Elvira

[IvoryMadonna]

No baby to name, but I've come across an Elvira in the family tree. It strikes me as a name that ought to be fashionable right now, as it has the popular El- beginning, and bears some resemblance in sound to Eve and Olivia. Yet it doesn't seem to appear in the 2013 stats at all. Am I missing something?

This is the only Elvira I know www.imdb.com/title/tt0095088/

This ^^

ww.elivira.hostedbywebstore.com might explain why it is seldom used

Never heard of that, but it sounds fun!

The film, that is - I don't know what that website is.

I know an Elvira, she hates loathed and detests her name. Is more commonly known by her middle name as a result. She's in her 70's.

It has never been a popular name in the UK, has it?

I love it. It was my granny's middle name.

Elvira is the name of the first wife in Blithe Spirit. Not a very positive association either! Sounds too like Vera, which is not a name I've ever cared for.

Oh I thought you were thinking of using it and was going to suggest Evadne as an alternative.

Elvira - no. Can't think why but I always think that the mother of Samantha in Bewitched is called Elvira - she isn't, she's called Endora, but it sticks with me, so to me it sounds witchy and vampirey and just not really the sort of name I'd give a baby.

Too witchy.

I love it. Also love Tabitha, Kitty and Evangeline. They make me think of dark haired mysterious beauties

My old boss was Elvira, she went by Elly, don't think she liked her name (she's in her 30's)

Elspeth is the name I always find "witchy". I think it was the name of the wicked stepmother in some fairytale I read at a young age.

Elvira just struck me as the kind of name that might suddenly be "discovered".

I like it, I also like Vera!

Not so keen on Ellie.

My Nan was called Elvina. I love that and would have used it if I had a girl. Quite similarly, am not sure why it isn't seen very often. I think it's lovely, different enough without being too odd to be pronouncable.

Sorry but it reminds me if Elvira mistress of the dark! It's a bit too witchy!

I love it. Also Elvie as short form

I love the name Elvira but then I was a massive fan of the film "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark." It is hilarious and full of fantastic one liners like "just grab a tool and start banging!" Maybe not the most appropriate film to consider when naming a baby but I would recommend it as a movie!

It's a character in a Noel Coward play to me. Really obscure reference. Not that keen. A bit like an awkward combination of Ellie and Eva.

Yes I'm not sure how or where I've picked it up from, but I think "Elvira" and I see a 60-something woman with a totally OTT scheming expression, jet black bun and Far Side spectacles!

A ghooostly reference. Blithe Spirit of course! The play and film is very well known. I liked Margaret Rutherford best in her role in the film

Another name from the family tree is Etheldra, which I think is quite splendid. Never come across it before.

How far back does your family tree go, Ivory? that sounds positively mediaeval, Etheldra. Like Ethelred.

Not as far as that! The first Etheldra (as far as I've found) was born c1800, then various granddaughters were given the name too. Before that - I only have the names of her mother and one grandmother, so there may well have been earlier ones.

Exciting! And interesting - it's definitely a new one on me.