First name or middle name?

[Justtoobad]

Following on from another post, I'm worried that my daughter's name Eloise is too common. Should I instead call her by her middle name, which is my sister's name Melanie?

I haven't seen the other thread, but I really wouldn't listen to the voice of Mumsnet. Do a search on the name Eloise, and you will see that for as many people that might think it common, others on Mumsnet have described it as 'posh' and 'pretentious'.

I don't know if you're worrying that it is too common as in popular, in which case that would surprise me greatly, as it has rarely got above 75 in the top 100 names since 1998, although I haven't checked for the past few years, it's certainly not one of the faddy names at the moment.

If you're worried about it being too common in terms of chavvy, then Id say look at some of the famous Eloise's out there:

Countess Eloise - Granddaughter to Queen Beatrix of Holland.

Eloise Taylor - daughter of Lady Helen Taylor, cousin to the Queen and. 37th in line to the throne.

Lady Eloise Anson. Aristocracy.

Finally, if you're still in doubt - do the Telegraph test. Has the name been registered for birth announcements in the Telegraph?? And yes, there's 5 pages of names - including to a lord and lady or two.

Eloise is a name that is ordinary, and used by all classes right from aristocracy down to ordinary folk (like Elizabeth). I don't think it is a name that is put into a particular class.

Eloise is a much nicer name. I don't know any. Use it! It's not common-unclassy or common-popular.

I know lots of Melanies, but none under 35.

Or calle her "Elle" which could be from either name.

Oh thanks lots, I of feel Melanie is d fashioned and was worried that Eloise might be chavy, but I feel better now

I think Eloise is a lovely name, much nicer than Melanie and not common in either sense of the word!

Eloise is gorgeous. Meh is for Melanie.

Phew feel relief now

Eloise is much nicer than Melanie.

Melanie is still in 1985 wearing day-glo warmers and crimping her hair.

Eloise is about a million times nicer tbh and it's not chavvy at all it's elegant and beautiful but slightly unique x

I don't believe it's common in either sense of the word. I don't now any? Is it pronounced the sane as Elise? Or is it el-Lois like superman?!

It's pronounced ello-eess or ello-ease.

Squo it's said like the second version, my middle name is Louise so we wanted a variation of that. Then if we had a boy or girl for our second child we'd call it Jamie as my DH's second name is James.
So I thought it had meaning too.
And Melanie is a little long winded to go with our surname.

How about Meloise?

Bubble - I love your suggestion, I have to tell my sister instantly :)

I think both pronunciations are correct, I know one of each.

I've never heard of an Eloise but it's quite nice. Melanie is not in my option so great sorry.

I have only ever met one Eloise in my life, so I would never consider it remotely common.

I had great fear that there would be a million Eloises in her class at school