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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ellis? For a boy

81 replies

ILookAtTheFloor · 03/05/2023 11:25

So I'm pregnant with a boy after having two girls! DH and I had never agreed on a boy's name, were convinced this was another DD who would've been Margot, middle name Anne.

Alas, it's a boy and we couldn't agree. I adore Alastair but he won't budge. He thinks it's poncy. He likes names I hate such as Billy.

The closest we can get to agree is on Ellis. If you heard the name, would you assume boy or girl? I really want a traditional but not popular name. Is it a good one?? I need reassurance 😁

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Winter2019 · 04/05/2023 22:15

Ellias and Elliott

Arxx · 04/05/2023 22:09

I love it for both! One of my favourites

DoNutSweatTheSmallStuff · 04/05/2023 21:27

I like Ellis and would think boy more than girl.

stitchinguru · 04/05/2023 21:23

If anyone thinks it’s not masculine…
Heres my Ellis.

Ellis? For a boy
slowquickstep · 04/05/2023 20:26

Maybe Eddie ?

MintGreenLife · 04/05/2023 18:03

@ILookAtTheFloor my Elis is almost 2 ☺️ one ‘l’ for the traditional welsh spelling. I love the name (obviously). I like that it’s quite soft sounding, not obviously masculine or harsh. Also love that it’s an old traditional name but not one that you come across often, but also not super unusual. I think a few years ago Ellis popped up at around number 90 in the top 100 boys’ names, but no longer in top 100 I don’t think x

WaltzingWaters · 04/05/2023 09:52

I’ve only ever heard Ellis used for a boy. Of course El names are generally popular on girls, but Ellis itself I’d always think of a boy.

Original poster
ILookAtTheFloor · 04/05/2023 09:45

Luredbyapomegranate · 03/05/2023 22:07

I think it’s neutral like Rowan and Robin

There are a lot of Ell names about though

Laurence nn Laurie?
Francis nn Frank?
Robert nn Robbie or Bobby?

Francis was on our list but I just can't stand Frank and everyone told me it would be shortened. Even though in our accent with the bath/trap split Frank doesn't even sound like Francis, it's still almost inevitable.

OP posts:
beeskipa · 03/05/2023 22:39

I only know female Ellises - it's a lovely name though, so my vote is yes!

wlv12 · 03/05/2023 22:35

I’ve only ever known boys with the name Ellis.

I’m not overly keen, what about Eli/Elijah

PickledScrump · 03/05/2023 22:25

I know of two Ellis both now late teens/early 20s. One born a girl who now identifies as a male, one born a boy who now identifies as a female.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 03/05/2023 22:23

Alas, it's a boy and we couldn't agree. I adore Alastair but he won't budge. He thinks it's poncy. He likes names I hate such as Billy.

aww, I found the comment “alas it’s a boy”, really sad, poor kid and also odd that Alastair is deemed poncy and Ellis not!

stitchinguru · 03/05/2023 22:21

I have/had an Ellis - sadly lost him to SADs at the age of 24.
Great name… never regretted it. He had a female friend called Ellis and over time they became ‘Ellis, the boy’ and ‘Ellis, the girl’.
And no, NEVER got called Elsie - not sure where that came from. 😂

lilsupersparks · 03/05/2023 22:18

I know a couple - both boys.

SquigglePigs · 03/05/2023 22:09

I know one male and one female Ellis. I'd instinctively lean towards it being more of a male name but it's comfortably either. I like it.

Luredbyapomegranate · 03/05/2023 22:07

I think it’s neutral like Rowan and Robin

There are a lot of Ell names about though

Laurence nn Laurie?
Francis nn Frank?
Robert nn Robbie or Bobby?

careerthink · 03/05/2023 20:35

It's a boy's name, anyone using it for a girl is wrong!

Questioningfolke · 03/05/2023 20:26

We have an Ellis and we love it! He's never been confused for an Elsie or Ella and people don't get confused.

We dress him in purple and rainbows sometimes and that's what make people think he's a girl! (Which doesn't matter but interesting they assume that when he has a purple jumper on) His name doesn't make people think he's a girl.

polkadotdalmation · 03/05/2023 18:48

Ellis and Elliot are lovely. I have one

Roselilly36 · 03/05/2023 18:44

I know a male & a female Ellis, seems more of a male name to me, but perhaps that is because I knew the male Ellis first.

AuntieStella · 03/05/2023 18:43

I'd assume boy (Emily Bronte was Ellis Bell when she wanted to be seen as a man, and ditto Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter)

And I really like the name (but only for a boy)

Original poster
ILookAtTheFloor · 03/05/2023 18:37

Thanks all, I really value everyone's input 🤗

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 03/05/2023 17:28

I like Ellis too.

wingsofabird · 03/05/2023 17:18

Ellis is a great boys name, look at the statistics
670 baby boys were named Ellis in 2021 and just 34 girls.
I like Ellis best of all your choices

MyrtleSmurf · 03/05/2023 13:34

Billy is awful.

I love Ellis, I know one and he's a quirky, intelligent and hilarious 8 year old.