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Original poster

Elsa - a reasonable name?!

70 replies

featherbag · 05/07/2011 22:41

My DH and I both love the name Elsa if our first DC (due November) is a girl. I'm 30, DH is 28. My parents both think 'everyone' will immediately think of the lion cub from Born Free when they hear the name Elsa. Neither my DH or I, or any of our friends, make that link as most of us have never seen Born Free!!! For my mum, the mental link to the film is so strong she thinks the name is unusable, but I love love love the name, it's the first one that just felt 'right' when my DH and I discussed it. What does everyone think?

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FessaEst · 06/07/2011 19:56

I think I have posted on here before, that for me the only Elsa that gets called to mind is the character from a Fiona Walker book, "Snap Happy". I am 30 and have never seen "Born Free" - although I have heard of it.

I think Elsa is a lovely name.

ThisIsJustASagaNow · 06/07/2011 20:01

I was my aunt's name. Even though she was mighty tricky I still really like the name.

The Born Free connection isn't such a bad one either - I love that film and it always makes me cryBlush.

I've said this before re Elsa though -

Elsa = cool and elegant.
Elsie = Les Dawson and must be avoided at all costs.

1944girl · 06/07/2011 20:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyWithNoManors · 06/07/2011 20:05

I think it's a lovely name.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 06/07/2011 20:07

Your mother is a little bit bonkers. I've never heard of the lion or Born Free thing. The only Elsa I know is Elsa Lanchester who played Katie Nanna in Mary Poppins :o

Camerondiazepam · 06/07/2011 20:12

I have an Elsa and no-one ever mentions the lion thing. No-one has ever pulled even a flicker of a face at it either.

But some people do call her Elsie which drives me bananas!

PickleSarnie · 06/07/2011 20:35

It's my favourite girls name. If my DS has been a DD that would have been the name I'd have given it. It's lurrrrrvely. I'm older than you (35) and I would never make the Born Free connection.

Ephiny · 06/07/2011 23:07

I've never heard of the lion thing. It does sound a bit of an old-lady name to me, so I'd be a bit surprised to meet a little girl with the name. Agree it's much better than Elsie, which sounds very dated to me.

Rhubarbgarden · 07/07/2011 09:43

I fear I would be one those unable to help myself braying 'Boooorn freeeeeee' at her.

LifeOfKate · 07/07/2011 12:08

It's lovely. It would be on my list if not for DH vetoing(sp?) on the grounds that it sounds like Ailsa who was a character in Home and Away who he didn't like Confused Hmm Angry
I am 29 and had heard of the lion but there are far far worse things to be associated with IMO!!

pipparoo · 07/07/2011 19:40

I'm 28 and didn't make the connection so unless there's a remake/revival of the book there's no way your daughter's peers would either.

I think the only Elsa I have ever come across was the little girl of the irish woman in 'Mistresses'. Thought it was really pretty

Conanchensee · 07/07/2011 20:26

I have an Elsa, we hadn't heard of Born Free when we thought of the name. A few people have mentioned it but not in a negative way and it hasn't bothered me at all. Haven't most names got different connotations?! It's perfect because it's not too common but not crazy either. I just don't want it to get too popular!

Conanchensee · 07/07/2011 20:29

PS Amusingly, if she'd been a boy she'd have been Leo! Apparently the other lion in the film, which we still haven't got round to watching...

DuchessofKirkcaldy · 07/07/2011 20:44

Elsa was a nice lion anyway.......I LOVED that film when I was a kid.
There are much worse things a name can be associated with.
Go for it.

razzlebathbone · 08/07/2011 10:26

I prefer Elsie but Elsa is lovely too and I had no idea about this old lion.

I must admit I can't stand the name Ailsa because of the Home and Away woman though.

redexpat · 08/07/2011 13:22

I think it's lovely! DH won't let me have Daisy because of a film called Driving Miss Daisy.

Papyrus · 08/07/2011 14:43

I have an eight year old Elsa and have got nothing but compliments. Very few people have ever made the connection to Born Free. The only problem we've ever encountered is people occasionally calling her 'Ailsa', but we do live in Edinburgh.

EveryonesJealousOfGingers · 08/07/2011 14:46

Beautiful - this is why nobody should ever discuss their name choices with anyone other than the co-parent!

PastyKensit · 08/07/2011 14:50

You have my blessing to call DC Elsa (if a girl, of course). Very pretty.

meravigliosa · 11/07/2011 17:09

Also the name of the female lead in Lohengrin.

EmInLondon · 11/07/2011 20:45

My cousin is called Else (the norwegian spelling) - pronounced Elsa - named after my norwegian grandmother. It's a beautiful name and I've never made any particular lion connections when thinking about my lovely cousin.

tralalala · 11/07/2011 20:55

lovely

tralalala · 11/07/2011 20:55

ps being associated with a lion isn't such a bad thing anyhow!

proudfoot · 12/07/2011 04:18

I am in my 20s and just think it's a lovely name, would not connect to the lion.

Flowerface · 13/07/2011 10:29

It's my DD's name and no one really gets the lion connection, which anyway we didn't mind! We were adamantly opposed to her ever being called 'Elsie', but sometimes I do do it...

We've had very positive responses to it. Only thing is, I slightly wish I'd considered how popular El- names are (Ella, Ellie etc etc).