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Baby names

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

Original poster

Agatha and Elvis

84 replies

JoanneS1980 · 16/10/2018 12:26

My friend is expecting twins and has asked me my opinions on the names Agatha and Elvis. I thought I would also ask on this forum for her for other people's opinions on the names.

She really likes Agatha Christie and if she has a girl she really wants to call her Agatha.

I told her that it's an uncommon name and that I have never met anyone with the name. I do think there is a connection with the name Agatha and Agatha Christie. I can't even think of another famous person with the name. Her husband has said it is fine.

I think the name does come across as a little dated, but I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. Many traditional names that were popular names for a long time would appear dated in some circles these days, including my own name.

What are your thoughts on the name?

Her husband is a huge Elvis Presley fan and has been collecting his music for nearly twenty years and has asked her if she has a boy that he would like him to be called Elvis.

I told her that if she does agree to call their son Elvis then people will assume that they are both Elvis Presley fans and that he was named after him. It is one of those names that is strongly associated with one person. I think it's very similar to the names Madonna, Prince, etc. I told her that I actually do like the name but if she does agree to it then she will have to be prepared to hearing references to Elvis Presley.

Am I wrong to think that most people will think of Elvis Presley when the name Elvis is mentioned? I know that there are other references, but Elvis Presley popularised the name. I think it is the same as when the name Madonna is mentioned, most people will think of Madonna Ciccone rather than the religious reference of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Considering that Elvis Presley still has a big fan club, people recognise his music and still listen to his music, would it really be that bad to name your son after him?

Do you think most people remember Elvis Presley when he was in his prime and good looking or the 'Fat Elvis' at the end of his life when he was overweight and had rather sluggish performances compared to his earlier years?

What are your thoughts on the name?

I mentioned both names to my sister and she said that they were not her cup of tea. Perhaps it is because my sister doesn't like uncommon names, her children are called David and Isabella.

Do you know anyone with either of the names? I have never met anyone called Agatha or Elvis.

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motortroll · 17/10/2018 09:24

I taught a kid called Elvis,he was cool! Only the teachers found it unusual, most of the kids weren't really aware of what it meant to the older generations. Even if they did know elvis Presley they didn't get that it was unusual to be named after him. It was just an unusual name to them.

I love Agatha!!

regularbutpanickingabit · 17/10/2018 09:22

I don’t think Agatha is automatically associated with Agatha Christie by most people. Agatha is a pretty popular Eastern European name and certainly wouldn’t be out of place in lots of areas. It isn’t a favourite of mine personally but I certainly wouldn’t think it was bad at all. The only thing is that Agatha and Elvis sound very very different and would be odd to my ears for twins. That’s just personal preference.

Euphemia is an absolutely awful name and far more eyebrow raising than Agatha! Cornelius is similarly terrible. Please don’t suggest those. She’s going to think you are taking the piss. They both sound as if someone is trying desperately to be aristocratic but missing the mark by a mile.

Elvis is definitely associated with the singer and of course they will get comments about him. If they like Elvis and don’t care about the comments then it isn’t up to anyone else to criticise.

Personally I think it’s best to find names they both really like. I would use Agatha and Elvis as middle names so they both offer a tribute to an idol and then come up with other first names that they are both happy with.

SelinaMyers · 17/10/2018 09:22

Aggie is not a cute diminutive. If someone is “aggie“ it means they’re grumpy.

Kokeshi123 · 17/10/2018 09:20

My friend suffers from social anxiety so I don't think she would like all of the attention. On the other hand, her husband is a really bubbly character and would more than likely be proud of the attention.

Yes, it would attract attention to the parents, but at the end of the day it's the poor kid who has to live with the name for their whole life!

ChicagoLil · 17/10/2018 09:19

Elvis is the not particularly bright colleague of Fireman Sam.

And autocorrect changes Elvis into Levi's so that's another no.

AgathaRaisinDetra · 17/10/2018 09:16

Agatha is a marvellous name.

MawkishTwaddle · 17/10/2018 09:14

Aaron and Christie give similar nods to their heroes without the immediate association.

Original poster
JoanneS1980 · 17/10/2018 04:11

I also think that the name Agatha is old-fashioned and I really don't like Aggie.

I am going to suggest the name Euphemia for a girl and Cornelius for a boy to my friend.What does everyone think?

Would people on here still think the name Elvis was not a nice name if it were not so closely associated with the singer Elvis Presley?

There seems to be mixed views about both names.

Everyone gets a name from somewhere. My friend named her daughter Apple years ago after she saw in her own words a beautiful apple tree at a cemetery, I kid you not!

Probably a stupid question with regards to the last name, but do you think either Agatha or Elvis would attract attention if people were to hear or see the name? I am thinking somewhere like a hospital or somewhere many people would be at the same time. My friend suffers from social anxiety so I don't think she would like all of the attention. On the other hand, her husband is a really bubbly character and would more than likely be proud of the attention.

OP posts:
acivilcontract · 17/10/2018 03:06

Agatha is fine.
Elvis isn't a name I like.
The names don't work together as a pair.

