names aren’t wrong.”
Autocorrect struggles with names outside traditional Western norms (stock image).
A Growing Issue
As naming trends evolve, autocorrect lags behind. While some celebrity-chosen names (e.g., Elon Musk’s “X Æ A-Xii”) eventually get added to dictionaries, everyday names remain overlooked.
IANAT’s campaign highlights broader concerns about digital inclusion. “Why favor famous names over common ones?” Wogan asks. Despite a year of silence from tech firms, the group vows to keep pushing for change.
IANAT’s book challenges tech bias against unique names.
Is your name a typo? Share your autocorrect struggles below.
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For more, visit IANAT’s website.
Images: Getty, IANAT
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