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Baby names

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

Emily Ruth or Eliza Ruth

41 replies

Red86 · 04/01/2024 08:15

Which name sounds better, Emily or Eliza? I prefer the full name of Elizabeth but have an Elizabeth as a middle name in our family so I'm not sure I should use the full name as a first. Ruth is an honor name.

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theduchessofspork · 04/01/2024 08:17

Elizabeth Ruth nn Eliza

I like Eliza, but Elizabeth is more grown up and elegant and gives her options.

Emily is nice too, but less sophisticated

BaronessBomburst · 04/01/2024 08:18

Eliza Ruth is beautiful!

Strawberrycheesecake7 · 04/01/2024 08:18

I prefer Emily Ruth because it seems more like a complete name. I think of Eliza as a nickname for Elizabeth and don’t really like it on its own. Both names are pretty though.

Outthedoor24 · 04/01/2024 08:19

Emily or Elizabeth,
No reason not to use Elizabeth because its your middle name few people beyond family will know what your middle name is.

DisforDarkChocolate · 04/01/2024 08:21

I love Eliza Ruth.

Red86 · 04/01/2024 08:22

it's the middle name of one of my other children as well...so that's my hesitation. although Eliza in itself is plenty similar

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FayCarew · 04/01/2024 08:31

I think Ruth Elizabeth is the nicest combination.
Emily has been popular a long time and Eliza seems a bit like another Ellie type name and seems unfinished

Theoldwoman · 04/01/2024 08:32

Eliza Ruth

ForensicFlossy · 04/01/2024 08:34

Eliza is beautiful. Emily is nice but so common.

Outthedoor24 · 04/01/2024 08:35

Go Emily, give her a completely different name.

Elizabeth / Eliza stops your other DD from reverting to her middle name, or any of the short versions, if she prefers it when she's older.

ShakesP123 · 04/01/2024 08:36

Eliza Ruth. Sounds more modern and punchy than Elizabeth and Emily is boring.

LightSwerve · 04/01/2024 08:38

Red86 · 04/01/2024 08:22

it's the middle name of one of my other children as well...so that's my hesitation. although Eliza in itself is plenty similar

Do you mean Elizabeth is the middle name of one of your other children?

In that case I don't think you can use Eliza as the first name. There is no actual reason, it just feels like you ran out of ideas!

Onelife2024 · 04/01/2024 08:46

Both are such lovely names. I’d find it hard to choose too! There are more Emily’s around than Eliza’s (in my experience) if that matters to you? I think I’d probably go for Emily though, as it’s one of those names that is very pretty but suits all ages, and although it’s popular, it’s been consistently popular for some time so isn’t faddy. It also avoids the issues with your use of Elizabeth as a middle name for her sister. I’d be very happy to be called Emily, so it passes that test too!

JustMaggie · 04/01/2024 08:50

Ruth is a really beautiful name, why not Ruth Emily?

ouchyoubiteybugger · 04/01/2024 08:53

Don't saddle her with Ruth as a first name, trust me years of teasing and crap await

Red86 · 04/01/2024 08:55

the opinions on Ruth are so polarized hahah. It IS becoming more popular though!

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NonSequentialRhubarb · 04/01/2024 08:57

I like Eliza Ruth. Until this thread, I didn't know it was a nickname for Elizabeth so I don't think you need to go for the "full name". Eliza stands as a name on it's own

I'd actually think it was odd if I met an Elizabeth who went by Eliza. I've never encountered it and to me nicknames are verbal shortenings of how the name sounds out loud not how it looks on paper.

FayCarew · 04/01/2024 08:57

I know quite a few Ruths of different ages and nationalities, and wasn't aware of any teasing.
I think of it as a pleasant enough name and all the Ruths seem really nice.

Namechange4448830938489 · 04/01/2024 08:59

Emily Ruth - my two favourite names!

FayCarew · 04/01/2024 09:01

@NonSequentialRhubarb , it's probably from the times when not many names were in use and names were reused in families. If there were many Elizabeths in a family or neighbourhood, they'd be known by different diminutives.

Diminutives of Elizabeth seem to go through trends. Great-grandma might be Bessie, Granny Betty, Mum Liz, Me Lisa, Daughter Beth, DGD Libby etc

Whiskerson · 04/01/2024 09:01

The question really is Eliza or Emily. Her middle name will rarely be seen or heard, so don't let it influence your choice - that's putting the cart before the horse. So, do you want a daughter called Emily or one called Eliza?

I also don't think it matters that your other daughter has Elizabeth as a middle name - I have known siblings like this, where the same name has been used as one's first name and the other's middle name. So if you prefer Elizabeth to Eliza and Emily, then use Elizabeth.

FayCarew · 04/01/2024 09:04

What @Whiskerson said. Also, which sounds better with the surname - Eliza Redred or Emily Redred?

Red86 · 04/01/2024 09:06

it's really amazing how many diminutives there actually are.. Lots that I had no idea even came from Elizabeth (like Lisa!)

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Red86 · 04/01/2024 09:07

Which now, I regret using a name with such amazing nickname appeal on a middle name, but, didn't think I'd have another daughter to get the chance to use it as a first.

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BaileysAllRound · 04/01/2024 09:10

I'm an Elizabeth so would always vote against that for that reason (HATE my name!)
I prefer Emily Ruth but Eliza Ruth is lovely too and Eliza would be less common than Emily. Emily has been consistently popular for good reason though, solid, classic name.