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Baby names

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

Original poster

Elsie or Fern

46 replies

Joeylucy · 14/12/2020 12:12

Love both these names Elsie is a family name but I’ve always liked the name Fern too. Feel torn between the two at the moment...

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missmouse101 · 14/12/2020 22:08

Fern is gorgeous. Elsie is hideous.

NannyR · 14/12/2020 22:06

Fern is really lovely. I'm another one who hates Elsie, to me it sounds very "old lady" but not in a good, vintage way, a bit like Doreen.

DramaAlpaca · 14/12/2020 21:54

Haha @diddlediddle, the Anti-Elsie Squad Grin

pilates · 14/12/2020 19:50

Elsie, dislike Fern

Firebird83 · 14/12/2020 19:40

Fern

diddlediddle · 14/12/2020 19:25

@DramaAlpaca haha yes I think I remember seeing you say the same thing on various threads. As have I. We should form a task force to stamp the name out altogether 😂

Frieswithanythin · 14/12/2020 18:33

Fern

DramaAlpaca · 14/12/2020 18:33

diddlediddle I agree. I've said it on here before, Elsie is one of those names that manages to be frumpy and twee all at the same time, which is quite an achievement really! Awful name.

DramaAlpaca · 14/12/2020 18:32

Fern by a very long way.

VenusClapTrap · 14/12/2020 18:13

Fern

diddlediddle · 14/12/2020 16:43

Hard to overstate how much I dislike Elsie. I heard someone shouting it across a playground today and it just grates. It's very popular (unclear why but I don't think it's a good thing) and it's so saccharine and twee it's just awful. For a baby is bad enough but a grown woman? Urgh!

Needless to say, I much prefer Fern! In fact I think it's a beautiful name.

bridgetreilly · 14/12/2020 16:27

I would go with Elizabeth Fern and call her Elsie.

Parkandride · 14/12/2020 15:45

I love Fern, it just doesn't work with my surname or I'd use it

Cloverglens · 14/12/2020 15:23

Fern!

ILoveStickers · 14/12/2020 15:21

Fern. Elsie is too old ladyish for me still. But I know others love it!

Sausagedog1 · 14/12/2020 14:11

Fern!
Really not keen on Elsie.

Zofloratheexplora · 14/12/2020 13:23

Fern

ttigerlilly · 14/12/2020 12:36

Fern

Calmondeck · 14/12/2020 12:25

Do both work equally well with your surname? I know “ie” names are incredibly trendy at the moment but they feel nickname-ish to me. I would love if all of the Evie’s and Gracie’s could be Eva/Eve and Grace, then have the ie version as their pet name. Of course, if it’s a family name, and you love it, go for it. I just know (from my own name) that I love having a longer name for formal occasions (I am a lawyer), an ‘ie’ version for family, and an even shorter version of my name that most friends use. I’m more keen on Elsie than Fern, but adore other nature names for girls

NeonSparkle · 14/12/2020 12:20

Fern 100%

Peach1886 · 14/12/2020 12:19

Fern is lovely, DS would probably have been Fern if he was a DD.

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