Agatha and Elvis

[JoanneS1980]

My friend is expecting twins and has asked me my opinions on the names Agatha and Elvis. I thought I would also ask on this forum for her for other people's opinions on the names.

She really likes Agatha Christie and if she has a girl she really wants to call her Agatha.

I told her that it's an uncommon name and that I have never met anyone with the name. I do think there is a connection with the name Agatha and Agatha Christie. I can't even think of another famous person with the name. Her husband has said it is fine.

I think the name does come across as a little dated, but I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. Many traditional names that were popular names for a long time would appear dated in some circles these days, including my own name.

What are your thoughts on the name?

Her husband is a huge Elvis Presley fan and has been collecting his music for nearly twenty years and has asked her if she has a boy that he would like him to be called Elvis.

I told her that if she does agree to call their son Elvis then people will assume that they are both Elvis Presley fans and that he was named after him. It is one of those names that is strongly associated with one person. I think it's very similar to the names Madonna, Prince, etc. I told her that I actually do like the name but if she does agree to it then she will have to be prepared to hearing references to Elvis Presley.

Am I wrong to think that most people will think of Elvis Presley when the name Elvis is mentioned? I know that there are other references, but Elvis Presley popularised the name. I think it is the same as when the name Madonna is mentioned, most people will think of Madonna Ciccone rather than the religious reference of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Considering that Elvis Presley still has a big fan club, people recognise his music and still listen to his music, would it really be that bad to name your son after him?

Do you think most people remember Elvis Presley when he was in his prime and good looking or the 'Fat Elvis' at the end of his life when he was overweight and had rather sluggish performances compared to his earlier years?

What are your thoughts on the name?

I mentioned both names to my sister and she said that they were not her cup of tea. Perhaps it is because my sister doesn't like uncommon names, her children are called David and Isabella.

Do you know anyone with either of the names? I have never met anyone called Agatha or Elvis.

Agatha - yes
Elvis - no

Agatha and Elvis is a weird combination!

I think Elvis is a lot to live up to. Aaron is much more wearable but would still b a nice tribute. If it has to be Elvis, better as a middle name.

Agatha is not a nice sounding name to my ears, nor is Aggie. I think of Miss Trunchbull in Matilda.

How about taking inspiration from an Agatha Christie character - Ariadne after Ariadne Oliver, or Prudence after Tuppence, for example. Her books are chock full of fabulous vintage names.

I really like Agatha and have it on my shortlist (though slightly prefer Agnes). It's a lovely underused name.

I actually also quite like Elvis though everyone will associate it with Presley but then if her husband is a massive fan that won't see it as a bad thing. There were 36 babies names Elvis last year so although rare people are obviously using it.

I actually like them together as twin names too. They seem well suited in a none twin-matchy way

Agatha is possibly the worst name in the world. Hag, sag, bag, drag, lag...
Elvis is the singer. They are a very odd pairing too imo.

Agatha is fine and Aggie is a cute diminutive.
Elvis-not so much. Big name to carry and he’ll be sung at his whole life. Very tiresome.

Agatha is OK, but Elvis is an awfully big name to saddle anyone with. PP said it would be fine "if he can pull it off" but you'd have to have a lot of swagger to do that! And of course people will still associate it with Elvis Presley. Almost everyone has heard of him and his songs, and the chances are they'll be thinking of fat, bejewelled jumpsuited, Vegas Elvis, not the sexy 1950s version. The kid's dad needs to realise that there is nothing special or unique about being an Elvis fan and think about the little boy who's going to have to live with that name for the rest of his life!

Agatha is passable, at a push - but agree with others - quite a harsh sounding name.
Elvis - well, its quite a lot to put on a childs shoulders, and I could imagine a child with that name having a hard time at school. (especially in his teenage years).

Aaron or Presley would be much better, as others have suggested.

(Think Elvis Costello's real name was Declan)

Agatha I think is a really ugly name.

I love the name Elvis and did consider this myself but DH was very firmly against it  I do think it is more suited to a dog though if i am honest!

Interesting replies so far.

I have been reading through the following threads:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1279260-Why-arent-there-more-people-called-Elvis

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1373648-Elvis

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/2888318-Elvis

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/2200367-Elvis

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/624082-elvis

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/765442-I-know-I-know-but-I-39-m-really-feeling

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1068757-Husband-insistent-on-Elvis

I'll be showing my friend at some point later this week.

According to the threads above, people seem to think that a boy called Elvis would get bullied and teased and that the strong association with Elvis Presley is a reason to avoid the name. A few others have pointed out that it is one of those names that would be difficult to live up to as well.

I do agree that Agatha does sound pretty dated. Maybe for a girl she could name her Euphemia with the nickname Effie - I think that sounds a bit more modern. With that name she could name a boy something like Cornelius.

