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Baby names

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

Original poster

Elsie-Mae or Sofia-Something?

89 replies

Papergirl1968 · 22/03/2023 09:46

Asking on behalf of Dd, 18, who is 34 weeks pregnant.
She has been keen on Elsie-Mae for a long time, but recently has been considering Sofia-Something instead. Not Sofia-Mae as that is similar to the name of a friend she's recently fallen out with.
I know hyphenated names aren't popular with everyone and I strongly suspect that on a day to day basis baby will just be called by the first name, but does anyone have any thoughts about Elsie v Sofia, or suggestions for Sofia-what?

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Heckythump1 · 22/03/2023 21:45

Luredbyapomegranate · 22/03/2023 21:44

I think of the two Sophia/Sofia is more popular

Show quote history

I personally know a lot more Elsie's than Sophia's!

Luredbyapomegranate · 22/03/2023 21:44

Heckythump1 · 22/03/2023 21:15

I'm not keen on Elsie, only because it's so so common now.
Sofia is gorgeous though and I love that spelling too :)

Sofia-Hope
Sofia-Lily
Sofia-Kate
Sofia-Wren
Sofia-Beth

I think of the two Sophia/Sofia is more popular

Luredbyapomegranate · 22/03/2023 21:44

They are both nice and popular

Sofia Hope?

As PPs say, try and talk her out of the hyphen

Heckythump1 · 22/03/2023 21:15

I'm not keen on Elsie, only because it's so so common now.
Sofia is gorgeous though and I love that spelling too :)

Sofia-Hope
Sofia-Lily
Sofia-Kate
Sofia-Wren
Sofia-Beth

Bournetilly · 22/03/2023 21:15

I love Elsie, hate the name Sofia.
Definitely drop the hyphen though.

BadjaLol · 22/03/2023 21:06

4EyesandBigThighs · 22/03/2023 16:13

Don’t hyphen it.. and certainly don’t hyphen it to mae/May/mai. Ugh!

hyphening to mae really exaggerates the teen pregnancy 🫣

I agree, it's awful.

KateF · 22/03/2023 21:04

I like both Elsie and Sofia and also May which I think works with both names. Alternative names to go with Sofia
Sofia Ruth
Sofia Mary
Sofia Ellen
Sofia Lily

LapinR0se · 22/03/2023 20:59

Sophia Maeve ?

MapleSyrupSweet · 22/03/2023 20:56

The-mae is awful.

Elsie or Sophia are lovely.

Reinventinganna · 22/03/2023 20:55

Papergirl1968 · 22/03/2023 20:46

New baby's dad is not on the scene incidentally so he has no say.
I know people will judge but both my dds had an awful start. They've been exceptionally challenging kids but dd2 has turned things around since getting pregnant, and after the heartbreak of losing Ella, this feels like a new start for us.

It sounds like you all need this baby. I’m sorry you’ve all had such a hard time.

AlltheFs · 22/03/2023 20:48

It’s really difficult as depends on your circles but yes, hyphenated names do rather scream teen pregnancy. But it’s her baby and her choice.

I like Elsie, Elsie May is far nicer than -Mae

I would go with:
Elsie Violet
Elsie Harriet
Elsie Katherine
Elsie Elizabeth
Elsie Charlotte
Elsie Philiipa

But I have very different tastes to an 18yo

Leigh is hideous IMO, I have a distant family member who has hyphenated with it and it’s not my taste at all.

But ultimately it’s her baby.

Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 22/03/2023 20:46

New baby's dad is not on the scene incidentally so he has no say.
I know people will judge but both my dds had an awful start. They've been exceptionally challenging kids but dd2 has turned things around since getting pregnant, and after the heartbreak of losing Ella, this feels like a new start for us.

OP posts:
Pemba · 22/03/2023 20:45

That's so sad. In view of this maybe you should try to steer DD2 away from El- names and Rose as a middle.

Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 22/03/2023 20:39

It's complicated as my DDs are both adopted, and Dd1's baby, Ella-Rose, went right into care from hospital and was subsequently adopted herself, so Dd1 is finding Dd2's pregnancy and the fact that this baby will be coming home, unlike hers, very difficult. The pair of them are not on good terms at the moment, to put it mildly.
I love Grace as a middle name but that one of DD1's middle names (chosen by me). My mom's middle name Elizabeth is her other middle name (coincidence as it was chosen by birth parents) but that rules it out for the new baby.
I'm not a massive fan of hyphenated names either but Dd2 definitely has her own ideas. I just remarked that I liked Romilly after seeing the ITV news correspondent and she pulled a face!

OP posts:
Snugglemonkey · 22/03/2023 20:39

Snugglemonkey · 22/03/2023 20:33

Elsie is a lovely name. Actually Elsie

Actually Elsie Mae would be lovely, without a hyphen if Mae was not so common. The hyphenated thing, and the use of Mae in general is so overdone that it is looked down on.

Your daughter and grand daughter do not need judgement. There are those who will already be judgy about your daughter's age. It is wrong I know, but will happen nevertheless.

People are also judgy about names. So discourage one that will have people look down on your lovely girls.

Eranzer · 22/03/2023 20:38

Elsie Sofia Surname. What's up with that? Lovely.

Agree with everyone else, hyphen Mae is grim.

Snugglemonkey · 22/03/2023 20:33

Elsie is a lovely name. Actually Elsie

Suzi888 · 22/03/2023 20:32

I love Sofia, I am not at all keen on Elsie though.

whattodo2019 · 22/03/2023 20:30

Really don't like hyphenated names. They just sound
tacky...

Reinventinganna · 22/03/2023 20:29

Sophia Elsie.

riotlady · 22/03/2023 20:29

Sofia Elizabeth
Sofia Grace
Sofia Arden
Sofia Ivy

MashedUpPotatoes · 22/03/2023 20:26

I have an Elsie, her middle name is Vanessa after DHs sister.

I think Sofia sounds nicer with a jean/Jane/Joan type one syllable slightly plainer middle name

AnyBenny · 22/03/2023 20:25

Definitely omit the hyphen - mainly because it gives the child maximum flexibility in the future to choose if she uses both names or not.
Like it or not, there is a lot of judgment over hyphenated names (see this thread for a start!) and if the baby decides she’d like to use either name alone in the future, for whatever reason, omitting the hyphen allows her to do so. I prefer May to Mae but otherwise like both Sofia and Elsie (sorry, not helpful!).

gonnabeok · 22/03/2023 20:19

My dd is Sophia Holly and she loves it

watcherintherye · 22/03/2023 20:18

Not a fan of hyphens. Or Mae.
How about Elsie May or Sofia May?