Girls name - Gladys?

[Sheffield2000]

I'm pregnant with my second daughter. Our first is Elsie (middle name Alice). My husband and I have always liked the name Gladys and are thinking of naming our second daughter this.

To me, its cute whilst baby is little and she grows up I like to think of it as a strong, and elegant name. I also like that it's unique and there are not lots of Gladys's out there. But on the other hand, i'm getting myself a bit worried that its a name that a lot of people do not like. I try to stay away from forums, yet here I am positing on one, worrying about the negative comments people have posted about this name in previous threads! For anyone else who likes Gladys, what middle name do you think could match well with it? Elsie was such an easy choice, it was always our favourite name. We are really struggling to be confident with our choice this time!

I don’t think strong or elegant. I think fags and bingo.
Sorry but I think it’s awful. Really not due a comeback.
I like a pp suggestion of Nancy.

It’s not great and hard to imagine having a baby and thinking “Gladys”
Elsie is much nicer.

Cerys
Violet
Annie

There was Gladys in Friends. The name was ruined for me there and then.

Gorgeous name. It's unusual and so pretty while still being really strong and some of the alternatives mentioned are horrible in comparison. But it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks anyway. If you like the name, use it. You'll probably set a trend.

Bear in mind most of us are a generation (or three) older than your dd and name trends change. By the time she is old enough to notice it might be a cool name, I think it’s about time for a comeback. A decade ago Nora would have been “Nora batty” and shouted down. A few people were before the trend. Better to ask a current teenager.

You know what? I never liked Gladys until I met an amazing little Gwladys last year who is super bright, funny and feisty and now I will always associate the name with her. I think if you love it then go for it.

OMG. No. It's truly hideous. Please don't burden the poor girl with such a horrible name.

My late grandmother, born in 1915, was Gladys Lucy.
Most people called her Glad; can you imagine the jokes your future daughter will have to endure at school? ('Are you glad about that Glad?)
I adored my nan, but would never in a zillion years consider it an attractive name.

PS - my other grandmother was Gwyneth. Now that name I like!

I think its sweet, but couldn't use it - it's the nickname DH used to give to anyone from me to DS when he was messing about. I quite like Doris which is a similar name?

Go for it, OP. It wouldn't do for us all to be the same.

I like Gladys, it's strong and interesting.

Gladys Merryn
Gladys Victoria
Gladys Josephine
Gladys Angelica
Gladys Olivia
Gladys Phoebe
Gladys Rowena
Gladys Aurelia
Gladys Emmeline
Gladys Freya

Personally not a fan, though of course if you love the name you shouldn't let that stop you !
Pp mentioned Gwyneth, which I do like.

I think you're ahead of the trend with Gladys so will get mostly negative responses. It is pretty 'off the radar' of current names so is hard to get my head around. It is still 'old lady' to me and definitely not in a chic way, however I can see that the sounds are good and it has a certain appeal. I couldn't use it, but I think it will come back. I think it's cute next to Elsie, and I like the advice earlier to see what some teenagers think of it. I also think Gladys is much cooler and more interesting than Gloria which a couple of posters have suggested.

I've sort of got mixed views on it.
I love names like Edith, Elsie, Minnie, Florence, but haven't quite warmed to Gladys yet.
That said, this generation won't associate it with an old lady on her way to Bingo, and the name will be seen in a whole new light.
I think if I heard it on a little one I would grow to like it, as I have with the above names.

I love old fashioned names but Gladys is a step to far even for me!

I have an Elsie (shes an Elspeth) and I also liked

Enid
Sylvia
Nancy
Ellen
Julianne
Susanna

I'm of the generation that has mothers, aunties and grandmothers called Gladys, a family name. Funnily enough all the ones I know are strong ladies who've endured a lot in their lives and come through - not classic or elegant but sturdy and tough as old boots, ran on endless cups of tea and cigarettes, watched every household penny, loved a gossip over a rum and coke and were not afraid to whack husbands, children or annoying neighbours with a slipper when provoked. It brings fond memories back but not sure of the kind you are aiming for OP!

Oh crikey. No. It's up there with Doreen, Brenda, Edna, Sheila, Doris....

I like it. I have a DS with what is perceived as an old man name. My family and friends were mortified but he suits it and loves it. Go for it OP.

Names are just sounds - it’s the connotation that causes the issue and to me Gladys makes me think of ladies of my grandmother and great grandmother’s age.
Those younger than me and certainly of your baby’s generation will have no such preconceptions and if it’s been a name that you and your husband have always liked then you should go with it. It has a nice sound to it and goes perfectly with sister Elsie.

DGM (97) is a Gladys. She hates it and has always used her middle name. She says it's old-fashioned, and that she can't think where her parents got the idea from.

That said, seeing it written down out of that context, I'm thinking well actually it's not such a bad collection of letters and sounds to label a person with. Lots of names of a similar era are back in fashion like Ava, Florence, Mabel, Emily.

With an Elsie, it might be too much of an "old lady" vibe though. As though you chose the name to match her sister's name rather than to match her. I'd pick something a bit more timeless, rather than of the same era.

Elsie and Amelia
Elsie and Catherine
Elsie and Heidi
Elsie and Imogen
Elsie and Louisa

My first reaction to the name was "Good God, no", because in my house a "Gladys" is a woman/girl who is overly effusive. It was the worst insult when I was growing up, for some reason.

But then a PP mentioned Gladys Knight and I have really positive feelings about her and never thought twice about her name, strangely enough.

Now I think it actually is a lovely name, really. It doesn't have negative connotations for everyone.

No - some 'old' names sound lovely - Elsie for instance but Gladys - I would not choose

I too like some old names, and Elsie is lovely, but Gladys would be a real no, no for me.

There are lots of other older traditional names that are nicer eg Florence, Edith, Lilian, Evelyn

This is our Gladys.