Elsie = will she be a pretentious 21 year old?

[Lizzzombie]

Am 31 wks pregnant with DD.
We decided on the name Elsie ages and ages ago, but the more I think about it, the more unsure I become.
I just can't imagine an Elsie in her teens/twenties etc. It sounds so girly and precious for someone that age.

The connotations that its an old lady name don't bother me so much as this does.

Does anyone know an Elsie who is not a little girl or not an old lady?

Am I just being a daft pregnant lady???

[LaTristesse]

I'm not a fan I have to say, but she's not my child; if you like it, go with it! x

[ZZZenAgain]

she will spend more time being a grown-up Elsie of course than a sweet little girl called Elsie, so IMO every name needs to work well for an adult. If you don't honestly think it does , I would look for a similar sounding name but something that you can imagine her using as an adult.

[Lizzzombie]

ZZZ - I agree. The name needs to be able to grow with her.

La Tristesse - I do like the name but I just can't imagine a grown woman with that name. I guess because I've never met one.

But does the name Elsie conjure up images of an annoyingly precious twenty year old or a capable one?

I never had this problem with DS. We thought of a name, he was born, he got that name & it suits him fine & will age with him perfectly.

[ZZZenAgain]

Elsie doesn't sound like an annoyingly precious 30year old to me. Sounds quite down-to-earth really.

[ZZZenAgain]

oops! 20 year old I meant to say.

[piscesmoon]

Down to earth-the ones I know are old ladies and farmer's wives. I hate it. I know 2 old ladies with the name and they hate it too! One has always refused to be called it and has had a completely different nickname since a child.

[ValiumSingleton]

I like it. I think I prefer Elsa more. Elsa could be Elsie or Elsa. Elsie can't really be Elsa. IF that matters.

An Elsa has just started at my dcs school, so she's four. So by the time yours is 21, her boss might be a 25 year old Elsa!

[Flowerface]

My DD is called Elsa. People do call her Elsie sometimes, which I feared they would, and I worried that Elsie sounded like a Victorian maid. I love the name Elsa though, and we've had very positive responses to it...

[ValiumSingleton]

You can't compare the experience of a 80 year old with a young child with the same name! They're born into different times.

For the last forty odd years, 80 year olds' names have been considered dated. They're not around babies enough to realise their name might be coming back in to fashion.

[Househunter]

I love Elsie but my dh didn't so we went for Elsa, which I think will be suitable for any age.

[lazycow007]

I know an Elsie who is 23yrs old and very self assured. She's a beautiful girl who is very popular and well respected. She's never had an issue with her name either.

Go with your first instinct

[diddl]

Much prefer Elsa tbh.

[Rhubarbgarden]

I prefer Elsa too. Less prissy.

[TheUnmentioned]

I ADORE Elsie (Elspeth) and it would be my 1st choice this time (am 41 weeks) but it has been vetoed! Please call your baby Elsie so I can live vicariously through you!

[FattyArbuckel]

Elsa is more grown up than Elsie which sounds to me like a child's version of Elsa

[EsmeWatson]

I thought Elsie was a nn for Elizabeth, which could work well and give her the option to be called this when she's older.

[piscesmoon]

Elsa or Elspeth are much nicer.

[proudfoot]

I much prefer Elsa as I think it sounds nicer and more like a stand alone given name, whereas Elsie seems like a nickname (cute though).

I would call her Elsa on the birth certificate and Elsie when she's younger. If you or she thinks Elsie sounds silly later on then she has a more formal option to go with.

I don't think it sounds pretentious though and probably won't stand out when she's 21, as the other 21 year olds will have "baby" names too - Poppy, Maisie, Millie, Abby etc and Elsie won't stick out!

[MrsC2010]

I quite like it, think I prefer Elsa though.

[resistanceisfutile]

I like it and prefer Elsie over Elsa - which for some reason always reminds me of Ailsa from Home and Away!

[Lizzzombie]

Ooh, thanks for your comments (just got back from work)

Don't like Elsa, but can see the reasoning behind calling her that and then having the 'nick name' Elsie while she is little.

It is indeed a derivative of Elizabeth (my own name), which I am concerned is slightly odd and a bit like naming her after myself, but then there are lots of names which come from Elizabeth so I am not too bothered by that point.

lazycow Thats what I wanted to hear. Someone who knew an Elsie who was older (but not elderly) and who was not precious or pretentious!

Proudfoot Great point about there being lots of 'baby' names around in 20 years time. Daisy, Poppy & Milly will be the new Sarah, Louise and Emma. So I guess Elsie won't stick out as a little girls' name then.


Thank you all for your input & opinions!

[mathanxiety]

The trouble I have with so many of the old lady names/ below stairs names that are now popular is that they were given to girls and grown women at a time when women weren't even allowed to vote and were definitely second class citizens. They lacked gravitas, intentionally. They were meant to be labels of insignificance.

[resistanceisfutile]

I doubt that mathanxiety. I'm sure when parents named their children they didn't think "I know, I'll call her Elsie so everyone will know how insignificant she is". I'm sure most parents even then loved their children and wanted the best for them. They probably just liked the name.

[Lizzzombie]

Mathanxiety - That can't be totally true can it?
What about Queenie? That was popular as a tribute to Queen Victoria and she was hardly insignificant.