Topseyt · 17/10/2018 02:47

I knew a boxer dog called Agatha when I was about 20.

I personally don't like it, although I have heard worse girls'named.

Elvis is just too stupid for words. Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello!!

Original poster
JoanneS1980 · 17/10/2018 02:47

What are some similar names to Agatha? I have never asked my friend if she will shorten it to Aggie. I prefer Agatha to Aggie.

Do you think most people associate the name Agatha with Agatha Christie?

@twattymctwatterson Accusing someone of being a "child abuser" is a serious allegation, whether or not that person is dead or alive makes no difference. Do you have any evidence that he was a "child abuser"? As far as I know, there is no evidence.

Elvis Presley met Priscilla Beaulieu when she was 14 years old and he was 25 years old in Germany in 1959 and they remained in contact until Elvis left West Germany in 1960. Priscilla did not see Elvis again until 1962 and she did not move to Graceland until March 1963. According to Priscilla, they did not actually have sex until their wedding night. In fact, in her biography Elvis and Me, Priscilla claimed that Elvis was a passionate man and not overtly sexual towards her at all.

Priscilla was not naive enough to believe that a relationship with Elvis Presley was going to be easy. She has spoken in length about how troubling it was for her to live with Elvis, she even took drugs herself to cope with his lifestyle.

With regards to their actual relationship, due to his lifestyle she knew that he was going to have affairs. She was also unfaithful to him. She admitted in her biography Elvis and Me that she found herself deeply attracted to the instructor of her dancing lessons known as Mark and had a short affair with him. She also cheated on Elvis with his karate instructor Mike Stone. They were as bad as each other.

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Hogtini · 17/10/2018 01:18

Sounds like names for two cute pugs

Aintnothingbutaheartache · 17/10/2018 00:59

When will people catch on to the fact that they are naming CHILDREN, not pets.
When we have kids we are given an enormous privilege and responsibility.
And naming them is HUGE. You are giving your child a name that (unless they hate it that much and will change later on) they will carry for life.
Please don’t pander to stupid fashion and fancies.
It’s cruel

IdaBWells · 17/10/2018 00:56

Agatha has really been growing on me as I like the character of Aunt Agatha in Poldark.

Elvis however is a name that will only ever be associated with one incredibly famous individual and will always overshadow any other person given it, in my opinion.

I feel like it's saying you don't care about the unique personality and character of your child to call them Elvis. Please don't. Or if you have to, give it as a middle name.

Kokeshi123 · 17/10/2018 00:48

Don't like either and they sound really odd together, sorry.

I also think naming a child Elvis because one is an Elvis fan is a bit immature, quite honestly.

daisypond · 16/10/2018 19:57

Agatha is fine - I rather like it. Elvis - no way.

twattymctwatterson · 16/10/2018 18:19

Well Elvis was a child abuser, and continued to abuse Priscilla throughout their marriage so there's that...

Singlenotsingle · 16/10/2018 18:19

Christie and Aaron are very nice.
Agatha and Elvis are ridiculous. Horrible!

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 16/10/2018 18:17

Elvis is just ridiculous and setting the kid up for being bullied.
Personally I hate the idea of kids being named after famous people (especially those with such a unique name) - somehow sets a bar they will always fail to live up to and fills some kind of weird position of idol worshipping place from the parent. Plus seeing as Elvis was a fabulous singer but also a drug addicted, womanising mess, who died young on his toilet, not exactly what I’d want to have my kids named after. But that’s just me.

Agatha is fine, if a little old fashioned.

RoomWithALoon · 16/10/2018 18:08

Agatha is nice - although Tabitha is much prettier. Elvis is terrible. And it's not a good pairing. Elvis drags Agatha down!

bershetmelon · 16/10/2018 18:06

Agatha just makes me think of the Trunchbull in Matilda. My dp wanted to use the name Elvis if our dd was a boy, ''twas a flat out no from me! But each to their won if that's the names they like then go for it

OutPinked · 16/10/2018 17:04

I like Agatha, always have done. It does make me picture an old Victorian spinster though and I hate Aggie.

Elvis is a no-no. It’s just a silly name suited for pets but not human beings. That poor boy would grow up heavily resenting the parents and probably end up changing it by deed poll as soon as he could.

Cosmoa · 16/10/2018 16:42

Both awful and they reeeally font flow well together!

midsomermurderess · 16/10/2018 16:21

Agatha is lovely and doesn't need shortening. Not so keen on Elvis.

Original poster
JoanneS1980 · 16/10/2018 16:14

Even when Elvis Presley was in his prime, the highest number of boys named Elvis in America was in 1957 when 595 were given the name.

www.babynameshub.com/boy-names/Elvis.html

The name never even gained popularity during his life.

www.behindthename.com/name/elvis/top/united-states

His surname Presley ranks higher on the charts than his first name Elvis.

www.behindthename.com/name/presley/top/united-states

I think that unless the name of a famous person was common before that person became famous then people don't really use it for either good or bad association.

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