Name similiarities okay?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-28-2005
Name similiarities okay?
7
Thu, 12-14-2006 - 1:42pm

My husband and I have been debating names for a little girl and the most recent one that's come up is Ellie. Just wanting to know, first of all, what you think of this name? Then, my big question is whether it'd be strange because it's so similiar to my name, Kelly?

Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2005
Thu, 12-14-2006 - 6:10pm

Oh, yeah. I'd avoid it because it's so close to your name. It's a bit too cutesie.

Although it's popular right now, what about Ella? That avoids the rhyming problem. Or even Ellen - I don't hear that one a lot.

AJ, enjoying life with C.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2006
Thu, 12-14-2006 - 6:39pm

I agree. Rhyming names are sort of annoying. Also, I've noticed that the closer two names sound the easier it is for other people to say the wrong one. I know it sounds silly, but you'd be surprised how often the wrong name will slip out.

I also think Ella and Ellen are pretty. What about Elle?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Thu, 12-14-2006 - 7:41pm

I tend to agree with the pps ... Ellie is a cutesy nn for Elle, Ella, Ellen, Eleanor, Eliana, Eliora, Gabrielle, Abrielle, etc.

So for me -- and my name is also Kelli LOL -- this wouldn't be a problem, because none of those full names are nearly as similar.

If you simply hadn't thought of that option before, but still feel even the nn Ellie might be too confusing, you could also use the similar Elle or Ella as a nn for most of them, or another nn altogether (if, say, the similar sounds in Ellie and Eliora are appealing, but you prefer shortening it to Liora or Lora -- or no nn at all -- instead).

You might also like some names or nns with other similarities, like Emmie or Emme for Em(m)eline, Emily, Emma or Emerson, or Evie for Eve, Eva, Evelyn, Eveline, Evangeline, Eavan or Genevieve, for example.

HTH

~Kelli


Powered by CGISpy.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2003
Thu, 12-14-2006 - 8:20pm

I think Ellie is too much of a nn to be used as a fn. Ellie and Ella are also amazingly popular around here for babies these days (since so many names can give these nns, Elizabeth, Gabrielle, Elise, Eleanor, Isabelle, etc).

There recently was a poster here asking about the name Evan and concerned because her DH's name was Kevin, sounds like you have a similar problem. I think they do sound too much alike. When she is older and someone calls on the phone asking for Ellie or Kelly they will sound almost identical. Too often they could be confusing IMO.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Fri, 12-15-2006 - 8:00am

I don't think it would be weird seeing as its so close to your name, but I do think it would be weird as a full name. Ellie is a nickname, and a very cutesy one too. Give her something more classy to fall back on:

Eleanor nn Ellie

Elizabeth nn Ellie

Elora nn Ellie

Elzire nn Ellie

Elena/Elaina nn Ellie

Elise nn Ellie

Eliana nn Ellie

even Ella nn Ellie

-Nikki


                             
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2001
Fri, 12-15-2006 - 11:57am
Ellie seems like a nn to me, but I don't think it's too close to your name for it to be an issue. They are completely different names... :-)
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket 
Avatar for haarlasr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 12-15-2006 - 3:33pm

I think Ellie is a little cutesy as a standalone name, but I think it's fine as a nn for Ella, Elle, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Gabrielle, Isabelle, etc.

I also think that Kelly and Ellie would get very confusing. Just in your own home, your DH would be have to be very clear about saying Kelly vs. Ellie. Plus, when she gets older and starts getting phone calls, I think you'll forever be saying, "You'd like to speak to Kelly with a K?"

My brother's name is Jeff, and we only had a couple times where Steph and Jeff were confused b/c my friends learned early on to ask for Stephanie on the phone (even if they called me Steph at other times). At home, my mom always called me Stephanie, and my dad called me Snicks (short for Snickerdoodle ;-) ). Since Jeff was the only one at home who called me Steph, the rhyming nicknames weren't confusing.

As much as you like Ellie, I think it will probably cause more problems than it's worth.

Sorry I couldn't be more positive!
Stephanie, mom to Megan Joy (nn Meg) and Julianna May (nn Annie)