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

Elsie?? Old woman's name or pretty name?

110 replies

xxhunnyxx · 23/03/2009 14:00

Just thought I'd ask opinions on this.
I heard that James Morrison has named his little girl Elsie and I was thinking if you actually disassiociate it with being an old woman's name it is a really pretty name.
15/16 years ago when my sister was named Grace there was a lot of comments on the lines of 'oh that's ermmm...an unusual name these days' and now it's one of the most popular girls names.
Is Elsie making a come back or would I be subjecting my daughter to a life time of cruel old biddy comments?

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tummytickler · 01/10/2009 10:00

I think Elsie is lovely - but defo having a comeback - I know 2 born this year and my cousins dd aged 6 is called Elsie.
I like old lady names - both my dd's have granny names - but then Grannys have every name there is, I am sure there are plenty of old ladies called Elise too

mrswoolf · 01/10/2009 10:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorldofSab · 01/10/2009 10:28

I think it's a really pretty name

simplesusan · 01/10/2009 11:44

I think it will make a come back just like Emily and grace have.
X

Rachybabes · 02/10/2009 20:49

I do lie it but prefer traditional names like Alice....beautiful yet timelss and less old lady ish...more old lady chic xx

halfcut · 02/10/2009 20:50

I think its awful

Mamazon · 02/10/2009 20:52

It is the intended name for a friend of mine's bump. i like it

Pingpong · 02/10/2009 20:53

It is one of the few old lady names that I do like!
I would use Elizabeth or Elspeth on birth cert and use Elsie as nn.
I don't like Elise - sounds totally different but do like Elsa and Aisla.

alypaly · 02/10/2009 21:06

i like ellie but find elsie a bit old fashioned. |It reminds me of elsie tanner from coronation street..sorry!

pseudscorner · 02/10/2009 22:02

Love Elsie. And Elsa too. I think they're good names on their own, or as nicknames for Elisabeth or Elspeth.

I don't like Elise though - agree with Smac, it sounds totally different and not as pretty.

halfcut · 02/10/2009 22:35

I can't imagine a baby or a teenager called elsie ...Reminds me of hairnets and curlers

alypaly · 02/10/2009 23:53

elsa reminds me of lions in born free....its quite nice though!!!!!!!

Cortina · 03/10/2009 07:05

When the older Elsies are no longer with us then this name will become more popular.

That's how it seems to go to me.

Take Violet, to my Mother's generation Violet is an old woman, an old aunty etc. Many had a Violet for a grandmother. Most of the 'older' Violets were pre First World War (born around the mid to late 1880s).

To our generation we generally don't know an older Violet so we don't perceive it as a 'granny' name in way we might Elsie (although this was around in the 1880s too it seems to have been popular for longer).

Perhaps the same a bit with Iris? Think this 'should' be more popular but most of us know a late middle aged Iris so don't think of it without the middle aged association a bit? When all the older ladies called Iris are generally no longer with us it will go up dramatically in popularity.

Same with Maud. Suddenly much more popular. Not many older Mauds still alive? 'Come into the garden, Maud', etc were all a long time ago...

bubblagirl · 03/10/2009 07:19

i was given an old name and no one has ever really commented on it at all probably because i suit my name when i had my son another baby was called my name and first time i had heard of a little one with my name
these names are definitely coming back i love all the older names obviously

girlsyearapart · 03/10/2009 07:28

I like Elsie.

Had same as ten10 but with the name Maisie.
Wasn't sure aboit it but now dd1s 2nd cousin who is her best friend is called that and she's such a sweetheart now i love the name.

tummytickler · 04/10/2009 19:53

I wouldn'y say Maude was suddenly much more popular - there were only 4 born last year! (and 2 Hildas!) - that is not popular surely!

TotallyUnheardOf · 04/10/2009 20:25

My dd is Ellen and I call her Elsie for short. I love it!

girlsyearapart · 05/10/2009 06:43

Totally- that's my name though only ever shortened to El. You don't hear it much!

Cortina · 05/10/2009 08:11

Hi Tummytickler, that's interesting I know of quite a few suddenly. It's funny how names seem to enter our 'consciousness' and then suddenly they are in the top 50.

I predict a few others that might be on the rise (Arlo for one). The whole naming business is fascinating I think.

LeonieBooCreepy · 05/10/2009 08:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

woollyjo · 05/10/2009 13:04

Love it, love it, love it - have never been able to convince DH though

sheeplikessleep · 05/10/2009 13:07

Same as Woollyjo - I love the name and have been trying to convince DH for the last few months if our bump is a girl. But likewise, he doesn't like it

lucysnowe · 05/10/2009 13:25

A friend has girl twins named Elsie and Evie - v. v. cute I think.

lucysnowe · 05/10/2009 13:25

A friend has girl twins named Elsie and Evie - v. v. cute I think.

anchovies · 05/10/2009 13:29

I like Elsie, have a friend called Ailsa which I also really like

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