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Baby names

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

Original poster

Elke for girl

27 replies

Mcakes · 19/10/2017 07:54

What do you think of Elke (pronounced Elkeh) for a girl?
Am considering it because my partner has German heritage and I have Danish and Elke comes from the border region between the 2 countries.
Having read the current Anaïs thread am wondering if it would cause confusion over pronunciation?

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Enwi · 23/10/2017 07:33

I’ve never heard of this name before but have just added it to my listSmile
People prounce my name wrong a lot. It has never bothered me, and my friends and family are the only ones who I’d really care about getting it wrong (and they don’t, obviouslyGrin)

milkachoc · 23/10/2017 06:42

I am German and I would not use it. it is, as PP said, a middled aged lady name over there. The youngest Elke I know is 50. And it is ages away from a renaissance.

It is not pronounced Elk.eh but rather Elk.e (with a very short 'e' sound). it sounds harsh and will be one of the names which is hard to get really right for English speakers. You will only ever get a got approximation. I'd go back to the drawing board.

HeteronormativeHaybales · 23/10/2017 01:39

I like it, but here in Germany it's very much a 'middle-aged lady' name - a generation too soon for granny chic. It wouldn't be quite authentic, but you could always spell it Elka if you were worried about the pronunciation?

wooster16 · 22/10/2017 22:31

It's lovely

Original poster
Mcakes · 19/10/2017 18:48

Thanks everyone. Am happy to hear that it mainly gets a thumbs up Smile
I really love the name too. To me it sounds sort of pretty and grounded at the same time.

Good point though Yoyo I hadn't thought of that. I have no idea what this baby will grow to become and agree that a bovine sounding name may not end up being kind. Something to take into consideration....

OP posts:
pioe · 19/10/2017 16:38

I think it’s beautiful op. I know an Elke but hers is pronounced elkie. Still beautiful either way.

Dustbunny1900 · 19/10/2017 15:55

I think of elke somners, beautiful woman!! I love the name, but I like bird/flower/forest/deer names for girls. Think elke is graceful and ethereal

Jenniferturkington · 19/10/2017 14:59

Dd has a friend called elke. Nobody has ever had any problems with pronunciation as that's what she was introduced as.

CakeRattleandRoll · 19/10/2017 14:56

I know two, both middle-aged. I really like the name.

Apileofballyhoo · 19/10/2017 12:01

I don't speak German or Danish and I read it as El-keh no problem.

mintich · 19/10/2017 12:00

I immediately pronounced it Elkie. I like it though!

AnyaMoondial · 19/10/2017 12:00

I think it is wonderful.

Liadain · 19/10/2017 11:57

Love it.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 19/10/2017 11:40

Love it !

thegreylady · 19/10/2017 11:35

We have a German acquaintance called Elke and she pronounces it Elk.eh. I like it.

TheVanguardSix · 19/10/2017 10:36

I love the name Elke.
She's a character in the novel I will never finish! Grin I have a good friend who is half Japanese/half Norwegian and her name is Elke.

lolalotta · 19/10/2017 10:33

I read it as Elk too as in the animal.

thecatfromjapan · 19/10/2017 09:27

I knew an Elke growing up. I like it. Smile

yoyoyoyoyo · 19/10/2017 09:23

No. Don’t. What is she is big and clumsy when she is older? She will be called bovine names all her life.

beingsunny · 19/10/2017 08:43

I know an Elke (I’m in Australia) I think it’s lovely

KoalaD · 19/10/2017 08:39

I love it.

RonaldMcDonald · 19/10/2017 08:39

Moose for a boy?

Slartybartfast · 19/10/2017 08:23

yup, thought of Elkie Brooks, which made me like the name.

but yes, like Elkeh pronunciation too

tinytoucan · 19/10/2017 08:23

I like it. I knew how to pronounce it but I can speak a bit of German so that probably helps. I think it's a name some people might struggle to pronounce correctly just from reading, but once they've been told how to pronounce it it's easy enough

AuntieStella · 19/10/2017 08:18

I wouldn't t say ut's a particularly well-known name in UK, but people might think if the singer Elkie Brooke. Which isn't quite the same but is in the right direction IYSWIM.

I think it would work, and I like the name.