We’ve kind of decided... give me your brutally honest thoughts

[mammiahailee]

Elyse Rae for baby girl due 9th Sept.
We adore it but are open to your honest thoughts.

Thanks!

You want brutally honest replies, so here goes.

I understand it's a tribute to your brother, but spelling it that way will give her a lifetime of mispronunciations and frustration. It might be a legitimate spelling, but it's not widely recognised, so people will assume you've made it up.

Personally I would say think of your daughter, and how much a pain this will be for her. Then choose Elise, or a different name entirely.

Prefer spelling of Elise but I understand why you’re using the y. Pretty name.
Really don’t like Rae though and don’t think it goes with Elyse.

Elise is pretty (not with a 'y' though...lots of 'how do you say that?' and misspellings ahead I imagine!)

Rae...not keen (it's very American...are you in the USA OP?) The only female Rae I know uses Rae instead of her name...Raechel...as she hates the way that her name is spelt (again, a 'unique' spelling of a common enough name, that caused years of frustration!)

Different first name, Ely as a middle name.

Sorry about your brother OP. It’s a nice tribute, I thought the name was Elsie though on first glance. I love the name Elise, only known one little girl called that who was delightful. I like Rae too. Good luck.

Rae is awful. I don’t like that spelling of Elise.

Dint get the thing about people putting Rae as a middle name, it's a bit odd. Elyse is fine.

Change the "Rae" to "Rachel"?
And I liked the "Ely" as a middle name that PP suggested.
So you could have "Rachel Ely" or "Elyse Rachel"?

I like the name "Elise" and the alternative spelling doesn't bother me.
Not a fan of "Rae" though.

I agree with Icerebel

Ellice is a variant of Ellis? The Ely spelling is just giving her a life of having to correct people (it is a fricking ball ache, I know!)

Rae always reminds me of 1950s London aunties in housecoats - Aunty Rene (ree-nee) and Aunty Rae

Isn't it very close to a cheap sports brand from the 90s? Personally I like it, esp Rae

I'd lose the Rae, but love Elyse

Hmm. I was brought up short by Elyse - couldn’t decide how to pronounce it - Eleece or Elys. Looks like others feel the same. Plus, you’re condemning the girl to a lifetime of spelling her name to everyone.

What about Ely as a middle name, and something new for first name?

Elyse is an ugly spelling of Elise. Rae is a bit downmarket and doesn't flow with the first name.

I really, really love Elise. I don't like the spelling of Elyse, though your reason for it is nice. I don't mind Rae at all but it doesn't comes across as as special a name as Elise to me... but of course, it could be as special to you, if you really like it!

Elise, Ely for short?

Or use Elise and it would still be in honour of your brother.

I like the idea of a tribute to your brother using Elyse but do think the spelling is a bit confusing. I would probably choose to use it as a middle name with that spelling.

I'm not keen on Rae.

I read it as Eeleesee, took me a while to figure it out and made me think of Champs-Élysées. It seems a very ungainly sort of name.

Rae is like the American names in old films Billy-Rae type of thing.

Elise would be ok.

Rae is our local painter - a man in his 60s.

Elyse looks odd, but if you're set for a tribute that's a lovely story of how she got her name.

Rae is awful though, all the Mae/Rae double barrels and middle names sound cheap and a bit shit.

Elise is a lovely name but I'm another one who's not fussed on Elyse.

I like Elise a lot, really pretty) not Elyse as to me that looks like you are trying to be a bit original with the spelling). Don't like the Rae bit, sorry.

I read it as Elsie first as well. The reasoning behind the spelling is nice but I think your setting her up for a lifetime of spelling and pronunciation problems. I like Elise but I don't think it goes with Rae when you say them together I'm afraid.

Ghastly name. Sorry. Just go with Elise which is very pretty.