Genevieve, Matilda, Elspeth or ?

[strawberrye]

We are expecting a little girl in March and both like the following names:
Genevieve (nn Evie)
Matilda (nn Tilly)
Elspeth (nn Elsie)

My husband also likes names like Rosie, Eleanor etc but I'm not so keen. I have grown up with one of the most popular girls names for the past 30 years so would really love to use a name that is slightly unusual (not out there), but is classic and has potential to grow with our daughter from childhood to adulthood.

My favourite is Genevieve, due to the different options for nicknames, and I think as a full name it is timeless, feminine and strong. DH likes it too but feels a bit confused as to whether we would introduce her to people using her full name or nickname (!) - therefore prefers Matilda, Rosie etc.

Would like to know your thoughts and any other names that are similar?

[Disfordarkchocolate]

Elspeth, actually called Elspeth is my favourite. It's beautiful and hardly used.

[MissHenty]

I love Matilda !! ❤️

Sorry I’ve always hated Genevieve - it’s one of my least liked names but it’s popular on MN. It sounds clunky and long to me. I would hate it being my name. Is it French? I’ve never ‘got’ it.

Names aren’t like they used to be. For example the top boys name is Oliver and only 1 in 100 boys are called Oliver (none at my sons school)!!

When I was growing up there was 2 Sarah’s and 2 Kate’s and 2 Vickys in each and every class.

[VenusClapTrap]

Elspeth. The world really does not need another Evie or Tilly. (Dd is friends with five Tillys.)

[Sexnotgender]

Love Elspeth

What about Eilidh?

[Sexnotgender]

Or Penelope.

[Rowrowboat]

Love love love Elspeth, it has always been on my shortlist but the nn Elsie put me off as there’s so many little Elsie’s about where I live.

[HalfBloodPrincess]

I have a 6 month old Elspeth and always get such lovely comments about her name.

[CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook]

Genevieve most definitely, lovely name, although be prepared for lots of pronunciation differences. Very classy. Also conveys character and strength.

I think Elpseth is a good classic, but still slightly unusual, second. Matilda is still lovely, but I think more popular than the previous two.

[MondeoFan]

I love all your chosen names buy really dislike Evie. It's too common. I work with children and 2 years ago we had 6 Evie's out of 28
But I like all the names in their full form.

[17caterpillars1mouse]

If you don't want popular then avoid Matilda they seem to be everywhere.

I love Elspeth as I have one, not a fan of Elsie though. Ours is Elspie but I also like Essie

I like Genevieve too nn Ginny

[Sexnotgender]

What about Vivienne?

[sadpigeon]

I have two daughters, the names Evie and Elsie and other similar sounding ones are very common (multiple in each class). I know an Elspeth who is introduced as full name, much more memorable than another Elsie. I found with both my 2 they didn't look like the names we had chosen when they were born so we ended up choosing different names - you might be inspired when she is born.
Genevieve I'm not so keen on, I grew up with a similarly rare and old fashioned name and hated it.

[MissHenty]

Roxanna /Roxanne?
Willa?
Edith?
Margaret (Maggie)?
Delilah?

[Sparklysunflowers]

I like the full names, especially Geneviève.

But Evie, Tilly, Elsie are so twee and dull from overuse.

My DD's name is 3 syllables long and never shortened., not even by her friends. It's easy enough to say.

[raspberrymolakoff]

I love all your options. Unfortunately the Genevieve I know chooses to go by Gen. seems such a waste!

[diddlediddle]

Definitely Genevieve - for all the reasons you say.

Matilda is a bit dull to me, it's not exactly common but I do know several. It's ok. Maybe a bit clunky.

Can't bear Elspeth unfortunately, I know it's just personal taste but the combination of the s and the pth sounds make it sound really lispy and sort of pathetic to my ear! Sorry!

Genevieve is gorgeous. Classy, unusual, lots of nn options. Perfect.

[itsgettingweird]

Matilda is my favourite.

Genevieve is lovey but I wouldn't have connected with Evie nn. That's more Evelyn which i love.

Don't like Elspeth but love Elsbeth.

[BonBon411]

Genevieve is the prettiest.
We had a cow named Elsie- so that name is spoiled for me.

[Sparklysunflowers]

It would be a shame to call Genevieve Evie!

[MrsBertBibby]

Please don't use the tedious nicknames! Elspeth is lovely, Elsie is dull and twee. Nicknames should appear organically. Or not. I never had one.

I think Guinevere is better than Genevieve, which people will mangle.

Matilda and Tilly are both ugly and overused.

[MrsNoMopp]

I like Elspeth best.

[Sparklysunflowers]

Please don't use the tedious nicknames! Elspeth is lovely, Elsie is dull and twee. Nicknames should appear organically. Or not. I never had one.

Well said! I agree.

[Ellmau]

Genevieve is my favourite of your three.

There are a lot of Rose names you could use, eg Rosalind, Rosanna, Roseanne.

[Petrichor11]

I like Matilda and Elspeth

It seems a shame to use an unusual name like Genevive and then a boring generic nickname like Evie. There’s nothing wrong with Evie, but it’s dull compared to Genevive

My favourite of your three would be Elspeth actually called Elspeth most of the time

[diddlediddle]

Agreed on the Genevieve nn front by the way - def don't use Evie! They're ten a penny. Genevieve is gorgeous but do allow a nn to evolve naturally. Hopefully it will be something nice like Vivi, Neve, or something else.