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Baby names

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Original poster

Sesame Street character and our other names... Please rate them. Thanks :)!

132 replies

1horatio · 18/03/2017 21:28

Boy:

Elmo (can we? I love Elmo Gabriel ... ....-....) Do children know who Elmo is nowadays? Do you know who Elmo is (I didn't and neither did DH)?
Gabriel (too popular?)
Anton (nice, but isn't it a bit boring...?)
Elric
Clinton (I love the name. But I think it will have to remain a guilty pleasure, right?)

Girl:

Erica (my favourite)
Susannah
Helena (my 2nd favourite girl's name)
Louisa

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diddl · 21/03/2017 14:42

Have we talked you into it, Op?

I like Elmo Gabriel Cormac.

Original poster
1horatio · 21/03/2017 09:54

I have to say, I'm another one who thought you were mad at first with Elmo, but the more I read the thread the more I actually really like it! Just goes to show you have to look beyond your first reaction sometimes! I still don't think I'd use it but I can definitely see why you like it.

We're converting people ;) I just like that it's clearly male, that it works in so many different languages and that there's a certain... melodic softness which is imo somewhat rare in boy's names. And I like the meaning, the associations etc...

IHaveAnElmo

Aww!!! So adorable. Yup, you're selling it very well ;) Yes, the Elmo's fire is an other association I like.

I love the name Elmo. Go for it, why not? It's not the worst association to have. You could give him a longer name as others have suggested for a more 'grown up' version later in life.

True. THe names of DH, DD and me are all quite rare without any very popular namesakes or anything. So, if somebody with the same name did something horrible tomorrow for example that would be the association. The name Elmo already has a strong (and adorable) association.

Well, Elmo Gabriel something (maybe Vincent? Cormac? Peregrine?) last names would be rather grown up imo. Plus, the LO could just use his middle name if they really dislike the name Elmo this much, right`?

OP posts:
Composteleana · 21/03/2017 08:10

I love the name Elmo. Go for it, why not? It's not the worst association to have. You could give him a longer name as others have suggested for a more 'grown up' version later in life.

IHaveAnElmo · 21/03/2017 08:00

Sorry that was unclear, the St Elmo's fire is from sailors, not women in labour. I think it's from people believing lightning/sparks from ships were a sign of St Elmo's protection.

IHaveAnElmo · 21/03/2017 07:59

Obviously have name changed

I have a child named Elmo and it's fab, it suits him very much. One of the benefits is that you never have to say his last name when ringing school etc, and labelling clothes is much easier Wink

Seriously though, it's not just Sesame Street, it comes from Saint Elmo (a form of Erasmus) the patron Saint of sailors (and if memory serves me correctly, also women in pain in labour!) This is where St Elmo's fire comes from. Interestingly my labour with him was miles easier than my other DC (have I sold it enough yet?!)

My son loves his name, to everyone he is "just" Elmo. There has never been any teasing and people have only ever said positive things well to my face anyway Grin

I say go for it! Gabriel was also on our list but he was definitely an Elmo when he arrived.

IHaveAnElmo · 21/03/2017 07:51

Test

fruitpastille · 20/03/2017 22:25

There's St Elmo's Fire as well for a different reference.

NeonFlamingo · 20/03/2017 22:02

I have to say, I'm another one who thought you were mad at first with Elmo, but the more I read the thread the more I actually really like it! Just goes to show you have to look beyond your first reaction sometimes! I still don't think I'd use it but I can definitely see why you like it.

Usanayme · 20/03/2017 21:29

Sparklingbrook that picture has mislabeled Fizz and Bella! I'd have probably named a child Fizz in 1999, she was my favourite

Sparklingbrook · 20/03/2017 19:38

Tweenies. Milo will always be a Tweenie to me.

Sesame Street character and our other names... Please rate them. Thanks :)!
Original poster
1horatio · 20/03/2017 19:36

Great.

Now I have to google what the heck a Tweenie is Blush (if that's something I ought to know... Well, my childhood was in some ways sligthly... sheltered, I suppose)

I love the name Milo. But there are so many children called Milo/Mila/Miro/Mira/Meera in my family...

