Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Elke for girl

27 replies

Mcakes · 19/10/2017 07:54

What do you think of Elke (pronounced Elkeh) for a girl?
Am considering it because my partner has German heritage and I have Danish and Elke comes from the border region between the 2 countries.
Having read the current Anaïs thread am wondering if it would cause confusion over pronunciation?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Redpramlady · 19/10/2017 08:10

I would read it as elk (U.K.) as in the deer. But I'm useless with languages!
Lovely thought to the name thou

AgathaRaisonDetra · 19/10/2017 08:15

Only if her first name is Ann.

AuntieStella · 19/10/2017 08:18

I wouldn't t say ut's a particularly well-known name in UK, but people might think if the singer Elkie Brooke. Which isn't quite the same but is in the right direction IYSWIM.

I think it would work, and I like the name.

tinytoucan · 19/10/2017 08:23

I like it. I knew how to pronounce it but I can speak a bit of German so that probably helps. I think it's a name some people might struggle to pronounce correctly just from reading, but once they've been told how to pronounce it it's easy enough

Slartybartfast · 19/10/2017 08:23

yup, thought of Elkie Brooks, which made me like the name.

but yes, like Elkeh pronunciation too

RonaldMcDonald · 19/10/2017 08:39

Moose for a boy?

KoalaD · 19/10/2017 08:39

I love it.

beingsunny · 19/10/2017 08:43

I know an Elke (I’m in Australia) I think it’s lovely

yoyoyoyoyo · 19/10/2017 09:23

No. Don’t. What is she is big and clumsy when she is older? She will be called bovine names all her life.

thecatfromjapan · 19/10/2017 09:27

I knew an Elke growing up. I like it. Smile

lolalotta · 19/10/2017 10:33

I read it as Elk too as in the animal.

TheVanguardSix · 19/10/2017 10:36

I love the name Elke.
She's a character in the novel I will never finish! Grin I have a good friend who is half Japanese/half Norwegian and her name is Elke.

thegreylady · 19/10/2017 11:35

We have a German acquaintance called Elke and she pronounces it Elk.eh. I like it.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 19/10/2017 11:40

Love it !

Liadain · 19/10/2017 11:57

Love it.

AnyaMoondial · 19/10/2017 12:00

I think it is wonderful.

mintich · 19/10/2017 12:00

I immediately pronounced it Elkie. I like it though!

Apileofballyhoo · 19/10/2017 12:01

I don't speak German or Danish and I read it as El-keh no problem.

CakeRattleandRoll · 19/10/2017 14:56

I know two, both middle-aged. I really like the name.

Jenniferturkington · 19/10/2017 14:59

Dd has a friend called elke. Nobody has ever had any problems with pronunciation as that's what she was introduced as.

Dustbunny1900 · 19/10/2017 15:55

I think of elke somners, beautiful woman!! I love the name, but I like bird/flower/forest/deer names for girls. Think elke is graceful and ethereal

pioe · 19/10/2017 16:38

I think it’s beautiful op. I know an Elke but hers is pronounced elkie. Still beautiful either way.

Original poster
Mcakes · 19/10/2017 18:48

Thanks everyone. Am happy to hear that it mainly gets a thumbs up Smile
I really love the name too. To me it sounds sort of pretty and grounded at the same time.

Good point though Yoyo I hadn't thought of that. I have no idea what this baby will grow to become and agree that a bovine sounding name may not end up being kind. Something to take into consideration....

OP posts:
wooster16 · 22/10/2017 22:31

It's lovely

HeteronormativeHaybales · 23/10/2017 01:39

I like it, but here in Germany it's very much a 'middle-aged lady' name - a generation too soon for granny chic. It wouldn't be quite authentic, but you could always spell it Elka if you were worried about the pronunciation?