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Baby names

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

Original poster

Love Eliza, terrified of Ellie

88 replies

Edenember · 28/04/2021 14:08

No offence intended to any Ellie’s or anyone who has a child named Ellie, it’s just not my taste. I was wondering how likely you think it is that Eliza would be shortened to Ellie.

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ceeveebeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 28/04/2021 15:12

My DD is called Eliza and no one has ever shortened her name to Ellie.
Liz sometimes but not Ellie Grin

Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 15:10

@Hoolihan it doesn’t feel like a natural shortening to me either, probably because the El sound isn’t where the emphasis is in the name. Same as why Amelia tends to get ‘Meels’ rather than Ammy or something like that.

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Thefaceofboe · 28/04/2021 15:09

Terrified Grin I highly doubt it would get shortened, my niece is Eliza and I’ve never heard anyone shorten it.

Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 15:07

@Parkmama I can’t imagine anyone doing it and I totally accept there are people here who’ve gone and most likely will continue to go their whole lives without it happening ever... but I think this thread has brought to light that perhaps just knowing the possibility is there is a problem (for me).

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Hoolihan · 28/04/2021 15:03

I went to school with an Eliza and it was never shortened to Ellie, I can't see how that shortening makes sense really. We called her Eliza/Liza/Lize.

Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 15:03

@Halfwreckedbykids thanks for being able to be impartial about it. And yes I think you’re right.

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Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 15:01

@nancywhitehead yep, I don’t think I’d like to bank on that 😂

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Parkmama · 28/04/2021 15:00

I have an Eliza, so far no shortening to Ellie. If anything it is sometimes Liza pronounced Liiiiieza not Leeeeeza

Halfwreckedbykids · 28/04/2021 14:59

Lol I ve an Ellen shortened (not) to Ellie or Else
They just do get nicknames and avoid if there's a chance and you ve an aversion to the name that could be used.
No judgement here, I ve names I don't like too.
Course my DD is wonderful and amazing but totally get you

nancywhitehead · 28/04/2021 14:58

Havign said that, my name also has a version ending in "ie" which I really dislike - mainly I think because my mum made it very clear that she disliked it!

She would say to me from quite a young age "don't let people call you XXX-ie, that's a horrible name" and I think that really influenced me! So you could always try that Wink - of course there's a chance she will just rebel!

Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 14:57

@nancywhitehead yeah I think this is what it boils down to. Thankyou

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nancywhitehead · 28/04/2021 14:55

Really not worth choosing a name where there's even a slim chance it will be shortened to something you hate, and Eliza to Ellie isn't exactly "out there".

The kid could decide as young as 4 or 5 years old that she just loves Ellie and that's what she wants to be called.

Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 14:54

@bushtailadventures @LBOCS2 Thankyou. I think it is unlikely, it would never cross my mind to call someone called Eliza Ellie, the names have completely different feels and Eliza isn’t hard to say. But it would set my teeth on edge in the event it did happen.

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LBOCS2 · 28/04/2021 14:49

I went to school with an Eliza and it was never shortened to Ellie, AFAIK.

bushtailadventures · 28/04/2021 14:48

Speaking as an adult Eliza, I have never been called Ellie. Elizabeth occasionally, Lize more often, but never Ellie. It helps that it is more popular than it was when I was a child, I was the only one in every school I went to, and could never buy tat with my name on at the seaside.

Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 14:47

@moonfacebaby in my experience people will shorten (or even lengthen) whether you like it or not. I guess my question was around the likelihood of this specific shortening, I don’t mind Liza or even Elle.

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Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 14:45

@moonfacebaby reassuring (great taste, btw), but I guess this has helped me work out that just the possibility is enough to bother me, and obviously the possibility is always there.

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moonfacebaby · 28/04/2021 14:43

In fact, they’ve never shortened her name at all - it’s hardly a name that calls to be shortened? Surely? Maybe time will tell...

moonfacebaby · 28/04/2021 14:41

I have an Eliza and no-one has ever shortened it to Ellie (she’s 9 now)

Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 14:35

@FizzyApricot yes I think you’re right.

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Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 14:34

@BrownEyedGirl80 I think other shortened forms are more likely naturally than Ellie, but it would grate, and in the worst case if the child chose to go by Ellie by themselves and then be commonly called that by their peer group. So I think I’ve talked myself out of it, it’s just not worth the risk (however slight) when there’s a million other names I love.

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FizzyApricot · 28/04/2021 14:31

I wouldn't use it if you are terrified of Ellie

BrownEyedGirl80 · 28/04/2021 14:27

I think Eliza would get shortened to El

Original poster
Edenember · 28/04/2021 14:26

@StayingHere yes, on balance I don’t think it’s worth the risk tbh. Think it’s best to choose a name that either isn’t long enough to be commonly shortened or where I like the shortened forms.

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StayingHere · 28/04/2021 14:22

I do teach an Eliza though. She is 10 and everyone calls her Eliza.
But like I say, I wouldn't take the risk if it might annoy you in future.

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