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Baby names

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Elise - alternatives?

35 replies

Kathleen123 · 25/06/2010 14:13

Hello all

Firt child due, and we are choosing names.

We have chosen names for a boy (traditional family names of either William or Matthew - will decide when we meet him).

However girls name is entirely different, and we'd like a more unusual name. I wanted to call our daughter Eleanor Mae (Ella to her friends). However my hubbie reminded me that his cousin's daughter is Eleanor and apparently she goes by Ella, and so he doesnt want either.

I have considered having one first name and hyphenating it - Ella-Louise? (perhaps too long)

Or alternatively I think Evelyn is beautiful, and could be shortened to Evie or Eve.

The other name I love is Elise. However my paternal grandmother is called Elsie, my mum has had a very difficult relationship with Elsie, and I suspect the name Elise would upset my mum (my nan is the sort of person who would assume we've named her first great-grandchild after her and gloat to my mother).

So does anyone have a name similar to Elise, but an alternative spelling. I was considering Eilise??

Thanks all,

Kate

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threeinthebed · 29/06/2010 12:15

What about Elysia? I think this is a beautiful name. It may not be the best choice if you would like a name that is easy to pronounce though. This was the only thing that put me off it for DC1 (who turned out to be a boy anyway)

Kathleen123 · 29/06/2010 10:14

Thanks all.

I love Elaine (NN Lainy) but its my SILs name.

Elsa (too close to Elsie), Evelina I love but hubbie thinks its a 'poncey name'.

Hubbie doesnt want a name that's too fashionable and may date quickly. He's pointed out to me that names like Gordon, Sidney, Edna, Linda - all very fashionable in their day have dated much quicker than the traditional names such as William, Tom, Elizabeth and Katherine.

I love Alice, and this is going to sound petty, but I went to school with a girl called Alice, and didnt like her at all. This has therefore put me off the name completely. I know very immature of me.

Re Erin - I liked it earlier, but we have no connection to Ireland (although this didnt stop my parents in giving me an Irish name), and when I've said with our surname its too harsh sounding.

Narrowed it down to:

Marianne (Mari)
Maia
Erica
Iona (thanks for this suggestion cityangel).

I think I'll give the list to my hubbie, and see which he prefers. So exciting.

Any other suggestions gratefully received.

I think its so important to get the name of the child right.

Thanks all.

Kate

OP posts:
flopsy1974 · 29/06/2010 09:23

How about Alice. Similar sort of name and not very popular.

nooka · 29/06/2010 07:13

Go for Marianne it's lovely .

For Welsh names in the Clare/Sarah vein, what about Elaine

cityangel · 29/06/2010 00:21

Ailsa, Alyssa, Elin, Eveline, Elodie, Iona...

stroppyshopper · 29/06/2010 00:05

I love Annelise (pron. anna-leese).

Please avoid Eva/Evie or any variant... My son starts reception in Sept and there are two Eva's and an Evie in his class of 20. (Also an Eleanor, an Amelie and an Eloise.)

creamymilk · 28/06/2010 23:12

We have a beautiful 10 year old DD called Annelise.

If you love the name Elise you could name her Annelise on her birth certificate and call her Elise for short.

George2010 · 28/06/2010 18:40

What about Elsa?

Evelina is nice though...

Jamieandhismagictorch · 28/06/2010 18:25

I rather like Erica. It isn't as feminine as some of the others, but I do like it

I prefer Marianne though

thumbwitch · 28/06/2010 14:16

I know two Ericas, spelt differently - one of which I know for sure has never been called Eric, the other I don't know. It's a very strong name but I'm not sure that I like it - but what I think doesn't matter, it's what you think of it that matters!

Kathleen123 · 28/06/2010 11:27

What do you think of the name Erica - I like the name, but concerned it may be shortened to Eric!

??

OP posts:
Kathleen123 · 28/06/2010 11:25

Hey all, thanks for your help.

My hubbie has said a definite no to Eloise - he considers it too poncey. :-(

takethatlady - I like Llinos - but think my daughter would have a lifetime of having it miss-pronounced. Similarly Éowyn - love it. However I suspact a lifetime of having it misspronounced.

diplodoris, thanks for your list, I love the name Louisa but my hubbie dated a Louisa for 6 years before me!

Also like Laura, but its my sisters name.

Re other names, Evelina (love - but suspect my hubbie will never agree),

Love Elspeth, but unfortunately neither my hubbie or I have any connection to Scotland.

Marianne, a very strong name, which I had considered previously. I think I'd decided I prefer Elise (considered this prettier), but am now thinking Marianne goes better with our surname. I think again I'll have to shortlist it. It can also be shortened to Mari, which is Welsh. Thanks!

Maya, prefer it spelt Maia.

jamieandhismajictorch - like the name Erin. thanks for the suggestion.

New shortlist for hubbie - Evelina, Marianne, Maia and Erin.

Thanks again all,

xx

OP posts:
takethatlady · 27/06/2010 21:15

What about Llinos? I know a Llinos and I think it's a gorgeous Welsh name. If I was even vaguely Welsh I'd go for it myself.

thumbwitch · 26/06/2010 06:55

You might hate this idea but what about Éowyn?
I know it's from LOTR, I know it's not genuine anything (Old Eng or Welsh) but it has a Welsh sound to it and is a pretty name, IMO.

mathanxiety · 26/06/2010 06:41

Eliska is a nice Czech name....

plonker · 26/06/2010 00:23

Definitely Eloise. I doubt that there would be many people who wouldn't know how to pn it, but you will most probably get miss-spellings - Elouise is a popular one ...

How about Elizabeth?

Or if you really like the name Elise, how about Elyse? Same pn but different letters so a less tangible link? You'd probably get miss-spellings here too though ...

mathanxiety · 25/06/2010 22:57

Ailsa? Alix? Elin? Elva/ Alva/ Ailbhe? Eilidh?

Eilis (Irish for Elizabeth) is nice.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 25/06/2010 18:23

Elodie
Elin
Erin

pointydog · 25/06/2010 17:55

Eloise is fab

5DollarShake · 25/06/2010 17:48

My cousin has a DD called Ellyse but she's one for alternative/unique spellings.......

dinopiratesruleok · 25/06/2010 16:48

Analise?

diplodoris · 25/06/2010 16:15

How about

Louise (i.e. not hyphenated with Ella)
Louisa
Lucy
Lucia
Lucille
Laura
Larissa
Alisa
Eloisa
Lisa
Lydia
Estelle/a
Evelina
Elodie
Eilish
Eden
Edith
Iris
Eliana
Elissa
Elspeth
Maya
Marianne

Magalyxyz · 25/06/2010 15:35

I don't like Elissa. It makes me picture a Nellie Olsen type

emmyloo2 · 25/06/2010 15:27

I think most people know to pronounce Eloise correctly. Gorgeous name.

minipie · 25/06/2010 15:06

there's a recent thread with loads of welsh names you could have a look at. can't remember the title, think it was about a girl's name beginning with M.

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