Elsie vs Elise

[Foxesandcrosses]

Morning all,

I really like both Elsie and Elise as girls names.
Could I please ask for your opinion, which one do you prefer as a name?

(we would pronounce Elise as EL-eese)

Thank you

Definitely Elise. Not a fan of Elsie at all.

Fur Elise by Beethoven is the most beautiful piece of music.

Elise is gorgeous, elegant, sophisticated and international. It's not in the least bit 'chavvy', which is a horrible expression.

Elsie manages to be both dowdy and cutesy in the same name, which is some achievement.

I’m biased because my dog is called Elsie, so I vote Elsie!

Not keen on either. I'd pick Elise if I had to.

Elsie is a woman of about 60 , overweight, dressed in a tabard apron, wearing a headscarf and smoking a fag as she mops her front path.
When she's finished, she will go inside and cook eggs chips for her fat husband who will eat while wearing only a vest and brown, nylon trousers.

This is an interesting one as they are polar opposites, despite being so similar. My instant connotations without thinking about it are:

Elise sounds strong, cool, self-possessed. Older.

Elsie sounds, girly, soft, flowery. maybe a nickname or shortening. Younger.

I much prefer Elise personally as I am not at all girly. I think you could call her Elise with Elsie as a nickname when she's little?

I prefer Elise, it suits all ages and likely to be the only one in her class / school

I think that depends where you are.
There are loads at dd's school, with about 10 variations on spelling and pronunciation, but all basically Elise.

Elise

UrbanDoughnut

pretty normal on a bbay names thread to suggest other similar names!

Elise

I prefer Elise. Elsie is the name of an old lady or a cow to me, sorry. It's one of those names that I'm really amazed is becoming popular again, along with Effie, Ethel, Edith.

Elsie definitely

Definitely Elise, Elsie is becoming really common.

Elsie for sure!

Elise is a lovely name - there's a piece of classical music called Fur Elise. Elsie reminds me of little old ladies and it's overused these days.

Hello,

Really interesting reading ppls opinions. I agree the Elsie is a bit cutsey or may have connotations of an old lady. I also agree about Elise being more continental and grown up.

I suppose I must be a 'chav' because I think I prefer Elise.
TBH anyone who uses that term I sorta automatically don't care for their opinion.

Thank you all x

I think Elise is a great name and one I'd be happy to be called.

Elsie is my favourite. Though I do like both, but I would pronounce Elise with the emphasis on the second syllable: el - EESS.

Elise is great.
Elsie is a name for the maid.
What about Elsa? That has the European flavour and not the same connotations as Elsie.

I think people were suggesting Elspeth and Elizabeth because (together with Elsie and Elise) they are all different and shorter versions of the same name, Elizabeth.

Sorry - my previous message should course read:
I think people were suggesting Elspeth and Elsa because (together with Elsie and Elise) they are different and shorter versions of the same name, Elizabeth.

The Elsie’s I knew growing up were old battle axes with wrinkly stockings and tweed skirts or a crimplene skirt and jacket set (always in pink) that they brought out if they had to go to a wedding.

Elise sounds so much better

Elise sounds pretty, European and sophisticated as a pp said.

Elsie still sounds too 'old lady' to me, and a bit frumpy. Though objectively, I suppose it could be cute.

I think they have very different characters. Elsie sounds very English and, as some else has said, down to earth. Elise is a bit more formal and, well, aspirational. I'd not say 'sophisticated'. I prefer Elsie.

I definitely prefer Elise - it's lovely. Also only ever heard it pronounced the way you suggested.