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Original poster

Was set on Flora, but just saw Ellen??

54 replies

emmyloo2 · 20/03/2013 02:59

DH and I had locked in Flora for DD due in 9 weeks. However, stupidly I came back to Baby Names and saw someone asking for a sibling name for Ellen and it struck me how simple, classic and elegant Ellen was. I think DH will kill me for raising another option as we have been going around and around in circles and had finally decided on Flora (with Florence as a possible substitute).

DS is George and I want something traditional, not popular and elegant. And short!

So does Flora meet that? What about Ellen?

Thanks!

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bedmonster · 20/03/2013 21:39

Well snice is Ellen older than George? In the SE?
Ooohhh, I wonder!

birdofthenorth · 20/03/2013 22:16

Ellen is nicer IMHO. Like Nell and Lennie as nicknames too. Flora is nice though, although when I first met one as a teenager I did think margarine, sorry.

Original poster
emmyloo2 · 20/03/2013 22:22

Thanks everyone. I am now having second thoughts about flora much to DH's annoyance who thought we had it all locked down!

What about Elizabeth? This was always on our list but I discounted it because it is in the top 50 and I thought it was too popular...

OP posts:
LeslieWink1e · 20/03/2013 22:36

I reckon that Elizabeth is nowhere near as popular as that ranking would make it seem, because (and I nearly did this myself) some of the Elizas, Libbys and Beths will have Elizabeth on their birth cert.

I like Beth. It's in the same vein as Ellen I think.

squoosh · 20/03/2013 22:53

Flora is far nicer.

Ellen is majorly frumpy.

BeeBopDingALing · 20/03/2013 23:58

Ellen is a good name and so much nicer than Flora which I think is awful. Like another poster said Ellen is elegant.

UnrequitedSkink · 21/03/2013 00:03

Ellen is just lovely, as is Elizabeth. Elizabeth has the advantage of all the sweet diminutives (I'd have loved a little girl called Beth and a teenage DD called Lizzie), but Ellen is more unusual (in this day and age) and has its own grace and simple beauty.

RunningDeer · 21/03/2013 00:11

Flora is a beautiful name, as is Florence.

Really don't like Ellen, to me it's old fashioned & frumpy. Elizabeth is lovely, with lots of options for diminutives.

Ella is similar to Ellen, but much nicer IMO.

Startail · 21/03/2013 00:51

Ellen, much, much nicer than Flora

Also if your not in the UK you may not have wall to wall Ellies. (I wouldn't mind if the Ellies were all Eleanor, but they're not they just want to confuse me!)

ripsishere · 21/03/2013 01:05

Ellen is a gorgeous name. DD was almost called that and I regret not using it.
Elizabeth is equally lovely.
Flora not as much.

Original poster
emmyloo2 · 21/03/2013 02:54

Thanks all. It is interesting the way people have completely opposite opinions. I don't think I am entirely comfortable with Flora, if that makes sense. I love it, but I am not 100% sure now. Whereas, with something like Elizabeth, I would have no doubts but just wonder whether it is too popular.

Where I live it is on the top 50 although quite low down. I only know of one little Elizabeth and she is known as Ellie. We would use Beth though or Lizzie.

Florence is the other option.

I don't think I am going to get Ellen over the line. I raised it with DH and he said it reminded him of the talk show host and the show annoyed him. I still love it but I am not going to go to battle for it I don't think.

So perhaps it's now Florence or Elizabeth....we also had Diana on the list at one point but that disappeared.

OP posts:
sleepywombat · 21/03/2013 03:47

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Original poster
emmyloo2 · 21/03/2013 06:48

Thanks sleepy - I think that is good advice re overthinking it. I have a tendency to overthink things! It's very hard because I just want to choose the right name!

OP posts:
OneLieIn · 21/03/2013 07:08

Flora, margarine, spread.... Not good

Ellen much better

williaminajetfighter · 21/03/2013 07:18

My mean frumpy boss was called Ellen. Avoid!!!

wiltingfast · 22/03/2013 00:15

I love Ellen. Beautiful strong name.

Flora is nice but nicer for a child than an adult. I'm not personally into the v feminine names really. Lot of them about!

Gingerodgers · 22/03/2013 00:27

I love both names.

3boysgirlontheway · 22/03/2013 06:13

I am in Australia as well and have a 1 year old Florence, the reaction to her name here has been amazing. We haven't met any others, but, we have met so many Milly's and Amelia's it's like there was a law passed saying you had to call a daughter that.

For what it's worth, our Florence has a big brother called George as well :)

everlong · 22/03/2013 20:09

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mewkins · 22/03/2013 21:07

I like both but out of the two prefer Ellen.

ParmaViolette · 22/03/2013 21:16

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idiot55 · 22/03/2013 21:56

I disagree Parma, ellen in this neck of the woods isnt shortened to Ellie

ElegantSufficiency · 22/03/2013 22:58

Ellen is short. it wouldnt become ellie if you didnt want it to.

ParmaViolette · 23/03/2013 17:53

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OkayHazel · 23/03/2013 19:01

Ellie will be soooo easily avoided. Do not worry about that.

I'd suggest Elle. I think it's gorgeous and makes sense as a nickname for an already short name, to just pronounce the first syllable of the name.

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