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Baby names

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

Original poster

Elsie vs Elise

111 replies

Foxesandcrosses · 03/06/2020 11:30

Morning all,

I really like both Elsie and Elise as girls names.
Could I please ask for your opinion, which one do you prefer as a name?

(we would pronounce Elise as EL-eese)

Thank you Smile

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villainousbroodmare · 06/06/2020 03:01

Exactly what DramaAlpaca said:

*Elise is gorgeous, elegant, sophisticated and international. It's not in the least bit 'chavvy', which is a horrible expression.

Elsie manages to be both dowdy and cutesy in the same name, which is some achievement.*

Also as others have said, Elise is generally pronounced EhLEES and anything else sounds rather peculiar.

EuphieKat · 06/06/2020 02:28

Elise is lovely but I’m not keen on Elsie.

ChelseaElsieEliseElsa · 05/06/2020 20:02

I've name changed just to come on and say, as a late thirties Elsie, Elsie is very rarely heard as Elsie.

Posters saying Elise will be misheard or misspelled or whatever. It's perhaps a bit better now lots of little girls under 8 are bringing Elsie back into popularity (I've finally stopped turning in the park when I hear my name called).

I've been called Elise, Emma, Chelsea, Ella, Elsa, Ellie, Alisa, Ulsey etc so if you are worried about using Elise because people will mishear it, it's just the same for the other name too.

Which is ok

Because Elsie's are great people and don't mind, I never wear curlers when I have a fag Grin

seriousandloyal · 05/06/2020 19:57

Elise

jakeyboy1 · 05/06/2020 19:56

I love Elise.
Reminds me of Elize du Toit who is stunning.

FinallySleeping · 05/06/2020 19:53

Absolutely love Elise and nearly chose it for DD. I'm not quite sure of your pronunciation though? I think in our accent the emphasis is on the second half and I if I try to put the emphasis on the EL it sounds very clunky.

Elsie I find very frumpy and not pretty.

Elouera · 05/06/2020 19:51

I went to school with an Elisse (spelt that way). Its FAR nicer than Elsie. Sorry to any Elsies, but the name reminds me of an elderly, poor woman with a fag and rollers in her hair!

Orphlids · 05/06/2020 19:40

I am really enjoying the analogies here: Elsie’s husband in brown trousers, etc. I agree with them. Elsie doesn’t sound very sophisticated, unfortunately. Elise, to me, is the opposite. I’d love to be named Elise. I picture someone independent, well educated and maybe a little bit haughty. It’s splendid!

diddlediddle · 05/06/2020 18:51

I don't think I can overstate how much I prefer Elise to Elsie.

Elise is a classy, pretty name. Works well internationally. Nice nicknames.

Elsie is far far more common, not in a good way. It sounds like a nickname, kind of weak sounding.

PetraRabbit · 05/06/2020 18:25

Elsie is one of the very popular chambermaid names. Like Molly, Betsy etc. They have a certain lively charm but are not very sophisticated.

Elise is elegant, grown up and sounds European.

Most people will prefer Elsie.

Munchkin08 · 05/06/2020 11:35

Elsie

daisypond · 05/06/2020 11:05

I’m amazed that anyone can see Elsie as frilly, pretty and cute. I can’t get my head around that. To me, Elsie is poor, oldish woman, hair in curlers, fag hanging out of mouth, hard life, char lady, etc. Very dowdy. Very unattractive.

GeorginaEstonia · 05/06/2020 10:49

And Ellis is super cool, modern, feisty and totally different again.

GeorginaEstonia · 05/06/2020 10:48

They seem like totally opposite names to me although the letters are the same. Elsie is frilly, pretty, old fashioned, cute. Possibly verging on twee.

Elise is sophisticated, classy, elegant.

I like both, but they give me very different impressions. (BTW I know Elsies and Elises who don’t fit my descriptions, so it’s very much atttached to the names, for me).

Edenember · 05/06/2020 10:39

@Foxesandcrosses I prefer Elise

daisypond · 04/06/2020 20:06

Elyse is awful.
It would be pronounced Eh-lice.

bridgetreilly · 04/06/2020 18:41

I've seen Elyse before but I much prefer Elise. I think it's pretty obvious how to pronounce it either way. And neither is pronounced Ellis.

Oliversmumsarmy · 04/06/2020 17:46

Elyse I would pronounce Ellis

MikeUniformMike · 04/06/2020 16:45

Elyse is just wrong.

C0RA · 04/06/2020 16:44

Elyse makes it more obvious how to pronounce it.

Chewy85 · 04/06/2020 16:43

Elise is beautiful and elegant. I will never forget an amazing young nurse when I was in hospital named Elise so I’m a bit biased towards that!

Elsie is a tad cutsie

Cantbutwill · 04/06/2020 16:27

Elise by far.

pumpkinpie01 · 04/06/2020 13:31

My dd is an Elise , so obviously I'm very biased . She only gets mistaken for Elsie at the doctors sometimes and she hates it. She has never met another Elise yet , I love the name .

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 04/06/2020 13:04

Elsie is far nicer imho

babynamelover · 04/06/2020 10:19

Elise :)