Elsie = will she be a pretentious 21 year old?

[Lizzzombie]

Am 31 wks pregnant with DD.
We decided on the name Elsie ages and ages ago, but the more I think about it, the more unsure I become.
I just can't imagine an Elsie in her teens/twenties etc. It sounds so girly and precious for someone that age.

The connotations that its an old lady name don't bother me so much as this does.

Does anyone know an Elsie who is not a little girl or not an old lady?

Am I just being a daft pregnant lady???

My MIL was elsie so I can't see beyond that really...not very useful, eh?

Parents gave their children names that were appropriate to their station to the same extent then that they do now. 'Station' meant more then though. Some of the rules have changed nowadays, but it's still possible to 'place' a person by their name (look at all the chav/poncetastic threads on Baby Names to see the preoccupation with striking the 'right' note). I don't think there were many scullery maids named Penelope.

Good points Mathanxiety.

the shortened versions of names are termed "diminutives" ie reducing in stature. Last century these names were indeed associated with low status, as tge word diminutive suggests, therefore suitable for children but not for adults other than those of low status eg maids.

I like Elsie though would probably go for Elisabeth, Elizabeth or Elspeth as full name.

However, when I mentioned it in front of my mum she shrieked in horror and said "Elsie's the maid's name!" - I thought she was nuts but can see that lots of people on here have that association. Good to know.

Sorry OP I know that doesn't help you! I do very much like Elsie though but do think it may benefit from a more grown up name for being a grown up. Your daughter may never use it and love being called Elsie for her whole life, but at least she would have a choice if she found Elsie to be too diminishing of her status

Elsie is lovely, my dd (4) went to nursery with a little Elsie and I thought it was a lovely name and very refreshing to hear something not in the top 10 (my own dd1's name is always in top 10!)

Go for it, honestly, it's lovely.

I knew an Elsie at school (so in her teens) and I remember her being very lovely and popular. I actually always used to think that she had a great name. Still love it!

Oh so sorry. Just realised how old this thread is !!

Elsie will blend into all the very very popular Evie, Ellie, Effie names and will seem pretty standard in 21 years time for a young adult. I wouldn't say precious at all, just an everyday sort of name.

My son has an elsie at his school and everyone calls her
'else'. She is 16.

@Petra wouldn’t describe Effie as very, very popular

I know a very pretentious late 20’s Elsie.

I think Elsa is a far more attractive name, but Frozen is still too massive a pop culture reference at the moment.

It's funny, I never really thought of Elsie as a diminutive, and I don't think it usually was the last time it was popular, but the only young Elsie I know now is short for Elspeth. Does Elspeth appeal to you at all?

Elsie won't be unusual for a 20-something by then.

I know a teen called Elsie and they're anything but pretentious! She is a strong girl, smart and capable! Your name doesn't necessarily shape your personality, maybe having a child called Elsie will help change your perspective! (I know it changed mine!)
Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy the experience of having your own little bundle of joy!

We had a cow named Elsie.

Name her Elizabeth and call her Elsie until she decides otherwise.

Elsie is cutesy and twee. I don't like it at all

Eliza or Elspeth are much nicer

Elsie sounds like a bit of a wussy nickname to me. If I was her I would wish I had a more solid longer name to use as an alternative if I wanted to as an adult.

On the other hand it's a popular name so she won't be the only one. Loads of girls are being given the same or very similar types of names, it's not like you're breaking new ground here. It's not to my taste but I accept that other people like giving girls cutesy names.

Oh dear ZOMBIE THREAD! 🧟‍♀️

Little Elsie will be 9 by now!

But will she be a pretentious 9 year old? 🤔😆

I know a late teens Elsie and she is a proper mean girl.

I can’t imagine a baby Elsie, it’s still an old lady name to me so works fine for an adult and is far from pretentious

The Elsie I know is short for Elspeth so there's another possibility.

I don't know a 30 year old Elsie but I know a 30ish Maisie, which to me has a bit the same feel. She's quite a creative person and I think having a name that's a bit unexpected suits her well. Anyway, by the time your daughter is older, names like Elsie will not seem like little girls' names because there will be quite a few grown up Elsies.