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Baby names

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

Original poster

Elijah or Joshua

60 replies

Cloudyonasunnyday · 07/10/2025 07:38

Please say which one you prefer ! (Polite request not to tell me why you don’t like one of them or both of them just which one you think is nicer) :)

I don’t want to risk being put off ! X

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Gherkin32 · 11/10/2025 17:16

Joshua :)

KayEmAy · 10/10/2025 19:05

Elijah definitely

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 09/10/2025 22:32

Elijah. Joshua is too common now

BunnyRuddington · 09/10/2025 22:25

Elijah. We had that as one of the names for DC2 however i don’t think she would have been too pleased if we’d kept to it Smile

mynameiscalypso · 09/10/2025 21:19

I have a Joshua (generally called Joshie at school) and his best friend is Elijah (always called Eli). I actually think they sound nice together: Joshua Elijah.

WeaselPax · 09/10/2025 21:05

Josiah is the obvious solution!

CarriMarie · 09/10/2025 20:57

Joshua

dontcomeatme · 09/10/2025 20:46

Joshua 🫶 haven't heard of one since I was young x

Zanatdy · 09/10/2025 20:45

Elijah (Eli)

Yousuns · 09/10/2025 20:45

Elijah by miles!

Original poster
Cloudyonasunnyday · 09/10/2025 20:42

Thanks everyone ! I really am struggling to decide but I think having two I really like is a good start. I guess I’ll have to see his face in a few weeks and make the final decision ! X

OP posts:
Skybluepinky · 09/10/2025 20:20

Great to see a post asking for names that are actually real names!
Both are fantastic I’d choose Elijah, but I love Joshua too!
whatever you choose it will be perfect.

Plastictreees · 09/10/2025 19:58

They’re both nice names. I think I prefer Joshua, just because I know less of them.

17caterpillars1mouse · 09/10/2025 19:48

I like both, it's a tough one

I prefer Eli to Josh but I haven't met a little Joshua in a long time where Elijah is currently quite popular (in my area at least)

I think Joshua slightly edges it for me, bit I'd always call him Joshua, not Josh, though fine with Josh as a nn for others to call him

LastToBePicked · 09/10/2025 19:29

I have a Joshua and obviously I am a fan of the name but I would add the mine has very rarely been the only Josh in any class, sports team, scouts troop etc. I don’t regret choosing it but it is to his generation what John or Mark was to mine.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 09/10/2025 19:21

Both lovely. I also love the variations of Elijah- Eli, Elias & of course the shorter versions of Joshua. Cant go wrong with either ! X

LavenderMillie · 09/10/2025 19:18

Joshua

CarrotCrusader · 09/10/2025 18:49

Joshua is gorgeous. A strong, biblical name.

BoleynMemories13 · 09/10/2025 18:44

Joshua, by far.

Moreteaandchocolate · 08/10/2025 19:19

Joshua! Because I love Josh for short. Elijah shortens to Eli, and the one I know is often called Ellie by mistake (much to the amusement of his secondary school peers!)

Twoshoesnewshoes · 08/10/2025 19:17

Joshua

DuchessOfNarcissex · 08/10/2025 19:16

@Vaguelyclassical , But Joshua has never been massively common in recent times, surely?
Check the link I posted, over 7000 of them registered each year for several years.Baby name explorer
Joshua was popular in the 1990s, so there will be many in their 30s, but it's still in the top 50.
Elijah is less popular overall but is in the top 25.

When the trend for Old Testament names passes, they'll appear dated.

Jason is a name from Greek mythology.

Vaguelyclassical · 08/10/2025 19:07

DuchessOfNarcissex · 08/10/2025 19:02

@Vaguelyclassical , that's not what dated means in this context.
Dated would be something like Gary or Nigel.

But Joshua has never been massively common in recent times, surely? Not like the dread Gary, Nigel and Jason years. It's just hung around for ever, flickering in and out for centuries!

BananaCandle · 08/10/2025 19:02

Joshua. No contest. Congrats on your baby boy 💙

DuchessOfNarcissex · 08/10/2025 19:02

@Vaguelyclassical , that's not what dated means in this context.
Dated would be something like Gary or Nigel.

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