We’ve kind of decided... give me your brutally honest thoughts

It's a beautiful name & the spelling is pretty. Sorry for your loss it's a lovely tribute to him

I like it. And speaking as someone who always gets asked how her name is spelt ( quirky spelling of traditional name) it's not that big a deal ... only on mn is that a massive calamity.

I love the name Elyse. It's pronounced Ell-eez though (I have a friend called elyse). People always try and pronounce it eleece though. So if you want to pronounce it that way (eleece) I don't think anyone will get it wrong.

I like Elyse. Rae is awful.

I've NCd as people recommend my name all the time on these boards and it ain't all that. @ThatCurlyGirl My name is Eleanor, I know loads of us and none of us like it, or in fact use it as a full name. For a start it's mispronounced all the time, everywhere you go, cos someone will be saying it the way you don't like; Ele-nor/Ele-nah. It's also common amongst the swotty, nerdy, middle class girls of this world so we all end up together with the same name - I have a disproportionate number of friends also called Eleanor. Whenever I meet someone called Eleanor I think - ooh shes got that pretentious, swotty name - before I remember that is in fact also my name.

Despite this, people still don't know how to spell it.

It's just not that great.

Been meaning to get that off my chest! Sorry to derail the thread!

Rae is all wrong. You need a middle name that scans like "Amanda" to follow Elyse (which is lovely).

Ramona
Helena (Helayna)
Anita

Elyse is fine but Rae is the new Mae.

I love Ely as a middle name

As you asked for brutal honesty, I agree that Elyse is (a) not immediately obvious as to how it is pronounced and (b) looks a bit down market as do many other names with more unusual spelling than the classic version. I appreciate you say that it is not a made-up spelling, but I wouldn’t have known that, and would assume it’s like Esmay (Esme) or Jaxon (Jackson).

It’s a lovely idea to honour your brother, but I think you can do that by going with the classic spelling, Elise. Don’t give her a life time f either spelling out her name when talking to people, or correcting people when they read her name and pronounce it wrongly.

I like it.

Dont know surname though obviously. If it was Elyse Rae Robotham ERR I probably wouldn't...

@missmouse101 ah I get you, I think two syllables works much better after Elyse so there defo a lot of choice. I've never encountered a Rae, I'm guessing its a Star Wars thing for a lot of people but with a bougis spelling? I don't think it's ugly in itself but agree there's many more interesting names out there.

I like Elyse and Elise both spellings are lovely

Sorry also meant to say I think if you like that flow then Ellie Rose is pretty

I think another lovely option would Ellie or Eleanor OP, pretty names that would still be a nice tribute to your brother.

In my nine year old cousin's class of 28 there are about 15 girls and 10 have rae, mae or may as hyphenated or middle names. We only know this because she doesn't have one and so asks everyone theirs 😂

Of course that doesn't matter if you love it, but it might be more regularly used than you think.

I’d use Elyse as the middle name, and pick a new option for first name.

Its a pretty name, but I think people may struggle with that pronunciation. I also don’t Rae gels well with it. Do you not like Ellie.
That sounds more like Ely to honour your brother. Plus Ellie Rae flows much better that El-eece Rae

I was trying to give a similar sound by suggesting those names to the OP, as she likes Rae! How about Elise Cara, Elise Heather, Elise Antonia then?

Agree with pp. Elise would still be a tribute to your brother but without the confusing spelling and pronunciation issues. Rae is awful and doesn't go with Elyse/Elise.

Lol at Paige, Dawn Or Fay being described as 'beautiful names' that are nicer than Elyse Rae - those suggestions are flat out worse

Whilst they might not be all to my taste, they are infinitely better than a nothing name like Rae. Rae is the default that people seem to go to, so much so it just blends into the background.

Elyse is fine if you want the spelling for that reason but Rae is a totally boring filler name.

I'm an Alyce not an Alice.
I hated it when i was younger because i could get a headband or bright pink water bottle with my name on from souvenir shops.. apparently mum said that was the best reason for miss spelling my name, she hates the personalised tack.

I love it now, it's a conversation starter at work when they see my name badge and i get a lot of compliments on it being different.

If you love it, go for it.

Lol at Paige, Dawn Or Fay being described as 'beautiful names' that are nicer than Elyse Rae - those suggestions are flat out worse!

I think Elyse works with the 'y' if it isn't immediately followed by another unusual spelling. Sure there are lots of nice middle names that would work better than Rae. (Not going to suggest any for fear of being judged as I did judge).

Actually I think Elyse is less likely to be mistaken for Elsie and the family connection is lovely.

Elise is much nicer.
Rae is dreadful and doesn't even go.
I see a lot of babies in my job. Don't use Rae as a middle name.

Elyse is not my choice but you have a personal connection so I think you should use it.

Add a more conventional spelt middle name though. Rae jars a bit - although yes its technically correct, its not very common.