Aw, I actually think that Elmo Gabriel is a really lovely name. Thanks :) And yes, so do I, eccentric :(

OP posts:
EccentricPickle · 20/03/2017 19:33

Aw, I actually think that Elmo Gabriel is a really lovely name. Damn that fuzzy, red puppet! Angry

A friend has just named her DS Milo, which I love but every time I hear the name I want to shout "IIIII'M MILO!" Like Milo from the Tweenies. It really makes me think of the Tweenies, although strangely, they also liked Jake (also a Tweenie) and Jake doesn't make me think of Tweenies. Hmm

Original poster
1horatio · 20/03/2017 19:22

Op I think Elmo is fab! People get so hung up on associations- your child will share the name of a beloved children's character- what's the harm in that?

True, with the name Elmo you know what you get.

If we were to go for... Elric for example and the next "big thing" (the new equivalent of Idk...Harry Potter or Star Wars) has a baddie called Elric... That would be the main association with the name, for example.
Whereas in the case of Elmo... Well, you get what you get.

OP posts:
Gaaaah · 20/03/2017 17:02

Ivo?

leccybill · 20/03/2017 16:56

Enzo is my all time favourite boy's name. I know a cool French Enzo and a geeky British Enzo. Both work well.

QueenCassiopeia · 20/03/2017 16:49

Op I think Elmo is fab! People get so hung up on associations- your child will share the name of a beloved children's character- what's the harm in that? I love it Smile

diddl · 20/03/2017 13:25

"But Elmo seems to be very rarely used."

That doesn't mean that you shouldn't use it though!

It is a name afterall.

Original poster
1horatio · 20/03/2017 11:28

Anders it sound like anderes...
Eli My brother's nickname
Elias That's already taken
Ellis I love Ellis. Also because of Ellis Island etc. But it's too close to Elise
Enzo I like it

People use Barney, Casper, Rosie, Jim, Charlie, Lola,Felix (cat food), Flora (margarine)..

Well, yes. I know a Flora, a Felix, a Barnaba and more than one Casper/Caspar/Kasper.

But Elmo seems to be very rarely used. If it was in the top 100 (or 200 for example)... I don't think I'd care about the red puppet thing.

OP posts:
TheLesserWeevil · 20/03/2017 09:38

I'm loving this thread. What with the lack of telly and 'didn't you do this thing in Ancient Studies class' I suspect the OP and I had somewhat different childhood experiences! Anyhoo, if you love Elmo, just go for it - it's not like it was invented for the red puppet. Other alternatives:

Ansel
Anders
Eli
Elias
Ellis
Enzo
Emmanuel

diddl · 20/03/2017 09:15

Tbh, I just can't see the problem with using Elmo, even now Op does know who he is!

People use Barney, Casper, Rosie, Jim, Charlie, Lola,Felix (cat food), Flora (margarine)...

Original poster
1horatio · 20/03/2017 09:05

How can you not know who Elmo is? Do you live in a cave in Antarctica?!

No...? I just didn't watch shows when I was a child.

Apparently Elmo is derived from Erasmus, via Ermo Yup, it is. But I unfortunately don't like Erasmus as much as Elmo...

I think Emilio or Emil, nicknamed Elmo for babyhood, is a great solution if you really want to use Elmo. That is true... Makes me kind of sad, I love Elmo Gabriel...

OP posts:
FartnissEverbeans · 20/03/2017 08:38

How can you not know who Elmo is? Do you live in a cave in Antarctica?!

Anton is a great name

mathanxiety · 20/03/2017 02:24

Apparently Elmo is derived from Erasmus, via Ermo.

mathanxiety · 20/03/2017 02:03

No ancient studies here - just Stone Age Ireland all the way through to 1960.

St. Blaise was an ancient saint, a physician (of sorts) and bishop, who was martyred, but saved a choking boy on his way to the jail where he was torn to pieces using metal combs. His feast is often commemorated by a rite involving the blessing of throats in Christian churches. There is a big celebration of St. Blaise in Dubrovnik every year on his feast day - a relative of mine got swept into it when stranded there one time.

What do you think of Owen?

sycamore54321 · 19/03/2017 23:42

I've only ever come across the name Elmer twice in real life and both were middle-aged Irish women.

I think Emilio or Emil, nicknamed Elmo for babyhood, is a great solution if you really want to use Elmo. I would definitely not use it as a real name - unlike most children's characters, it has endured across generations and continents. People ages 1 - 60 in any anglophone country and many many others will almost all know Elmo the puppet and have zero other associations with that name.