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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ellis - which gender?

185 replies

Maize · 20/03/2010 19:09

I love the name Ellis for a boy.

My mum, who is a primary school teacher, says that it is a girls name and a boy called Ellis will be teased.

I know that Ellie is very popular for girls but is Ellis?

Thanks!

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franch · 23/03/2010 13:38

I thought it was a boy's name

DoingOK · 23/03/2010 13:15

i knew a man called ellis, he must be 70 at least now. I like it as a boys name but DH not keen.

nomorewine · 23/03/2010 13:11

I have only known of a boy called Ellis

LC200 · 23/03/2010 13:07

Ellis is primarily a boy's name imo.

Patsy99 · 23/03/2010 12:44

My ds is called Ellis, it was his Scottish grandfather's christian name. He was a burly captain in the navy and maybe because of that association it doesn't seem feminine to me at all! But I bumped into a girl called Ellis in the playground at the weekend and it seemed nice on her. Re the surname thing, lots of Scottish and Welsh first names were derived from surnames, I find it really irritating when MNers dismiss perfectly established names as surnames.

CJJ005 · 23/03/2010 11:35

I have only ever heared of Ellis for a boy

dimell · 23/03/2010 10:52

The first thing I think of is Ellis Island in the USA. Isn't it where immigrants were processed for entry into the US?

Dominique123456 · 23/03/2010 10:25

I know a boy called Ellis - I think it's nice

NormaSknockers · 23/03/2010 09:40

I've always thought of it as a boys name. I do know someone with a DD called Ellis & it just never sounds right to me

pinkje · 23/03/2010 09:33

Hi - my youngest's middle name is Ellice, which is a family surname; we love it.

NK3aa9f5b5X1278a0a3989 · 23/03/2010 08:07

Hi
I have an eleven year old boy named Ellis. Don't think he's ever been teased about it. If you like it, go for it!

SkinnyLattePlease · 23/03/2010 04:50

I went to secondary school with a girl called Ellis. This was the late 80's/v. early 90's if it makes a difference.

CheerfulYank · 23/03/2010 00:40

Boy. Girls are Ellie or Elle.

GetOrfMoiLand · 22/03/2010 23:57

I think it is either a girl or a boy's name.

I know a female Ellis (in 30s) and a baby boy.

It's unisex in my mind.

ABetaDad · 22/03/2010 22:21

I work with a man called Ellis and my nephew is also called Ellis.

muttimalzwei · 22/03/2010 22:19

Boy's name

Galena · 22/03/2010 21:33

I've taught 1 boy and 1 girl called Ellis.

kerstina · 22/03/2010 20:50

I asked my Ellis if anyone had ever teased him about his name he said no. I have heard his friends shorten it to Ell but it does not bother him. We nearly called him Jess but people put us off am glad we did not now. Have never regreted calling him Ellis !

bigstripeytiger · 22/03/2010 20:16

I remember reading somewhere that the tendancy is for unisex names to tend over time to become girls names (apparently the exception is the name 'Lee') might be worth considering if planning to give a unisex name to a boy.

Tutorlink · 22/03/2010 20:10

With all this controversy wouldn't it be easier to avoid Ellis altogether. Judging by the above 50% of people will think your son is a girl and if there is a tiny chance of confusion the other children will probably pick up on that and tease away.

bigstripeytiger · 22/03/2010 20:09

The only Ellis that I know is a girl.

pamelat · 22/03/2010 20:01

boy.

CornishMummyinLondon · 22/03/2010 19:44

I had no idea this was ever a girl's name. My nephew is called Ellis and I'd say it was most definitely a boy's name.

Southwestwhippet · 22/03/2010 18:56

I've taught an Ellis - definately a boy. He's a fabulous child.

Clary · 22/03/2010 16:34

Manafey FWIW the only Indigo I know is a girl.

But the name Inigo as in garden designer Inigo Jones is a boy's name. I'm guessing you say it differently (ie no d)

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