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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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NorbertDentressangle · 20/03/2010 22:02

I've only known of males called Ellis ( a man in his early 40s and a couple of 3-5 yr olds)

blogpage · 20/03/2010 22:00

I think of it firstly as a surname, then as a boy's name, but not a girl's name.

anniebigpants · 20/03/2010 22:00

My DS2 is an Ellis. Never heard it used for a girls name.

Ellokitty · 20/03/2010 21:53

I have taught both a male and a female Ellis. I prefer it as a boy's name. I think there are nicer, more feminine sounding female names that are similar sounding.

I'd go for Ellis for a boy and something a bit more feminine (Elise etc) for girls.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 20/03/2010 21:49

Ellis Peters was female. And Ellis is a nice name for either a boy or a girl, I think.

sweetkitty · 20/03/2010 21:35

I know one female Ellis

MrsvWoolf · 20/03/2010 21:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

randomimposter · 20/03/2010 20:59

Only know of boys? Never heard of a female Ellis.

PigeonPie · 20/03/2010 20:54

I had an elderly Irish cousin called Ellis. However, although she was always called that, it was actually her third name and I'd assumed she was named after her father (I need to check the family tree for that!) and she chose a more masculine name which suited her. Hope that makes sense!

So I always think of Ellis as female, but am sure it's generally male!

StuffedFullOfNothing · 20/03/2010 20:48

people will ALWAYS hear 'Alice'.

LynetteScavo · 20/03/2010 20:43

Maybe your mum thought you said Alice?

LynetteScavo · 20/03/2010 20:42

I didn't know it was ever a girls name.

MintyMoo · 20/03/2010 20:39

I know two Ellis', one is a girl who is in her early teens and the second is a boy aged around 7. I knew the female Ellis first but would assume an Ellis to be male unless told otherwise.

Lovethesea · 20/03/2010 20:24

I don't know any but would expect BOY

DebiNewberry · 20/03/2010 20:05

The only one i know is a girl

littlemissm · 20/03/2010 20:04

My father inlaw is called Ellis. It sounds better for a boy than a girl.

shonaspurtle · 20/03/2010 19:42

Lol I thought that might be it. Pesky "i" / "l" thing

Maggie00 · 20/03/2010 19:37

Shona. I need to lean in closer to screen. Your post makes perfect sense.

shonaspurtle · 20/03/2010 19:35

Eilis is a gaelic name pronounced Eye-lish. I think it's the Irish form of Elizabeth.

blametheparents · 20/03/2010 19:32

DS has a girl in his class called Ellis

Maggie00 · 20/03/2010 19:29

shona !?

Maggie00 · 20/03/2010 19:29

Boy's name. although, it is very close in sound to Alice.

shonaspurtle · 20/03/2010 19:18

Eilis is a girl's name.

If I saw the name Ellis I would assume it was a boy.

DrivenToDistraction · 20/03/2010 19:17

I know two women called Ellis, but I'm not in the UK and they aren't British. It's the equivalent to Alice here. I'm pretty sure it's firmly male in the UK.

Original poster
Maize · 20/03/2010 19:15

Oooh thank you for agreeing with me!

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