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Baby names

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

Original poster

Jos, Ellis or Kit?

72 replies

LooseyGoosey · 09/07/2020 11:51

We're expecting a little boy in September and looking for a short, simple, known name, that's still fairly unusual. His middle name will be Bernard or Harry, which are family names. Our surname is 1 syllable and starts with a 'W'.

Thoughts on which you like best, any pitfalls to be aware of or brilliant other suggestions, much appreciated please!

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Restlessinthenorth · 12/07/2020 17:22

I have an Ellis. Really suites my little lad. It is definitely growing in popularity since we named our son it 8 years ago, but has never reached the Josh/Max/Stan level of other popular names. I like that it is recognised as a "proper" name, but there still aren't loads in the school/football team etc.

I chose the name as Emily Bronte is my favourite author, and she used to publish under the pen name of Ellis Belll. Nice nod to our Yorkshire roots!

SumAndSubstance · 12/07/2020 17:11

As a general rule, I don’t think single syllable names sound great with single syllable surnames (had this problem!) There are exceptions, usually surnames with long vowels.

blessedbutdepressed · 12/07/2020 17:01

Jos is the same O sounds as John, yes. The S is not the same S sound as Roz.

Grufallosfriends · 12/07/2020 13:26

I have a friend called Ros (short for Rosalind) who says it Roh-s. Like Roz.

Therefore I'd assume Jos is Joh-s with a long O. Like John.

Grufallosfriends · 12/07/2020 13:10

English words that rhyme with 'moss' are all spelt with a double S. Boss, toss, cross, Ross, loss, etc. I can't think of any English words that have an '-oss' sound that just have one S.

Which is why I would pronounce
Jos as Jo (long o) s. Like John. Or Bon (Jovi)
Joss as Jo (short o) s

If you want Joss, I'd spell it Joss.

Tallace · 12/07/2020 13:00

I like Jos. Hadn't heard of it before Jos Buttler but I would name him Joseph.

SenorPeabodyEsq · 12/07/2020 11:22

..... say what you see? It’s just phonics. J - o - s.

Hmm, it's not just phonics though is it. English words that rhyme with 'moss' are all spelt with a double S. Boss, toss, cross, Ross, loss, etc. I can't think of any English words that have an '-oss' sound that just have one S.

Nothing against the name Jos, but you can't argue that it's an unambiguous pronunciation.

Cindie943811A · 10/07/2020 16:00

Is Jos short for Josiah? I quite like it but it doesn’t fir the usual English spelling pattern so people confronted with it for the first time will probably hesitate and wonder if it’s a mistake/how to pronounce it.
Spelling it Joss would help.
I think there was an actor called Joss Ackland, though I’m not sure if that was a nn.
Ellis appears to be in the process of being taken over as a girl’s name.
Kit is a lovely strong name with a long tradition as a nn.

BakewellGin1 · 10/07/2020 13:49

Ellis

BrogerMaylor · 10/07/2020 13:48

Love the name Ellis.
Kit reminds me of a dirty school bag.
Jos is good.

Phthalo · 10/07/2020 12:07

I wouldn't really know what to do with Jos... "Joz" or "Joez"?

..... say what you see? It’s just phonics. J - o - s. Super easy for my son to learn how to write his name! I do prefer the spelling with 2 Ss personally but Jos is pretty straightforward too.

zingally · 10/07/2020 12:00

I wouldn't really know what to do with Jos... "Joz" or "Joez"?

Ellis... I've never met an Ellis who wasn't a bit "wet" and pathetic.

Kit... I like Kit. I've know a couple of Christopher's who go by Kit, and they've always been really fun, nice guys.

Mol1628 · 10/07/2020 08:51

Ellis is my favourite

NameChange30 · 10/07/2020 08:45

Kit is my favourite. I'd put Christopher on the birth certificate.

I like Joss too (spelt that way).

Not a fan of Ellis.

I love short names for boys. Some other suggestions:

Cole
Eli
Ivo
Jake
James
Leo
Max
Ray
Saul
Tate
Toby
Zack

sweetnosugar · 10/07/2020 08:14

Love Kit! 💙
Also love,
Theo
Arlo

BeMorePacific · 09/07/2020 23:22

Christopher NN Kit would be my choice. All lovely names though 😍

Twizbe · 09/07/2020 22:04

I like Jos, but as a short for Joseph (a la Vanity Fair)

I like Kit, but as a short for Christopher.

Not keen on Ellis

stophuggingme · 09/07/2020 22:02

I have a six year old Kit so I’m biased
But they are all nice names.

Whatsyourflava · 09/07/2020 21:59

I adore both Ellis and Kit. Two of my favourite boy names!!

Also love
Eli
Griff(in) or just Griff
Sid(ney) or just Sid
Wilf
Otto

Wheresthebiffer2 · 09/07/2020 21:57

Kit is nickname for Katherine.

whereorwhere · 09/07/2020 20:37

Love Kit

VenusClapTrap · 09/07/2020 20:32

Kit is my favourite, but I also really like Jos. I prefer the single S.

Not Ellis. It’s in the same camp as Madison and Mackenzie to me.

Phthalo · 09/07/2020 20:14

I have a Jos (now off to name change as I said my name on a previous thread 🤣). Josh just sounds like someone lisping to me now. Jos Buttler and Joss Wheedon are both Josephs. Met another Jos same age as ours on the next table to us at a zoo once, he was a Jocelyn. So I refuse to believe it’s weird 😄 can’t be that uncommon! Surprisingly it gets misheard for John a lot 🤷🏻‍♀️ But like all ‘weird’ names, decent people only need to be told once and then they have got it. It’s not hard.

Having said that I really love Kit too, and I like Ellis.

user1493494961 · 09/07/2020 19:39

I like Joss (but would spell it like this). I know one, whose full name is Josiah.

Fightthebear · 09/07/2020 19:18

I like all 3 as names but as pp have said I’d use the full versions of Jos & Kit on the birth certificate.

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