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Original poster

So we've chosen our name then found out a friend who's just had her baby has already taken it? what to do?

153 replies

mrswee · 29/08/2009 14:47

Found out this morning that our chosen name that we are dead set on has already been taken by a friend who has just had her baby.

It's not an overly popular name. Our friend didn't know we had it in mind it's just a total coincidence, she doesn't live in the same city but has lots of mutal friends with us and is hoping to move back here soon.
Our baby is due in a month so they will be very close in age.

so do you think we can still use the name??

thanks!

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GColdtimer · 30/08/2009 11:44

Thing is, in my postnatal group there are 3 children called Oliver so you can never guarantee there won't be another child with the same name in your friendship group.

We just differentiate by saying Ollie T, etc (or really embarrasingly in DD's case, White Ollie or Black Ollie but that was another thread )

FrameyMcFrame · 30/08/2009 12:22

Elsie is my middle name!!!

I have to say I have hated it all my life and been embarassed by it but now it is becoming popular again I am starting to think diffefntly.

LittleWhiteWolf · 30/08/2009 12:33

I really like the name Elsie so if your hearts set on it go for it.
The only thing I would say (not to be mean) is that its actually really gaining in popularity--I know of 3 baby Elsies this year. If you are after an unusual name, this might not be it...

Fiver · 30/08/2009 13:11

I don't understand why people suggest Elise as an alternative to Elsie. It's a completely different name and even though they both contain the same letters, they sound completely different.

Elsie is much nicer IMO. I'd go with it if you like it that much.

piscesmoon · 30/08/2009 14:37

I think they are suggesting Elise because it is much nicer! I should rethink-then one day you can tell your DD how she nearly came to be called Elsie and she will be very grateful that the friend saved her!
Elsa is better although it makes me think of the lioness. Eliza is lovely or Eloise.

Anya4 · 30/08/2009 16:51

How about Elsa ?

LadyHooHa · 30/08/2009 16:52

Have you read What Katy Did? That might put you off Elsie!

The fact that your friend's DD is Elsie suggests that it's going to become common. It could in any case be a name that seems sweet now, but might not seem quite such a good idea in years to come.

MaggieLeo · 30/08/2009 19:01

Yes LadyHooHa the fact that two friends indpendently of eachother both settled on Elsie shows that it's no longer going to be rare.

So, if part of what you like is that it's extremely unusual, then you mgiht end up being disappointed. Where I lived 7 years ago (before I moved out of london) all the children were called Elsa, Edie, Margot, Dulcie, Lois, Hazel etc etc...) so Elsie/Elsa has been on the up for 7 years now.

That would be my guess.

Do you have any other choices at all, run them past us?

piscesmoon · 30/08/2009 19:06

I think that Elsie is going to be the new Ruby and something to be avoided-in 5 yrs infant classes will be full of them!

LadyHooHa · 30/08/2009 19:22

Yes, go on - what are your alternatives, MrsWee?

SadCatlady · 30/08/2009 20:20

IMO Elise beats Elsie hands down.

Elsie is sweet, old fashioned and girly but for me, it's also a bit wimpy and drippy. I also think it's a case of "emporer's new clothes" ie because it's popular, people are overlooking the fact it's a bit clumsy and doesn't have either va-va voom or elegance.

Whereas Elise is modern yet timeless, elegant (french connection), pretty, girly yet grown-up.

I would be GUTTED to find out I could have been an Elise and was called Elsie instead!

malung · 30/08/2009 20:57

Well put SCL. Elise is sooooo much better than Elsie.

Elise is beautiful, soft and cultured.
Elsie is not any of those.

ducdo · 30/08/2009 21:19

I love the name Elsie, if you do too then stick with it x

TiggyR · 30/08/2009 21:27

Of course you can use it, no-one has exclusive rights on a name! But, the thing to bear in mind is that whilst you may think it's a huge co-incidence, even supposedly 'unusual' names have a habit of becoming ubiquitous. Elsie is actually very 'of the moment' and neither of you are being that unique, sorry to say. Which means that dozens of other people in the area will be liking the same name.......

In the end, it comes down to whether that matters to you or not.

Leeka · 30/08/2009 21:50

Elise is a car...

Original poster
mrswee · 30/08/2009 22:18

hi everyone. Just got a right fright when I saw this was a discussion of the day!! I hope my friend is not reading it!

We don't have any alternatives at the moment but that does not mean there won't be any!

I live in Scotland and Elsie is not really very popular as a name here. I didn't realise how popular it was in England, but it seems it is becoming so.
I always thought of it as more of an English name but apparently it was popular in Scotland first during the 17th century as a name in it's own right, rather than a shortening.
I am not looking for something totally unique or very unusual, if I was I would have a good list of names at the ready!!

I do quite like Elsa and Elodie but my DH does not! We both have family connections to the name Elsie too.

I think we are going to wait until we meet our little girl, to make a final call on it, keep searching for alternatives in the mean time and if we keep coming back to Elsie then Elsie it is!

OP posts:
disneystar1 · 30/08/2009 22:48

i think you should use it, my friend had her baby alfie 2 weeks before my son was born i felt i shouldnt use it which was silly of me really
so we called him samuel and our new kitten alfie, and boy is alfie popular now, i guess samuel is too but it so suits him.

seeker · 30/08/2009 22:55

What about Edith instead? Similar "feel".

IdontMN2makecopyforlazyjournos · 30/08/2009 22:58

Elsie? Good Lord. That was my Nan's name. People will be calling their children Norman next.

Don't do it. Consider your friend's choice a lucky escape.

sparklycheerymummy · 30/08/2009 23:51

gofor it.... i am having this dilema with a mum who is due same week as me and we both want it..... i have acted cool and just said hey wouldnt it be funny if we ended up with 2!!!

scottishmummy · 31/08/2009 00:35

bemused all this tippy toeing.if you like it use it.no one has dibs on any name
how else do you think think there are so many
oliver's

ruby
Olivia
popular names sure to be replicated names.bet they didn't all ask someone

thirtypence · 31/08/2009 00:59

I'm amazed that Elsie has come back. Not met an Elsie's here in NZ - but will look out.

I have 4 Mia/Myah/Mya/Miah in one class of 12 BTW. And 3 Sophies in another. Your friend could well end up with another Elsie in the same class at school, so you calling your dd Elsie isn't going to make a lot of difference.

Tambajam · 31/08/2009 07:39

I really like Elsie but it is definitely having a mini boom. I am a bf counsellor and have met 3 tiny Elsies this year locally and have a friend with another.
I think you can definitely still use it if you want to.

rosietoes · 31/08/2009 08:32

My Nana's name was Elsie. She ALWAYS called herself Kay. In fact, wasn't till I was 22 I even knew that wasn't her name!!

Friend with DC same name, not an issue. My cousin used our chosen name. Then we chose another and ILs chavie neighbour called DC by same name.
so it was back to baby name book...

jellybeans · 31/08/2009 08:37

I would choose another name. My 2 cousins have the same name and I always thought it was abit copying/bordering on rude to use the same name. There were loads of names we liked but had to abandon as someone else used it. Maybe different for friends though.

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