Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Need reassurance on my choice

51 replies

Mintchocchip35 · 03/05/2021 07:18

Hi, I had my baby girl 10 weeks ago. Had so much indecision over her name while pregnant. We eventually named her Elizabeth with Elsie as her nickname but I keep wishing that we'd gone for Annabel. Don't want to change her name so hoping for some reassurance that we made the right choice. Have introduced her to most as Elsie but then registered her as Elizabeth to give her options as she gets older but now also worried that she'll never get called Elizabeth just Elsie. Elizabeth/Elsie seems harder to interchange than Annabel/Belle would be.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Lemonelderflower · 03/05/2021 07:22

Well, I’m a stickler for full names but I think Elsie would have been fine alone. But honestly Elizabeth and annabel and Elsie are all very classic names. Even if they aren’t to someone’s taste it’s just one of those things!

Teeshirt · 03/05/2021 07:45

Elizabeth is a great name. It’s very flexible. I don’t like Elsie at all, but, as you say, there are so many other forms, she can change it if she wants.

wonderpants · 03/05/2021 07:47

I love Elizabeth and like Elsie.

MimiSunshine · 03/05/2021 07:48

Do you prefer Elizabeth? If so just start calling her that and if anyone asks, just tell them it’s her registered name.

Because Elsie is a perfectly acceptable full name then people will assume it’s her given name but it won’t be a problem if she starts going by Elizabeth when she’s older if she wants to.

elliemara · 03/05/2021 07:51

Elizabeth is so much more sophisticated than Annabel. It's a great choice! Tbh I'd call her Elizabeth day to day rather than Elsie.

Ginandplatonic · 03/05/2021 07:54

Elizabeth is a great name - so many options for her if she doesn’t like Elsie (which is really cute!).

Annabel is lovely too, but the Belle names are a bit overdone right now. I think you made the right choice.

sumpplneedshaking · 03/05/2021 07:55

I like Elizabeth but would of picked a different nickname. So many nice ones for Elizabeth.

DizzySquirrel90 · 03/05/2021 07:58

Anna is a boring name imo,

Also Elizabeth can be shortened to many names so, it's quite handy.

BramStoker · 03/05/2021 08:03

I love Elizabeth, much classier than Annabel IMHO

I wouldn't personally choose Elsie as the shortening (I prefer Eliza or Lizzie) but there is absolutely nothing wrong with your choice

stressfuljune · 03/05/2021 08:15

It's a stronger name than Annabelle which makes me think of a doll.

UpAt5amAgain · 03/05/2021 08:15

Love that Elizabeth has so many choices for being shortened, but is also nice as a full name. I know a toddler Elizabeth and it suits her more than I'd expect.

Don't worry, I think many people have a name wobble once the newborn flurry passes.

RosesAndHellebores · 03/05/2021 08:21

I'm not sure I understand how Elsie extrapolates from Elizabeth as a nickname.

I think be mindful that parents don't chose nicknames.

RosesAndHellebores · 03/05/2021 08:24

My apologies - it is a diminutive of Elizabeth. Every day's a school day!

I think you should stick with Elizabeth.

PearlHart · 03/05/2021 08:26

Elizabeth is a strong, beautiful name - I think you made the right choice, OP! Annabel sounds rather whimsical to my ears.

Elsie reminds me of my lovely Auntie Elsie, who was like a grandmother to me - she was a kind, thoughtful, independent lady and I'd love to have had a daughter named after her.

Starstruck2021 · 03/05/2021 08:27

I know an Elizabeth and she was always called Beth then when she was older she decided she wanted to be Libby.

I would personally stick with Elizabeth and with a name like that you might need to see what naturally evolves and what she likes. (Don’t like Elsie myself.)

iminthegarden · 03/05/2021 08:52

If you'd prefer Annabel change it now, my DS is 7 and I wished we'd changed her name when I first regretted it when she was a baby

Violetlavenders · 03/05/2021 09:24

Elizabeth is beautiful! You can call her Elizabeth day to day as well as Elsie or Beth.

Chewbecca · 03/05/2021 09:25

Elizabeth is a beautiful name. I much prefer it to Annabel personally which is too ‘dolly’ to my mind.

Albacross · 03/05/2021 09:28

I love Elsie - much prefer it to Annabel, and prefer it to Elizabeth as well.

Hufflepuffsunite · 03/05/2021 09:35

I love the name Elizabeth. If I had one I'd use the nn Libby. There are so many nns for it - you could easily swap to a different one if Elsie feels clunky.

sarah13xx · 03/05/2021 09:37

Elsie is way nicer, good choice 😊

YoniAndGuy · 03/05/2021 09:38

I’d stick with Elizabeth over Annabel. Love Anna mind you, but not Annabel - sounds naff and 80s.

Let the short form develop. I wouldn’t think Elsie from Elizabeth either and all not a fan of Elsie, I think it sounds so sad and downtrodden!

RichPetunia · 03/05/2021 09:39

Elizabeth is nice. Elsie is not.

Violetlavenders · 03/05/2021 09:42

Elizabeth is a beautiful name. Shame to shorten to Elsie. Why not call her Elizabeth?

MindyStClaire · 03/05/2021 09:57

I love Elizabeth, it's my all time favourite girls name. I have two DDs and I love their names, but I'll always be sad I couldn't talk DH round to Elizabeth!

Annabel is perfectly nice and wouldn't raise an eyebrow or anything, but it reminds me of the doll, and I agree about Belle names in general. Don't change a thing!