I'm not sure that she will even agree to call a boy Elvis. She did not appear to be overly keen on it when she mentioned it to me and she is not a big Elvis Presley fan (she does like his music but not to the same extent as her husband). The connection to Elvis Presley is strong and it's inevitable that the reference would be mentioned a lot. Her husband would not mind at all but I think she would soon get a bit fed up with it.

Despite all of this, I have read that once you know someone with an unusual then you will think about that person first rather than what most other people will think. Does anyone actually agree with this? I have to admit that I doubt this when it comes to a name with one strong connection and no other well known references. If I were to meet someone called Elvis or Madonna then I think I would still think of the singer first. My cousin has a daughter called Rihanna but I still think of the singer first.

Even when Elvis Presley was in his prime, the highest number of boys named Elvis in America was in 1957 when 595 were given the name.

www.babynameshub.com/boy-names/Elvis.html

The name never even gained popularity during his life.

www.behindthename.com/name/elvis/top/united-states

His surname Presley ranks higher on the charts than his first name Elvis.

www.behindthename.com/name/presley/top/united-states

I think that unless the name of a famous person was common before that person became famous then people don't really use it for either good or bad association.

Agatha is lovely and doesn't need shortening. Not so keen on Elvis.

Both awful and they reeeally font flow well together!

I like Agatha, always have done. It does make me picture an old Victorian spinster though and I hate Aggie.

Elvis is a no-no. It’s just a silly name suited for pets but not human beings. That poor boy would grow up heavily resenting the parents and probably end up changing it by deed poll as soon as he could.

Agatha just makes me think of the Trunchbull in Matilda. My dp wanted to use the name Elvis if our dd was a boy, ''twas a flat out no from me! But each to their won if that's the names they like then go for it

Agatha is nice - although Tabitha is much prettier. Elvis is terrible. And it's not a good pairing. Elvis drags Agatha down!

Elvis is just ridiculous and setting the kid up for being bullied.
Personally I hate the idea of kids being named after famous people (especially those with such a unique name) - somehow sets a bar they will always fail to live up to and fills some kind of weird position of idol worshipping place from the parent. Plus seeing as Elvis was a fabulous singer but also a drug addicted, womanising mess, who died young on his toilet, not exactly what I’d want to have my kids named after. But that’s just me.

Agatha is fine, if a little old fashioned.

Christie and Aaron are very nice.
Agatha and Elvis are ridiculous. Horrible!

Well Elvis was a child abuser, and continued to abuse Priscilla throughout their marriage so there's that...

Agatha is fine - I rather like it. Elvis - no way.

Don't like either and they sound really odd together, sorry.

I also think naming a child Elvis because one is an Elvis fan is a bit immature, quite honestly.

Agatha has really been growing on me as I like the character of Aunt Agatha in Poldark.

Elvis however is a name that will only ever be associated with one incredibly famous individual and will always overshadow any other person given it, in my opinion.

I feel like it's saying you don't care about the unique personality and character of your child to call them Elvis. Please don't. Or if you have to, give it as a middle name.

When will people catch on to the fact that they are naming CHILDREN, not pets.
When we have kids we are given an enormous privilege and responsibility.
And naming them is HUGE. You are giving your child a name that (unless they hate it that much and will change later on) they will carry for life.
Please don’t pander to stupid fashion and fancies.
It’s cruel

Sounds like names for two cute pugs

What are some similar names to Agatha? I have never asked my friend if she will shorten it to Aggie. I prefer Agatha to Aggie.

Do you think most people associate the name Agatha with Agatha Christie?

@twattymctwatterson Accusing someone of being a "child abuser" is a serious allegation, whether or not that person is dead or alive makes no difference. Do you have any evidence that he was a "child abuser"? As far as I know, there is no evidence.

Elvis Presley met Priscilla Beaulieu when she was 14 years old and he was 25 years old in Germany in 1959 and they remained in contact until Elvis left West Germany in 1960. Priscilla did not see Elvis again until 1962 and she did not move to Graceland until March 1963. According to Priscilla, they did not actually have sex until their wedding night. In fact, in her biography Elvis and Me, Priscilla claimed that Elvis was a passionate man and not overtly sexual towards her at all.

Priscilla was not naive enough to believe that a relationship with Elvis Presley was going to be easy. She has spoken in length about how troubling it was for her to live with Elvis, she even took drugs herself to cope with his lifestyle.

With regards to their actual relationship, due to his lifestyle she knew that he was going to have affairs. She was also unfaithful to him. She admitted in her biography Elvis and Me that she found herself deeply attracted to the instructor of her dancing lessons known as Mark and had a short affair with him. She also cheated on Elvis with his karate instructor Mike Stone. They were as bad as each other.

I knew a boxer dog called Agatha when I was about 20.

I personally don't like it, although I have heard worse girls'named.

Elvis is just too stupid for words. Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello!!