This date in Slice history (1997)

Slice answers: Our question about “creative” spellings of standard-sounding first names prompted strong reactions. Most readers weighing in were vehemently opposed to unusual spellings.

We heard plenty of examples. But we have no desire to cause hard feelings within families or in workplaces. So we'll just pass along an idea from a reader named Sylvia.

She thinks first names ought to be recycled from the obituaries. That way, classic monikers such as Hazel or Herman would stay in circulation and not get totally supplanted by, say, Ashley and Justin.