Please help! Phoebe or Elsie (or Freya)? Baby is several weeks old

[NeedToName]

Really want to name daughter by end of this weekend. She’s several weeks old.

Looking for thoughts/preferences on Phoebe, Elsie (or perhaps Freya)?

Or any similar suggestions we may have missed?

I seem to be in quite an anxious spin about it. Want to continue to enjoy baby girl knowing and sharing her name. And move on from the naming dilemma!

Likely last child. Perhaps why I’m finding confirming her name so hard. Partner less so.

Elsie is current favourite. A new name in the mix for partner and I. I originally wrote off as “too cutesy” for want of a better phrase. It seems to suit daughter and be nice-ish to say frequently when trying out.

Phoebe is a long-term like for partner and I. Love the meaning and just found out it’s also the name of a type of bird which enhances it’s meaning for me more so. But I’m sadly not a fan of nickname Pheebs. I seem to feel inclined to shorten/adjust the name slightly when trying out, despite knowing this! A local friend of friend went with this name for their new daughter a few weeks before our baby arrived. She wouldn’t mind if we still went with it -turns out we have very similar taste. Worry we may regret not using this name in some way. Also aware we may hear it quite a bit due to the above so need to be prepared for that either way.

Freya is a name I’ve always liked/been intrigued by. I have a close friend with this name. She was the first Freya I met (approximately 20 years ago). She wouldn’t mind if we had a baby Freya. My partner isn’t so keen on this one.

I’m based in the UK, a little outside London in case helpful context.

Choose the name that is in your heart. You will know which one this is. I did not do this (baby now 1) and have major regret :(. From your post It seems like Phoebe is THE name. You could use the nickname P? Or even B/Bee/Bea? But don’t let strangers on the internet choose for you - or anyone else (including partner as you have now narrowed down ones you both like) for that matter! CONGRATS! Xxx

If your partner is not keen on Freya and you have two options you both like otherwise, I'd rule out Freya.

I personally like both Phoebe and Elsie although I seem to know more young Elsies than I know young Phoebes if popularity matters?

I don't think Phoebe will automatically get shortened to Pheebs but perhaps I'm wrong.

I like Phoebe the best.

Loads of little Elsie's, Evie's etc in schools these days.

I've always preferred Phoebe from your list and it was on my list.

But Freya is a name I've loved the past few years and Elsie is lovely

Freya is my favourite, but I don’t think you should call her that if your partner isn’t keen on it.

Elsie is lovely.

I don’t like Phoebe at all, but I’m clearly in the minority because it’s always very popular on these threads and in real life.

I prefer Freya, but I'm biased as I have a wonderful one 🥰

I do like Elsie, though not for my own child as none of my children have what I'd call old fashioned names. Phoebe reminds me of something I'd name a rabbit/dog/gerbil etc - basically a pet's name - not sure why.

I love Freya. It sounds beautiful and means happiness.

Elsa or Elise with Elsie as nickname/known by.

Elsie is too cute and girly for me on and adult woman I'm afraid.

I prefer Freya but if you’re leaning towards Elsie, Elsa is an alternative. Etta is also rare, easy to spell and say. Iris and Imogen are also lovely and Imo is a nice abbreviation

I wouldn't worry about Elsie being an old lady name, there are numerous Elsies in the school in which I teach. The name seems to be on somewhat of an upward trend.

Elsie is lovely. We have an Imogen & Eloise (probably why I like Elsie the most) not so keen on Phoebe or Freya though. Good luck with whatever you choose!

I like Elsie - lovely name. Currently 3 Phoebe’s in my small school (I’m a teacher) but don’t dislike the name it just wouldn’t be my choice. Freya is quite nice too. But Elsie gets my vote.

ultimately, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, you just need to go with what feels right and what suits your little girl! congratulations on your new arrival!

Betty
Violet
Evette
Edith
Irene
Mabel

I prefer Freya of all the names.

I dislike Elsie because it is imo too cutesy.
As a nickname for Elspeth or Elizabeth it wouldn't be too awful, but I think you should consider giving DD an alternative if she finds cute abbreviations don't suit her.

I'm with you on Pheebs. Dreadful, and probably unavoidable.

Elsie is definitely 'old lady' - hence its popularity along with all the other old lady names like Ivy, Iris, Ada, Adelaide, Eve, Archie, Alfie, etc.

Phoebe!! I wanted to name my daughter this but it really doesn’t go with surname!

Also, loads of Elsie’s and Freya’s in primary school, not so many Phoebe’s and you’ve liked that one the longest so unlikely to go off it.

Phoebe, without a doubt. Nicknames are out of your control as they grow up, but you just call her Phoebe.

Freya is lovely too.

Elsie is a diminutive, not a full name. I'd never give child a diminutive as their official name, you can abbreviate/cutesify later if you like. But Elsie is also a nice enough name.

Basically, you can't go wrong with any of them!

Have you picked one, OP??

Phoebe

Phoebe gets my vote. I know a couple of Phoebes in their early 20s who are only ever called Phoebe and a 6-yr-old who is known as Phoebe or Bee. I don't know any who are referred to as Pheebs/Pheeb and nor do my teenaged DCs.

It's possible to have a Phoebe and call her just that. If friends call her Feebie-Weebie when she's 15 and she likes it, you'll have to stomach it but it's no more/less likely than Elsie being called Ells or Ells-Bells!

I'd write off Freya because your partner doesn't like it.

It sounds from your post that you both prefer Elsie to Phoebe and are only really unsure because of worrying about other people. It's not their baby, and Elsie is a perfectly normal name.

I'd use Elsie (or a name that obviously shortens to Elsie) and Phoebe as middle name.

They’re all beautiful names! Everyone on here will have their own opinion on which they prefer but that doesn’t really matter - mumsnet posters aren’t a representative sample of the general population and what matters is what you and your partner love.

Your partner doesn’t love Freya so I’d rule that out. You said you’ve only thought about Elsie in the last couple of days whereas you’ve always loved Phoebe and worry you’ll regret not using it. Whereas you have some doubts about Elsie being an old lady name. Elsie was an old lady name that’s now come back round - so people without young children might see it that way, people with young children will know young Elsies and won’t and as your DD grows up it won’t be seen that way.

But ultimately Phoebe is the most timeless, classic name of the three (it hasn’t come in and out as Elsie has) and it’s stood the test of time for you both as you’ve both always loved it. As others have said you can establish a NN you like (fee, fifi, bee) from when she’s small and she and others will naturally use that.

Freya by a country mile!

Have you tried calling the names out the back door? Pretend you're calling her inside from playing. Whichever one sounds right makes it. I gave my DD 1 first name and 2 middle names. I called her by the first name for months, then realized it didn't suit her as well as one of the middle names. She knows her full name now but I only call her by the middle name. I should have said it out loud more before I decided.

My daughter is called Freya Elise ❤️

Elise rather than Elsie