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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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offyoufuckcuntychops · 22/03/2023 20:15

Please don't let her hyphenate her daughter's name. She will be condemning the child to an entire lifetime of having to over-compensate for her chavvy name. Just don't do it.

Elsie and Sophia (I prefer that to Sofia) are both fine on their own.

sanityisamyth · 22/03/2023 20:11

Why does it need to be hyphenated?

HVPRN · 22/03/2023 20:11

Rea-Sofia 🧘🏼‍♀️

dammiejodger · 22/03/2023 20:08

Drop the hyphen!

Viviennemary · 22/03/2023 20:07

Not Mae. Too many Sofias. I think Elsie is nice but not with Mae.

TennisWithDeborah · 22/03/2023 20:04

I think that both Elsie and Sofia are gorgeous names. Not much help, I know!

I fully agree with everyone who advises dropping the hyphen.

I’m with your daughter on the spelling of Lee/Leigh! I think that Lee is stylish, it reminds me of Lee Radziwill, the sister of Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

BasketFlowers · 22/03/2023 19:54

Sofia Elizabeth

Eliza Kate was a good suggestion.

Or Elsie Katherine

Terribleactor · 22/03/2023 19:51

I was thinking Sophia Belle. I'm not a hyphen fan but each to their own!

Amadeaa · 22/03/2023 18:23

I would use Sofia with a one-syllable name, otherwise it’s quite a mouthful. From the suggestions you got already, I think Sofia Grace is nice, and Sofia Pearl. I also like Elsie.

DuchessOfSausage · 22/03/2023 18:15

@Papergirl1968 , as pp Sofia-Leigh is too close to So Feely - say it quickly, which you will because it's long. Ella-Rose to me sounds like Hell Arose, sorry.

ourflagmeansdeath · 22/03/2023 18:08

I agree that Elsie and Sofia are both lovely names but the hyphens really ruin it!!! If she absolutely wants a hyphenated name, then don't do Mae/May or Lee/Leigh, it's so common and will take away the loveliness of two great names.

My vote would be for Sofia, as Elsie is similar to her cousin Ella which could confuse things a little. Sofia hyphen something would be better than Elsie hyphen something although I really do think the hyphen is unnecessary.

HarrietStyles · 22/03/2023 17:59

Elsie and Sofia are both beautiful names. I would recommend she drop the hyphen and just pick a middle name that she likes. She can still call the child both names. I’m sorry to sound like a total snob but the hyphenated names are just so chavvy. Sorry- I’m ready to be shot down here, but I’m just being honest!

Pemba · 22/03/2023 17:42

It's her sister who has Ella-Rose (DD1). . So the little girls would be cousins. But I agree the names are too similar anyway.

NBLarsen · 22/03/2023 17:23

If she already has an Ella-Rose then Elsie-anything is a bit daft! Ella and Elsie together? Far too similar to work and will be weird for the children.
Personally I don't like the spelling of Mae, it just looks misspelled for the sake of being quirky.

Go with Sofia, perhaps another flower name to match?
Sofia-Lily
Sofia-Iris
Sofia-Ivy
Sofia-Daisy

Or her birth month
Sofia-April

TomatoSandwiches · 22/03/2023 16:17

Sofia is the nicer of the two but again, no hyphenated first names, a bit naff.
May/mae/mai as middle names are also quite over done.
Personally I like family names for middle names, but a few that suit Sofia imo,

Sofia Gabriela
Sofia Celeste
Sofia Bella
Sofia Viviene
Sophia Mirielle

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 🫣

Crazyfaisy · 22/03/2023 16:11

If she likes hyphenated names then go for it! I know lots of people with them, and people are less judgemental outside of Mumsnet! Elsie-Joy or Sofia-Joy would both be nice.

AllOfThemWitches · 22/03/2023 16:06

I was going to suggest Sofia Lee but a quick Google told me it's literally the name of a pornstar

ChickenRat · 22/03/2023 16:04

Sorry OP but Sofia-Lee sounds like 'so feely' to me!

Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 22/03/2023 16:01

Thank you everyone. Lots to think about.
Anything too similar to Ella-Rose is out as that is the name of DD1's child.
DD2 already liked Sofia-Lee, although I prefer the Leigh spelling, DuchessOfSausage.

OP posts:
BlueMoonCity · 22/03/2023 15:20

Sofia-Grace was my first thought but I love Elsie-Mae ❤️

Hatscats · 22/03/2023 15:18

Sorry Elsie-Mae just seems really common 🙈
I like Sophia though.

DuchessOfSausage · 22/03/2023 14:20

Sofia Grace is fine but chances are most of the other Sofia/Sophias will be Sofia/Sophia Grace too.

Verylongtime · 22/03/2023 14:16

Elsie-Mae is truly horrendous. Elsie itself isn’t great. Mae is awful. You could turn Elsie around and get Elise. Elise May is a lot better.

Sofia is better, though it’s Sophia generally, unless you’re Spanish, Greek etc.

Don’t hyphenate.

ÉireannachÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ · 22/03/2023 14:13

Sofia grace