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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is it very cruel to call a little girl...

90 replies

Purplelooby · 04/10/2010 21:25

I really love unusual names but be honest with me, is it evil to call a little girl:

Apple
or...
Elfie

DH thinks so. I did have my heart set of Florence after my favourite cousin-in-law, but the Camerons have nicked it :(

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MadameCastafiore · 11/10/2010 19:03

You could get away with either of those names if you could be sure that she was going to be petite and pretty but if she a big fugly munter it would just put loads more ammunition there for the bullies to fire at her!

otchayaniye · 11/10/2010 18:59

I knew a girl called Plum Sykes at college.

Her real name was Vicky (smirk)

Nefret · 11/10/2010 11:59

Elfi isn't a Turkish name. Are you thinking of Elif?

I quite like Elfie actually. Not Apple though.

niccibabe · 10/10/2010 10:31

Fleur

pranma · 08/10/2010 16:57

Elfi is a lovely Turkish name [used for either sex]

Tortington · 07/10/2010 11:43

it would be even crueller if she actually looked like an apple, fat and round.

you have to take these things into consideration.

melikalikimaka · 07/10/2010 11:40

Think of her when she is a grown woman, would she look like an 'Apple'?

BleachedWhale · 07/10/2010 11:35

Against all my better instincts, I like Elfie.

But it does sound like Laandon accent for 'healthy' or Kiwi for 'Alphie', if that matters to you.

OkayGrrl · 07/10/2010 11:30

Apple is awful!

With Elfie you could have a longer formal name and use Elfie as a nickname.

Ephiny · 07/10/2010 09:15

Don't like either of them at all, sorry. Florence is nice, wouldn't worry about the Cameron's - by the time your dd is grown up it's not likely to be an issue!

Aoife is a pretty name, but would be a bit odd if you're not Irish, and unless you're in Ireland I think lots of people will struggle to spell and pronounce it correctly. Maybe Eva which sounds similar-ish? Or Ella/Ellen with Elfie as nickname?

defyingravity · 06/10/2010 23:16

Dd would like to be called Elphaba! It is shortened to Elphie not Elfie though!

I like Elfie.

musicmadness · 06/10/2010 23:12

I like Elfie as a nickname but NOT as a stand alone first name. A teenager is not going to forgive you if you call them Elfie. Elphaba is awesmome. I prefer Effy personally but it does remind me of skins a bit Blush

Alishanty · 06/10/2010 22:58

I know an Elfie and had never thought of any of the bad connatations, just thought it was a nice, unusual name. Think it's short for something although I don't know what? I have an Esme which is not a million miles away.

LaDiDaDi · 06/10/2010 22:55

I like Elfie, very sweet.

Novusleaf · 06/10/2010 22:52

There's a kids book by Joan Lingard called the Eleventh Orphan, in which the heroine is a girl called Elfie, short for Elfrieda. I think it's ok. I don't think the "not being delicately built" argument is a big worry with Elfie, not like Willow (we know a large one of these, poor girl). I do think there's a confusion with Alfie issue, especially if you're a bit posh-like (think Kelvinside/Morningside jokes about rates and creches).

Apple, too copycat. Clementine nice though.

You are joking about the Cameron's stealing Florence, aren't you?

Greensleeves · 06/10/2010 22:50

I love Elfie

it's really lovely, never heard it before

colditz · 06/10/2010 22:50

there is no safeguard against nick names .... I know a twenty year old woman who's known as Slop (Sophie)

colditz · 06/10/2010 22:49

What about Phyllis? then she could be Lissie or Phillie or Flip?

mathanxiety · 06/10/2010 22:45

I LOVE Elfriede. Gorgeous name.

Also love Aoife, and Ailbhe (pr. Alveh)

Original poster
Purplelooby · 06/10/2010 21:55

Professor Elfie Gunawan :)

OK so as for the pets bundlebelly, we have 2 cats: Rutherford and Siumai. Oh and a fish called Squig.

OP posts:
expectingno3 · 06/10/2010 12:11

You could add a D at the beginning! My daughter is called Delphy (full name is Delphine), if thats any help. I think its a pretty name, but I would say that wouldn't I...

Lousymumdotcom · 06/10/2010 11:52

Elfie sounds like an elf or that you are mispronouncing healthy. And Apple, well, sounds like an old fruit. Florence, on the other hand, is lovely. Can you imagine screaming out: "Elfie, get 'ere now," while out in Sainsburys? Also, think to the future, have you ever heard of Judge Elfie Smith? Now Judge Florence Smith - that's got some class.

bundlebelly · 06/10/2010 10:22

ooh what are they called? mind is boggling!

We have . .

NUTTER - rabbit
ELFIE - guinea pig
We used to have LUMA - cat but she had to go to new home with no kids in it as she was evil.

SpiderWilliam · 05/10/2010 22:54

Elspeth with Elfie as a nn?

Original poster
Purplelooby · 05/10/2010 21:55

The replies to this had had me in stitches, but I'm starting to take the point about Apple (and I never considered Plum I'll have you know!)

I like the mixed reaction Elfie is getting... I actually got the name because a sister of a friend-of-a-friend was called Elfie and I thought it sounded lovely. I looked it up and it is an old English boys name!

The idea of Elfriede or something alike is growing on me...

bundlebelly you should hear what my animals are called :)

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