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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Elliot for a girl - too American?

51 replies

cupcakebakerer · 03/10/2010 18:10

The hubby loves it, as do I. My only concern is that it's a bit 'Americany' to call a little girl what's traditionally a boy's name.

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DandyLioness · 03/10/2010 18:11

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Caoimhe · 03/10/2010 18:13

Don't do it!

onimolap · 03/10/2010 18:15

I always think of the boy in ET.

It would work as a middle name though

ragged · 03/10/2010 18:20

I am American and I'd think you were quite odd original to be calling a girl this Grin.
Elladee? Eliza? Lottie? Charlotte?

I have a feeling that more and more names are becoming unisex, though.

DandyLioness · 03/10/2010 18:21

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BelligerentGhoul · 03/10/2010 18:32

Horrible imvho - sorry. Then again, I'm not fond of it for a boy, either.

There are so many really pretty girls' names out there. I don't get the thing for giving them boys' names at all.

How about Eloise? Or Elise?

Raahh · 03/10/2010 19:16

Funny how someone has said too boyish. i have a nearly 8 year old Elliot, and almost every thread on here about the name says it is girly!Grin

It is not a girls name, imo (obviously)- I think programmes like Scrubs give the impression it is accepted in America as such (but in the show she was named it by her father, as she had all brothers and he expected her to be a boy too,iirc).

But on the plus side, you have spelt is right.Smile (Hate it spelt Elliott- looks like a surname).

Lonnie · 03/10/2010 20:15

Dont do it it is a PAIN in the proverbial to have a name everyone thinks is a boys name

I am 40 and I still receive lettters to MR

err Ive given birth to 4 children so unless something iS SERIOUSLY weird...

mopsyflopsy · 03/10/2010 21:16

Elliot Reid (Scrubs) is a well known female bearer of the name, and having googled it, there seem to be a few others. Perhaps more common in the US?

You could get away with nickname Ellie for a girl in the UK.

herbietea · 03/10/2010 21:19

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Starberries · 05/10/2010 12:16

I like it - then again, I'm American Grin

HowsTheSerenity · 05/10/2010 12:18

All I think of is Scrubs. But the, Darrel is a blokes name and Darrel was a character in the Malory Towers books so don't worry.

loveinsuburbia · 07/10/2010 07:13

I really love Elliott for a girl. It's a family name and my grandmother's middle name so if we had another baby and it was a girl, then I'd call her Elliott. (Husband vetoed it completely for our son)

Bunbaker · 07/10/2010 07:33

I have always thought of it as a boy's name as well. DD sits next to an Elliott at school and he is an utter thug.

Unfortunately with a name like Elliott I think most people will assume it is a boy's name. It isn't as if the spellings are different as to whether it is male or female like Lesley/Leslie or Frances/Francis.

runningrach · 07/10/2010 07:42

I know a baby girl called Elliot and she really suits it.

Nothing wrong with it, and these days with the sheer number of ridiculous names out there it's hardly one of the worst offenders, we can't all have frilly flower names.

Even I get letters addressed to Mr. sometimes and my name is Rachel!

poppyknot · 07/10/2010 07:58

Darrell Rivers in Malory Towers was called after EB's husband whose name was Kenneth Darrell Waters so is a bit surnamey.

And of course there is a MNer called Darrelrivers(sp ?) who will know more about it........ Smile

ilovemydogandMrObama · 07/10/2010 08:01

why is it American to call a girl a boy's name Hmm Hmm

OkayGrrl · 07/10/2010 11:20

Elliot is a boy's name, Elliot in Scrubs hated her name as it is a boy's name.

doughnutty · 07/10/2010 11:32

I like it.

But I do have a thing about boys names for girls.

Maybe it is a bit american but so what.

Name your child what you like and don't worry about what people think. Whether it's normal or not they'll still have an opinion. I'm sure people don't like the name of my DS because no one ever comments on it and they're more likely to say something positive to your face.

I don't care. Me and DH like it. Sod everyone else.

loveinsuburbia · 07/10/2010 19:03

Elliott is traditionally a surname rather than a first name, so there's no proper reason to consider it a boys' name other than most people will know it more as a boys' name.

expatinscotland · 07/10/2010 19:10

It's stupid for a girl.

I'm American, too, but I think a lot of those names there sound stupid and made up and ridiculous, because they are.

My children have traditional Scottish names, names real Scottish people actually use, not ones Americans think are Scottish, and when we went for a visit people loved their names!

The airport security people especially. 'Oooh, how do you say that? That's a good one!'

readywithwellies · 07/10/2010 23:13

Just reminds me of Pete's Dragon.... the dragon was male

nooka · 08/10/2010 05:22

I'd think of the boy from ET too. Not sure why you want to call your dd a boys name?

frankenfanny · 08/10/2010 21:01

MY DH loves this name but refuses to see that a girl would be called Ellie from the minute she is born for the rest of her life, no matter how strict parents try to be about it. Why not just call the girl Ellie? Or is he right?

BibiBelle · 08/10/2010 21:36

If you like it use it, that's all that matters. My DD3 has a name more commonly used for a boy and we love it Smile