Elsie Mabel

[ExpatMrs]

I know it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks other than me and DH, however, my DM (who is the only grandparent - rest deceased 😞) absolutely detests it. She thinks it's so old. Whereas I think it's classic.

Anyway - what's the MN's thoughts on it?

I'm not keen on granny names at all, I think they went out of style for a reason

Sorry it sounds like a dolls name to me.

I like Elsie Mabel.

I think Elsie Mabel is lovely. I have a Lily Mabel who is now a teenager and loves both her names. Mabel was my grandmother, so I wanted to include her name to remember her. My mum wasn't keen to begin with either, but she had her chance with names when my sister and I were born! If you like it stick to your choice.

Elsie Mabel is lovely.
But Elsie is back in fashion so there will be many as she grows up.
I love the sentiment around your choosing Mabel.
In the past grandparents names were often used as middle names for newborns. Out of respect I think but that seems to have fallen out of fashion.

Presumably Jane Austen never thought of Emma as a servant's name!
'Handsome, clever and rich...'.
I have read of upper crusty employers in past eras habitually calling female servants e.g. Jane or Sarah, whatever their real name was, and particularly if they considered their real name 'too fanciful' for a mere servant.

Incidentally, my grandmother was horrified by my name and told my mother it was a 'servant's name'!

I knew an Elsie (born nearly 100 years ago, named after her auntie) who hated her name because it was a 'maids name'. Her middle name was worse (not Mabel) so she couldn't use that. I knew a few women of that era who ditched their first names of this type in favour of their middle names, come to think.

Maybe one 'old lady' name and another more classic would be better?

What constitutes a 'servants' name?!
*
'Emma', apparently*

Emma is one of those rare classless and timeless names, IMO - could be a servant's name, or 'gentry' or anything in between. From Austen to The Archers.

Interesting! Yes, they would sometimes be given names, household staff, and type of name could vary with position you held (the footmen, for example held same type of names). Popular names used included William, Henry, John, Abigail, Mary, Betty, Betsy, Jane, Polly, Sally.

Elsie is very nice, OP (I know I've already commented )

Eloise Mabel I love Eloise
Mariel Mabel
Marielle Mabel
MarieElise Mabel
Elise Mabel

Can't get past Elsie Tanner really. Amazing fictional character but not for RL.

Elsie is sweet but I'd give a fuller name on the birth certificate and use Elsie as a nickname. I think Elsie could be short for a number of names

Elizabeth
Elsa
Elise
Eliza
Eleanor

I don't understand the Mabel come back though. I think it's an ugly name. Sounds like Label. Also sounds like the name of a cartoon cow. Sorry

Lemondrop I think OP is choosing Mabel as her late mil was named Mabel as her dp would like it.

Lovely names.

Both very elderly, chin-whiskery and unbeauteous for a fresh-faced infant. Imo.

Mabel is a great name! Elsie is ridiculously common now where I live. I can think of 7 of them under the age of 6. Not that it really matters if you love the name.

I would go for Mabel, with Elsie as the middle name.

I've just remembered that in the last year or so, I've come across a couple of charming little Elsies ... both terriers.