LogFAQs > #976501397

Doe posted...

then it's most likely 'Aeris' was an intentional localization decision.

I mean, I'm sure "Aeris" was an intentional decision. It's just one that ended up being a mistake.

Like, the game released in 1997 alongside a guidebook in Japan that had all their names written in English, and it was "Aerith" even in that. It's not like it was supposed to be one spelling first and then they changed their mind later or something. Somehow the localization team wasn't aware of this, I guess.

Official translations make mistakes all the time whether due to lack of communication or lack of foresight, etc. They knew both Aeris and Aerith were viable translations, and chose the one they thought was correct, but it ended up being the incorrect choice.