The name I chose doesn't feel right

@ladybird69 All my DH's uncles are known by their middle names. The eldest was given the same first name as his father so I can understand they wanted to avoid confusion but no idea why they did it with others!

OP out of curiosity, why isn't the father around?

They are both lovely names. I may be slightly biased as I have an Elliot. He is still so tiny no harm in changing the name at all, especially if you haven’t even registered him yet. No one will think badly of you and I doubt anyone will give it a second thought.

Elliott is a lovely name

@spiderlight Exactly this.

My DH is a Louis. In the twenty years we've been together, he's been called Lou-is twice. Louie looks like a nickname to me.

I'd spell is Louis and say it the same way as Louie

But many will pronounce Louis as Lou-is. Especially outside of France.

When I had my 3rd child I couldn’t decide on a name that I liked. Me and my partner eventually picked a name for our son and we went with that name when he was born. Even though I went with it I was really unsure about the name and didn’t think it suited him. On the day we were going to register his birth, about 2 weeks after he was born I decided it wasn’t the name for him and we changed his name that day. It was the best thing I did my son suits the name I have given him and it may sound stupid but he actually looks like a person of that name if that makes sense. No one will think you rubbish, just go with your gut and do what you think is best.

Louie was the more popular spelling last year, so more people will spell it Louie (than Louis). Also, in many languages other than French Louis is pronounced Loui-is.

I vote Louie Elliott.

I like both, but I prefer the traditional spelling of Louie which is Louis. I'd choose Elliot Edward. You are so lucky to have had this time to think about the name. I was rushed into registering my DD's name soon after birth by my XDP. I hate it and so does she. If I'd had more time I could have persuaded the father to use my choice of names. He told me what her name would be in the late stages of a difficult labour and then after the birth and told everyone her name. You are so lucky to be able to choose still.

And of course yes Elliott Louis Edward or Louis Elliott Edward! Why not have all three?

They're both fine, so firstly, don't worry!

Don't put in a link to dad if he's not around. You don't know how he'll feel about the situation, so don't put it right in his name. Let there be other links that aren't as much 'in his face'

I'm not really a big fan of Elliott, but it's classic, familiar, and lots of people love it. Louie, I'd spell is Louis and say it the same way as Louie. That's the classic way, and most people might spell it that way.

I would go for Louis Elliott or Louis Edward.

Oops! SP, Louie*

Elliot Edward sounds lovely, you could always do Elliot Louis Edward, and that way if it doesn't stick, you have two middle names he could use instead? Just a thought, both names are lovely, but I am sure only you will know what he "looks" like, trust your gut, and congratulations!

I prefer Louie Elliott.

Congrats!

I prefer Elliott.

Elliot Edward is a gorgeous name!

You're doing a fab job!

Both are lovely names.

I prefer Louie.

I like Elliott Edward best. It sounds nicer when you say it out loud I think.

I like Elliott Edward, personally. Your other choice is fine too though.

Both are really lovely names @05victoria0520 you've got excellent taste

No one will think you’re a rubbish mum, when I had my first I was home alone and completely forgot his name !! My mind was blank I kept calling him all these different names n in the end called my sister and asked her his name!!! ... baby brain is real!

When I was pregnant I had chosen a girls name and a boys name, I’d loved them since I was a child! I had a baby boy and was bit disappointed that I couldn’t use my girls name. Fast forward 20 + years I’m so glad that I didn’t have a girl with that name as I hate it now I would have had to change it. People change their names all the time. I know lots of people who have changed their own names or use their middle name when they get older. My grandmas era are the worst, usually it’s only at their funeral that you discover their real registered name.

Change it if you want to OP. I love my eldest 2 children’s names, they suit them perfectly. Never felt like my youngest’s name was quite right, put it down to the new baby craziness and figured I’d grow to love it. I still think it’s a lovely name but it still doesn’t suit her at all imo and I really wish I’d changed it way back when she was tiny and it wouldn’t have mattered - she’s now 2 and I’ve never liked her name on her even though objectively I love it. Considering talking to DH about changing it by deed poll, although I’m sure he’ll say no and that will be that. Wish I’d listened to my instinct all those months ago and given her a name that suited her better!