Patrick or Elliot?

[Tozzie]

Just that really!

We’re slightly leaning towards Elliot but read in a few threads on here that it’s a bit of a ‘naughty’ name which I’d never thought of before. Are they potentially also both a bit outdated?! I can’t tell if I’m just getting in my head about this now!

We also already have a little girl called Nora

Nora and Patrick sound great

Noooo not can’t name a baby after Patrick Star from SpongeBob. Don’t like that at all and Paddy is not nice either. I love Elliot though! But do agree that it has to go with a short surname ideally

Patrick
Elliot is also fine.

Thanks for all the feedback! I’m now more confused than ever (or maybe should just realise that not everyone likes the same things!) but we are still leaning towards Elliot I think

Patrick.

Elliott is a surname to me same as Harrison, Jackson, Archer etc and I never liked the surname as firstname thing.

Patrick is also a surname. Most forenames are also surnames. Elliot (nor Patrick) are of the Harrison ilk, Harrison, Jackson etc are names that started off as forenames, became surnames (‘son of’) and have come around again as forenames, popular in the US, Elliot is not one of those.

Just shows how subjective it is. To my ear, as I said, Elliott is definitely in that camp. Same as Carter, Jackson etc. Might not be its origins but that's where it sounds to me.

Patrick

My feelings exactly!

Well you’re spelling it wrong like the surname for starters! Google tells me it’s been around as a forename since the 1800s, so I think it’s been long established now! It’s not really subjective, it’s your opinion, but it’s wrong and not factually correct.

It sounds like a surname. That is my, entirely subjective, opinion. Might not be an opinion you share but it's not wrong, it's how it sounds to me.

Same as I think Quinn is a dreadful name because it makes me think of quim and I don't know why you'd name any child something that sounds like a Tudor word for vagina. Factually there is of course no link, doesn't stop it sounding like that to me.

Patrick with Paddy as the diminutive.

Patrick

I have an Elliot so am biased. Lovely name.

I don't see Elliot as a "naughty boy" name but more just a little dated - like Gavin or Justin.

I like a PP's suggestion of Eric though. Cool, go with that.

James is a common surname, but I don't think anyone would argue that's not a first name. Henry too, and Alexander, George, Thomas, Charles etc. There's lots of examples.

Yes some names definitely do feel more 'surname than first name' but Elliot has never struck me as one of them, personally. Especially spelt with one t, the surname is usually Elliott.

Fair enough. Doesn't stop it sounding surnamey to me. The number of ts always confuses me whether it is used as a firstname or surname. I have a friend with an E(l)liot(t) and I can never remember how many ls or ts he chose to put in it.

Patrick