I am inclined to believe that the localization process should take into consideration the pronounciation and presentation of certain names. I agree with Kawaii Ryűkishi. The character name is, officially, Aerith Gainsborough; however, I believe that Aeris Gainsborough is much more aesthetically pleasing to the Western audience.

I understand that it was never the creators' intent for her name to be Aeris Gainsborough in international releases, but Japanese writers tend to use names that are seen as symbolic or fashionable to Japanese audiences, yet can be taken literally to Western audiences if a translation is direct or literal. I can think of one example of this is in the tri-Ace and Square Enix title, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. Maria Traitor was renamed to Maria Traydor in the localization process. This is an example of a good change because someone with the last name Traitor — no matter how symbolic — is seen as cliché and unoriginal.