We have just named our gorgeous baby daughter [name_f]Elsie[/name_f].
Now I have read that [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is associated with a cow’s name in the US where it is still a brand that they hope to revive.
Already it was so hard to find a girl’s name that works in 3 of our languages and so many girl names are ruined by products or brands.
This was our miracle baby that we concieved through ivf and I would die if we ruined her life.
Those of you living in the US - is [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] really that bad? [name_u]Will[/name_u] everyone associate the name with the cow? [name_u]Will[/name_u] she be bullied? We are based in the UK but I wouldn’t want to limit her life so that she can’t travel or one day live in the US.
I’m not in the US. First time I have head of [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] the cow brand?
[name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is a sweet little name. I’d love to meet an [name_f]Elsie[/name_f].
To be honest you don’t need to care much about the icon of some lesser known brand across the ocean
I think you are overthinking. Don’t worry. I can see absolutely no issue. There are thousands of brands, small or big, with human names and they don’t ruin anybody’s life. I doubt she will ever hear of it during her lifetime. Even if she does, it’s a widely used name where she’s growing up. There will be much more relevant associations.
I’m in the US and did know vaguely about the brand, but it’s really not a big deal! Were your [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] to visit I don’t think she’d even encounter it and I highly doubt anyone would mention it. You chose a beautiful name!!
[name_m]Hi[/name_m], perhaps it would help if you knew the history? [name_f]My[/name_f] great-grandmother and grandmother were the personal cooks to Mr [name_m]Harold[/name_m] [name_u]Comfort[/name_u], who owned the company RCA/Borden. [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] was his mother’s name and thus the symbol of a very successful dairy company which still exists today.
The [name_u]Comfort[/name_u] family were good people, and Mr C (known as [name_m]Hal[/name_m] to family and friends) was a family man who loved his mother. For example, even though I was the granddaughter of his cook, Mr C sent me a cheque for my birthday up until the year he died, when I was at university.
[name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is a great name, and I don’t think being named [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is going to be a source of anxiety here in the States.
Thank you for the history of this. Unfortunately it is not really flattering to have your name associated with a cow, no matter how cute and from a good company.
In my opinion they shouldn’t continue using the name [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] as a brand, the same way as [name_f]Alexa[/name_f] and [name_f]Siri[/name_f] have been ruined.
But glad to hear is not a huge thing. There is a video of [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] DeGeneres making fund of [name_u]Zooey[/name_u] Deschanel’s daughter’s name, calling her a cow. It is quite awful.
But the difference is that Alexa and Siri are familiar to billions of people from all across the world, while the milk is only available in a particular place, plus you call your device Alexa or Siri every day to use while you would never say “I’m drinking a glass of Elsie”!
I’m an American, and while I am familiar with [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] the cow, it’s not my first association. I think [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is a great name!
I live in northeast US and at first I had no idea what cow you were talking about, then upon seeing it I vaguely think I remember it but I definitely would never make that association. I actually know someone who just had a baby a few days ago and named her [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], it’s a pretty common name and not everyone with the name is teased because of some random obscure cow reference. I also think that maybe culture has something to do with why it upsets you so much. I feel like in the UK “cow” is used as an insult somewhat frequently? But in the US cows are typically actually loved and seen as cute and lovable animals. Most brands have human names, or their mascots have human names. I can think of multiple brands off the top of my head that have named cows human names - Breyer’s ice cream, Hershey, etc. I partially think it’s a marketing tactic to sort of make dairy cows seem more like pets to make people want to buy dairy products, but also I’m just not sure what else you’d even name a cow - Spot or Fluffy just don’t seem to fit cows as well as names like [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Elsie[/name_f].
I’m an American and my first thought is the cow, but historically my family owned dairy farms so that’s probably why.
That being said, I’ve known multiple Elsie’s and don’t really think much of it. Most Lucy’s I know are dogs, same with [name_u]Roscoe[/name_u], [name_m]Ralph[/name_m], [name_m]Winston[/name_m], [name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_u]Gus[/name_u], etc. and that doesn’t make those names unusable to me.
I’m in the US and I’ve never heard of [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] the cow I know of [name_m]Borden[/name_m] Dairy, but I’ve never known the cow’s name until now.
US here, I’ve seen the brand but literally had no clue that was the name of the cow, and I used to drink those products on a daily basis. You’re fine, no one will ever associate it with that brand unless but some miracle you meet someone who works there. Especially because you’re across the ocean, you’re absolutely fine, it’d be different if your daughter was Alexa or something but Elsie is never gonna raise eyebrows because of a logo barely anyone knows the name of. Elsie is even in the top 300 in the US so it’s not super uncommon here either. Elsie is adorable and it sounds absolutely perfect for you!!
I am a Canadian living in Northeast US. I knew about [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] being a popular cow’s name in general, there were a lot of dairy farms where I grew up. [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is becoming a popular name in [name_u]America[/name_u] now, though, so I think the consensus is that you are fine and do not worry about it.
I am all about finding out all the possible drawbacks of a name. In this case…
It’s not an issue. At least for me. And I have issues
I had heard of the cow thing before, but even when you’re in the dairy section of any grocery store, you would have to reeeaaally look to find [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] there. It’s about as obscure as they come. And she’s pretty cute if you do find her.
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I know of [name_m]Borden[/name_m] Dairy, but I’ve never known the cow’s name until now.