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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Agatha and Elvis

84 replies

JoanneS1980 · 16/10/2018 12:26

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.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

acivilcontract · 17/10/2018 03:06

Agatha is fine.
Elvis isn't a name I like.
The names don't work together as a pair.

Original poster

JoanneS1980 · 17/10/2018 04:11

I also think that the name Agatha is old-fashioned and I really don't like Aggie.

I am going to suggest the name Euphemia for a girl and Cornelius for a boy to my friend.What does everyone think?

Would people on here still think the name Elvis was not a nice name if it were not so closely associated with the singer Elvis Presley?

There seems to be mixed views about both names.

Everyone gets a name from somewhere. My friend named her daughter Apple years ago after she saw in her own words a beautiful apple tree at a cemetery, I kid you not!

Probably a stupid question with regards to the last name, but do you think either Agatha or Elvis would attract attention if people were to hear or see the name? I am thinking somewhere like a hospital or somewhere many people would be at the same time. My friend suffers from social anxiety so I don't think she would like all of the attention. On the other hand, her husband is a really bubbly character and would more than likely be proud of the attention.

OP posts:

MawkishTwaddle · 17/10/2018 09:14

Aaron and Christie give similar nods to their heroes without the immediate association.

AgathaRaisinDetra · 17/10/2018 09:16

Agatha is a marvellous name.

ChicagoLil · 17/10/2018 09:19

Elvis is the not particularly bright colleague of Fireman Sam.

And autocorrect changes Elvis into Levi's so that's another no.

Kokeshi123 · 17/10/2018 09:20

My friend suffers from social anxiety so I don't think she would like all of the attention. On the other hand, her husband is a really bubbly character and would more than likely be proud of the attention.

Yes, it would attract attention to the parents, but at the end of the day it's the poor kid who has to live with the name for their whole life!

SelinaMyers · 17/10/2018 09:22

Aggie is not a cute diminutive. If someone is “aggie“ it means they’re grumpy.

regularbutpanickingabit · 17/10/2018 09:22

I don’t think Agatha is automatically associated with Agatha Christie by most people. Agatha is a pretty popular Eastern European name and certainly wouldn’t be out of place in lots of areas. It isn’t a favourite of mine personally but I certainly wouldn’t think it was bad at all. The only thing is that Agatha and Elvis sound very very different and would be odd to my ears for twins. That’s just personal preference.

Euphemia is an absolutely awful name and far more eyebrow raising than Agatha! Cornelius is similarly terrible. Please don’t suggest those. She’s going to think you are taking the piss. They both sound as if someone is trying desperately to be aristocratic but missing the mark by a mile.

Elvis is definitely associated with the singer and of course they will get comments about him. If they like Elvis and don’t care about the comments then it isn’t up to anyone else to criticise.

Personally I think it’s best to find names they both really like. I would use Agatha and Elvis as middle names so they both offer a tribute to an idol and then come up with other first names that they are both happy with.

motortroll · 17/10/2018 09:24

I taught a kid called Elvis,he was cool! Only the teachers found it unusual, most of the kids weren't really aware of what it meant to the older generations. Even if they did know elvis Presley they didn't get that it was unusual to be named after him. It was just an unusual name to them.

I love Agatha!!

CalonGlas · 17/10/2018 09:33

Am I wrong to think that most people will think of Elvis Presley when the name Elvis is mentioned?

GraceMarks · 17/10/2018 09:40

Would people on here still think the name Elvis was not a nice name if it were not so closely associated with the singer Elvis Presley?

It's impossible to know, but I have a feeling it would be regarded as a somewhat "weak" name - a bit mimsy-sounding, iyswim.

I had a look at some of the other Elvis threads and a common theme seems to be that it's always the dads who are keen on the name and trying to persuade the considerably more reluctant mums that it's a good idea. I have a mental image of exactly the sort of man who thinks that he's being original by nurturing a man-crush on Elvis Presley and it's not especially complimentary.

Mayhemmumma · 17/10/2018 09:45

I want to like agatha but don't when said out loud...and ags or Aggie is awful.

I know an Elvis- he's in prison mind. It's not that uncommon in Albania. How about Elvan?

Magicstar1 · 17/10/2018 09:54

I'm a huge Elvis fan but would never call a child Elvis. I know a few others who have all called their sons Aaron - it's a good compromise as it was Elvis' middle name.

bowtieandheels · 17/10/2018 10:14

I love the name Elvis, it would be top of my list if I was pregnant...for a girl or a boy.
Agatha is sweet but not as cool as Elvis!

acivilcontract · 17/10/2018 13:49

I think it is impossible for people in the UK to evaluate the name Elvis as a stand alone name, but I don't think I would like it anyway.
Your df will get plenty of attention just for having twins and her DH will be mobbed if he goes out with them by himself. That said I do think Elvis will attract attention as a name long after twin baby novelty has worn off.

faithinthesound · 17/10/2018 14:40

Rather than Elvis, which is almost universally associated with Presley (and with the unfortunate way his life allegedly ended), why not Aaron? EP's middle name was Aron so that's still a nice tribute. Or what about Jesse, for EP's twin Jesse Garon who died very early (he was either stillborn or died in infancy, I forget which).

As for Agatha... I don't think so. Why not call her Christie? Still has the association but isn't nearly as dated.

LeeMiller · 17/10/2018 15:33

Why Euphemia and Cornelius? Is there a connection I've missed? They're somewhat unusual names in themselves and I wouldn't describe them as modern at all.

Original poster

JoanneS1980 · 17/10/2018 16:46

@acivilcontract

Do you think it is one of those names that will draw attention even when he is older and wherever the guy goes and his name is mentioned? Hospital, doctors, dentist, etc.

OP posts:

CalonGlas · 17/10/2018 17:59

Do you think it is one of those names that will draw attention even when he is older and wherever the guy goes and his name is mentioned? Hospital, doctors, dentist, etc.

Of course it'll draw attention. How could it not? How many Elvises do you know? More than that, though, it's a name that will forever say 'My dad likes Elvis Presley'. So what it's drawing attention to is the dad, not him. He'll probably spend the rest of his life saying, 'Oh yes, my dad was a big Elvis fan', because people will always ask.

Agatha less so, because you don't think exclusively of Agatha Christie when you hear it - I think it's got a certain Roaring Twenties charm, personally - but these twins are people, not cats. They deserve names they don't have to explain, and if the parents are keen for everyone to know about their fondness for Elvis Presley and Agatha Christie, can't they just start a blog and/or get a pair of goldfish to name?

acivilcontract · 17/10/2018 18:05

Yes OP I do. I can imagine poor Elvis creating an introductory line, "Hi, my names Elvis, yes like the singer, dad was a massive fan"
I can only imagine it would get very boring very quickly.

notacooldad · 17/10/2018 18:10

I know 3 Agatha's.
One is a former colleague who will be in her 40s now. The other was in my son's year so will be about 18 and the third is a colleagues child who is 4. It's quite nice.
I really would go for Elvis.

unexpectedtwist · 17/10/2018 18:12

Love Agatha but Elvia has to be a 'no' - he'd be mocked for that and it's a horrid name anyway!

hallodarknessmyoldfriend · 17/10/2018 18:16

I really dislike Agatha

SumAndSubstance · 17/10/2018 21:44

Blimey, OP, you're quite invested in this!

GraceMarks · 17/10/2018 21:54

Yes OP, are you sure this is your "friend"? You seem really reluctant to believe that people would associate the name Elvis with the singer. They definitely would, but how much do you think it matters? That's the main thing.

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