When spelling makes all the difference...

[bnoelle]

Catherine over in other spellings, the same for Caitlin. I'm just completely over K's. They're so overused right now.
Allison over Alison or Alyson or any other options
Margot over Margo
Anne over Ann. Ann looks unfinished to me.
Claire of Clare or Clair.
Norah over Nora.
Vivienne over Vivian.
Lilah over Lyla or Lila. It just feels more finished with the h.
Colette over Collette.
Nathalie over Natalie. I just love the French flair of Nathalie.
And my name is Brittany, and I hate that any other spellings even exist. What is Britney? It's not even the same freaking name. I do not understand. And God what is with Brittani, Britnie, Brittaney, Bryttany, and Brittnee.

[stripedsocks]

Katharine and Catherine tied, the others not even in the same league.
I like Caitlin, no other version of Caitlin need apply.
Hannah, Deborah, Sarah, and Susannah over all those without their -h.
The oft-overlooked Vivien over either Vivian OR Vivienne, for a girl.
Annabel & Isabel over Annabelle and Isabelle
Raphaela over Raphaella, Rafaella, etc. etc.
Elizabeth over Elisabeth. I like that z, leave it there.
Talia over Tahlia or Talya. Katia over Katya.
Aaliyah over Aliyah slightly, both of those over any other variation.

[essjay]

I prefer Katherine to Catherine, but Caitlin over all variants.
Sophie over Sofie, Sophia over Sofia.
Stephen over Steven
Zoe over Zoe
Anne over Ann
Madeleine over Madeline and Madelyn
Michaela over Mikayla etc.
Elizabeth over Elisabeth
Rhys over Reece and Reese
Christina over Kristina
Vivian or Vivien over Vivienne
Isobel over Isabelle

[weegingerfaerie]

I love the name Stefan and it actually made my "boys list". But I don't think I could dislike Stephan/Stephen more than I do now. It just looks wrong, even though both names sound the same. Me and my weird brain.

Stefan and Stephen are different names to me that don't sound the same. Both are quite popular in UK but Stephen/Steven are really common.

For me although i wouldn't use it i really like spelling Isobel but strongly dislike Isabelle.

Caitlin is lovely Katelyn is awful and looks totally made up to me.

[beaut@heart]

I agree with @claireelise, Clair does look very incomplete! I think most names with an R on the end, or ending in I look very incomplete! And also I agree with @claireelise with Anne/Ann. Anne looks nice, and proper. Ann looks tomboyish and dull. *IMO*

I also agree with kala_way:
Lily over Lilly
Anabel over Annabelle
Skye over Sky
Jaden ove Jadon


Now, last, the KAITLYN arguement!
I prefer Kaitlyn over all of the other spellings, and I really dislike Kaitlyn spelled with a C. I think it looks a bit strange, and out of place. Katelyn looks strange because the e & l look weird together there, and anything with 2 N's looks too long!

[jennipea382]

In general, I prefer the "original" spellings. Like Aidan, Braden, etc. It bugs me when people change the spelling for no reason. Especially adding y's to a masculine name to make it feminine. Adding a y doesn't make it feminine or unique. It's still a boy name on a girl, just spelled wrong.

[hayley88]

I agree with the pp's who mentioned Anne over Ann(looks unfinished) and Isabel(or even Isobel) over Isabelle.

[jennipea382]

Oh, I forgot to mention I usually prefer less frilly spellings. Isabel and Annabel over Isabelle and Annabelle. I also tend to prefer a non "a" ending on names that can go that way (like Eleanor over Eleanora, Claire over Clara, Josephine over Josephina, etc).

[historia]

Katherine I prefer over Catherine.
And I love the name Madeleine, but not when it's spelled Madeline or Madelyn.