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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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Hesperatum · 09/07/2020 19:14

Joss
Kit
Don’t like Ellis

Anappleaday1 · 09/07/2020 18:35

I absolutely love Joss, but spelt like this. I also would assume it was for a boy (especially with ss).
I like Ellis too but not keen on Kit, although I know it's popular on here.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 09/07/2020 18:08

Love Jos, but then I love Jos Buttler.

Kit is lovely,

Dislike Ellis. Nowhere near as nice as the other two.

Orphlids · 09/07/2020 18:01

I love Jos. I think of it much more as a boy’s name than a girl’sl. I imagine a sandy haired, horse riding Austin hero, galloping through the grounds of his fantastic estate, wearing those questionable trousers. Gorgeous.

HPLikecraft · 09/07/2020 17:43

@Poppyfields21

I like Joss rather than Jos, but Kit my favourite overall. Really not a fan of Ellis at all.
Those are my exact feelings, too!
Zana2222 · 09/07/2020 16:35

Love Ellis

daisypond · 09/07/2020 15:17

Ellis is the only one that doesn’t sound like a short form, so it has to be that. I like both Joss (ss) and Kit as short forms for longer names, though.

TimeWastingButFun · 09/07/2020 14:46

What about Pip, short for Phillip? Due a revival?

TimeWastingButFun · 09/07/2020 14:45

Not keen on Ellis, or any other name that sounds like a surname (especially if your surname could be a first name, like James, otherwise they'll forever get people putting them the wrong way around). I like Kit, but if it were me I'd hate it if people pronounced it wrongly (using a glottal stop). So for me Jos, out of those.

SimonJT · 09/07/2020 14:41

Kit is a fantastic name, it doesn’t get shortened either.

I went to university with a male Joss but his was spelt with a double S.

Not personally a fan of Ellis, to me it sounds like Elles.

SenorPeabodyEsq · 09/07/2020 14:37

Joss is very cool! It makes me think of Joss Merlyn from Jamaica Inn.

elfran · 09/07/2020 14:33

I absolutely love Joss, it's on our list. I'm another who prefers it with a double S, without just looks truncated or more like a nickname, to me. But I think it's adorable on a little boy and very cool on a grown man.

Kit I also love but more as a nn for Christopher.

Ellis I don't love, although I do think a two-syllable name works better with a one-syllable last name. (My husband also has a one-syllable last name and most of my favourite boys names are one-syllable, which isn't ideal.)

Username273451293445z · 09/07/2020 14:08

I like Jos, spelt Joss as pp have mentioned. Kit is nice too, but I'm not a fan of Ellis.

Somebody also mentioned Jed which is a good option too.

Neednewwellies · 09/07/2020 14:04

@Poppydaisie, I’d say Kit was the shortening of Christopher long before Chris was as in, Kit Marlowe.

AuntyPasta · 09/07/2020 13:58

Kit has been used for Christopher since Marlowe! It’s hardly a new thing.

Grufallosfriends · 09/07/2020 13:56

Definitely Ellis.

Kit sounds like an electronic kit or rugby kit... Strange as a name imo.

Jos is nice but very short with a short surname.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 09/07/2020 13:56

Kit for Christopher is unusual but LONG established. Kit was Christopher Marlowe’s nickname.

Poppydaisie · 09/07/2020 13:51

Also, all the Christophers I've ever met are Chris, that's the natural shortening. It's not Kittopher Grin

Defenestratethecat · 09/07/2020 13:50

Kit but Christopher on BC - more options as he gets older. Both middle names go well with Christopher.

Poppydaisie · 09/07/2020 13:50

Ellis.

Kit as in sports kit or 'have you got your kit on' Hmm Not a good name imo. Also sounds like a short form for Kitty Kitten.

Jos is but sounds very nicknamey. Jocelyn? Josiah?

MamaFirst · 09/07/2020 13:44

Definitely Ellis, really cute! Eli is my faaaavourite though, I don't like Kit or Jos at all personally - Jos is a girls name to me.

Other short names for suggestions?:

Arlo
Max
Lee
Finn
Guy
Cole
Hank
Ike
Zac
Ivor
Foy
Ash
Leo
Ted
Gus

BikeRunSki · 09/07/2020 13:40

Jos sounds like an abbreviation of Jocelyn

That’s because it is, but Jocelyn is traditionally a unisex name eg: the actor Joss Alkland was a Jocelyn (this was actually his middle name, but still a given name and not a stage name). I work with a Jos, short for Joshua.

Oriflamme · 09/07/2020 13:33

I would say Jos is short for Joseph, Kit short for Christopher and Ellis stands alone. I’m a big fan of giving the "full" name and then using the short version, so that when the child grows up he/she has the choice of keeping the short or using the full name (or a different short!). They all sound good with Bernard, Joseph/Jos and Christopher/Kit sound ok with Harry (I think you said? forgotten already 🤦‍♀️)

MikeUniformMike · 09/07/2020 13:32

Of the 3, Joe. Ellis would make a nice middle name. Kit just makes me think of the Rooneys.

YogiMatte · 09/07/2020 13:29

When I was expecting i wanted Joss for a boy, but was slightly put off by Joss Stone (being that she's a girl though not may well not be her birth name).
Anyway still think Joss is a fab name and Joss Stone is less famous now.

Ellis i feel is a surname plus have known a girl called Ellis.

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