do you think it's cruel...

[MaElsie]

...to call a child Elijah? What does it say to you - "unusual but nice", "pretentious" or "very very unfortunate"? Does Elijah Wood make it acceptable these days?

It's one of those names I really like in theory (strong, manly, the kind of name you say with feeling in a deep voice), but am not sure about in practice!

Also, can you think of anything nice it could be shortened to?

I think it depends on your cultural connections, personally. I would steer clear as I'm not Jewish, and it would feel pretentious to me. A bit like people with absolutely no Irish connections picking names like Aoife etc. But I'm sure not everyone would agree, and it is a lovely name.

Quite like it actually, would be shortened to Eli I would think.

We're not Jewish, but are Christian, so there is a connection.

Eli is what I thought, but it just makes me think of that short-sighted guy in Last of the Summer Wine!

Ds2 was going to be Elijah,but we agreed that it sounded too biblical for us and we also didn't like the shortening of Eli.
Love the name though.

I have a friend called Elias, Eli, which i really like

Why not? Perfectly good name.

Loads of names are biblical though aren't they? Lots of really every day names.

I was under the impression that generally Christians use the New Testament names, tbh, especially for boys. Perhaps that's because I was brought up Catholic though, and they tend to use Saints' names.

I think its lovely and not at all pretentious.

Its a biblical name but many names are. I dont think its the same as choosing a complicated Irish name if you are not Irish (although if thats what people want to do why not?). It may be in the JudeoChristian tradition but that doesnt make it a Jewish or Christian name.

If you like it you should use it.

As tinker says lots of everyday (even 'chav') names are from the bible.

uhm, no not cruel at all. I have an Elijah, as in the prophet, not the actor, and he is shortened to Eli.

I love the name Elijah

There were some characters in the James Herriot books that were named after whole chapters of the Old Testament - now I think even I would baulk at that!

Lamentations Smith

Nah, never heard of it

love it and agrre would be eli which id lovely too. xx

I don't think he'd be out of place in SW London as an Elijah or an Eli. Nor would he be one of ten Elijahs at nursery school - if you're looking for a "proper" name which is not too popular I think it fits the bill.

BoF

I went to a church where scriptures were not overly relied on. My memories of the OT come from Sunday School in the early 70s!

I don't like it....

I don't like any boys names that start with 'ell' though. too feminine. what do you shorten it to?

and Elijah/? too bible. I mean Reuben I love. Ethan, Jacob, fine. But Zebedee, Ebenezer and Elijah... too hard core bible for my taste.

I dont think it is cruel at all. My ds is nearly 7 and called Elijah - we call him Eli (again prophet, not Wood!), nobody has ever said we are evil parents!
It is a known name, but is not too popular - i love it!

I desperately wanted to call ds3 elijah. I'm still sad about it

I know someone with a ds called Elijah ,i think it is a lovely name.

I really like it - and Eli is a cool nn IMO.

I know someone with a DS called Elijah (not shortened). She is a Christian. I was a bit at first, but now i've got used to it i rather like the name. It becomes the child and doesn't sound too pretentious. Maybe Elijah is the new Seth? (now that Seths are everywhere?) or the new Reuben (ditto)

It says Mendlessohns oratorio to me but that's probably an unusual reaction

Cruel? Elijah?

Perhaps I am missing something.

It sounds like a perfectly reasonable name to me.