Honouring an Elsie

[mjb1]

Hello!

Trying to find a way to honour my late grandmother, Elsie (not short for anything, and she didn't have a middle name). Have thought about Elsa, Eloise, Eleanor, Elizabeth with nickname Elsie, but it seems to lose the connection with the name. Closest we have come so far is the name Elspeth, but although I really like it, I can't make myself love it. Plus, DH is French and thinks Elspeth could be quite difficult to pronounce for his family.

I would really love to use the name Elsie itself, either as a first name or as a middle name. However, I almost always favour a 'long' name over a more nickname style one and it's only how special my grandmother was to me that makes me think I would break that as a rule. Could Elsie stand alone? I worry that I would always regret her being 'just' Elsie without a longer name.

Other girls names we like are Clara, Grace, Florence, Amélie, Chloé, Clémentine, but our other top girls name (without honouring family) is Mary. To me, Elsie Mary, Mary Elsie or sisters Elsie and Mary sound very sing-song like!

Sorry for very long post! And thanks in advance for any help (DH thinks I'm crazy worrying so much about this all!!)

I think using a name to honour a family member is a lovely idea, but I'd always choose to make it a middle name. IMO the first name should be chosen especially for your child, for her own unique identity within your family.
However, I think Elsie could stand alone absolutely fine if you chose to use it as a first name.
I like most of the names on your list, but my favourite would be Clara.
How about Marie rather than Mary if there is a French connection? Marie Elsie?

Elise?
Elisabeth?

There's a childrens book about an Elsie who turns out to be Lyndon C Wainwright!

I was going to say Elise.
However I really love Elsie and think it fine as a stand alone name.

I really don't think having names that sound perfect together matters. I know a few people who use their child middle name as their given name as they thought the combination sounded better the other way around but you just don't hear the other names so it just becomes a non issue.

I really wanted to use Elsie but dp didnt want to (it was after his grandma)

The only name he would agree to was Eliza.

I was sure I would just call her Elsie anyway but to be honest I never have.

I love Elsie and would just use that if you love it that much.

Elsie is a lovely name. It would have been DD2's name. I didn't use it because DD1 is Florence & DH didn't think Elsie was a big enough name to go with Florence. I really regret it & if there is ever DD3 I will not be talked out of it!

I know it's one of those hyphenated names, but I know a little Elsie-May, which really suits her.

Elsa Marie ?

I'd pick and name you love, so your child can make its own legacy and stick Elsie as the middle name.

Thanks for your replies !
I think we're going to take your advice and just call her Elsie, maybe Elsie Amelia. I think it goes the best with DD1's name as well.

Thanks again for your help!

Elsie is a lovely name I'd use it as a stand alone. I don't think it sounds nicknamey at all

Alessia? (Lessie) or is that a bit too contrived?

I teach a lovely Elsie. I think it's a perfect name to stand-alone.

Normally I prefer a longer option with names, with a shorting for a nickname (just personal preference) but I think Elsie stands well within its own as a stand-alone name. It's lovely.

I love Elsie - was my Grandmother's name and I toyed with Elsie/Elise but we fell in love with another name. In hindsight I wish I had used it as a middle name, but this was 6 years ago and I think Elsie has had a more recent resurgence over the past few years.