I’m having my first child in February - a girl. My husband and I love the name [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. We like traditional names and we like that this is gaining in popularity, but is not too popular or overused right now. We also love that it has so many cute nicknames. We have been trying to keep the name mostly to ourselves, but early in the pregnancy, I shared with my mom. I really regret this decision. She is very opinionated, and has since told me several times that she hates the name. I just got off the phone with her and she informed me that my daughter will hate the name, because it’s an old lady name, and that she also shared it with my uncle, who also hates it.
I know it’s my decision, but it really bothers me that she hates it, and it’s making me really upset to hear her say these things. Am I crazy to like the name? Is it a name reserved only to little old ladies? I need some reassurance. Any thoughts?
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is beautiful and sweet. I do not feel it is an old lady name any more. Maybe a couple decades ago. I love the nickname [name_f]Nora[/name_f]. Your family does not need to love the name or even like it. I am sure you could tell your mom and uncle your negative comments on some choices they have made or names that they love. Family members do not need to have the same naming style. [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is a wonderful choice.
You’re definitely not crazy for liking [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]! There are quite a few of us [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] fans, truly. My family was talking about [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] the other night actually. I’m lucky in that my mom likes it, but she works with little old people, and two of her favorite little old ladies are both [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. My sister mentioned that she really loved [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], and my mom and I were talking about how we loved [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. Needless to say, it wasn’t received too well with my sisters (they are in total agreement with your mom!), but because my mom and I have beloved ties to [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], we love it (personally, I like the [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u] ties!). Besides, [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is just so sweet and classic, and I agree–a lot of its nns are just wonderful! [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f], and even [name_f]Leni[/name_f] ([name_f]Eleni[/name_f]?) are my favorites, but [name_f]Nora[/name_f]/[name_u]Norrie[/name_u], [name_f]Nell[/name_f], etc. are nice, too.
I can relate on the whole “Your daughter will hate you!” thing, though. My mom has tried that line many a time on many different names I’ve liked. Particularly [name_f]Arianne[/name_f] (“She’ll be called [name_u]Ari[/name_u] the Airhead!”) and [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] (which I thought was particularly quirky, and a perfect blend between modern, and funky international-vintage!). (“Ugh, [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is the ugliest, most old-lady name in the world! Your daughter will hate you forever! She’ll change her name the second she can!” Which, I don’t understand, personally. For years I promised her I would do the same, and I’m [name_u]Ashley[/name_u]. [name_m]Just[/name_m] because my mom doesn’t like a name doesn’t mean my daughter won’t, haha!) At the same time, my mom (bless her!) has made it abundantly clear that any child of mine is just that: my child. She doesn’t want any say in what it gets named, and she promises she’ll love my children despite the crazy names I try to bestow upon them. I can understand you being upset (I’ve gone through periods of really wanting family to be as super excited about a name as I am, only to have them think it’s awful, or pretentious, or old-fashioned, or anything equally icky), but this is your baby. Your mom will come around, and everyone will love little baby [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. She’ll be so beautiful and adorable that people won’t be able to help falling in love with her name as much as they’ve fallen in love with her. [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]'s a winner! I would keep it!
I love the name [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], to me that is a name of a classy and professionally confident woman who would get things done. I’m not sure if you’ve watched the show called “Dollhouse,” but there is a character in the show with that name, which really made the name seem modern in my opinion.
Plus you can use the modern and sleek nn “[name_f]Nora[/name_f],” or the cutesy “[name_f]Ellie[/name_f],” plus a ton more nicknames.
Coming from a mom who has a [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] I absolutely love it and do not at all regret using it, all my girls have traditional names and I love the way the name is one she can grow into and love the nicknames the name comes with. My [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] goes by [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] 99% of the time (unless shes in trouble) I feel its a timeless name that can grow with the child.
If you like the name go for it I have also had people against it but thankfully my husband and I didnt allow them to hinder our decision. I would pick it one hundred times over and couldn’t imagine [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] going by anything else.
I love the name [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. My best friend is also due in February and is considering this name for her little girl!
I believe if you really love the name, no one’s opinion should matter except your own (and your husband’s of course!). It’s disheartening when family members and close friends don’t share the same love you have for a name; but, in the end, it’s YOUR child, and as her mother you will pick the absolute best name for her. Good luck!
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is gorgeous and if you and hubby like it that is all that matters. Sounds like your mother is trying her hardest to put doubts in your mind, but you should just ignore her opinion. She will love her grand daughter, which should help her move on from whatever she thinks of the name choice now.
My mum and dad hated the name my sister chose for her daughter. Now they say they couldn’t imagine her as anything else, and like it. So stick with [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f].
I love [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and would definitely encourage you to use it. It’s strong, feminine but not frilly, a classic that has been used for centuries. I think of [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] of [name_f]Aquitaine[/name_f], who was a brave and clever queen and would be a wonderful person for your daughter to share a name with. Whatever name you choose, there will be people who dislike it- if not your mum, it could be your dad or best friend or whoever, there’s no way to satisfy everyone so just focus on satisfying your husband and yourself. Likewise, there’s no way to predict if your daughter will like it- whatever name you choose, there’s a chance she won’t, but if you teach her how wonderful it is chances are much better than she will!
Good luck! [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]'s beautiful and I’d love to meet one
I absolutely adore the name [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. Your mum has had her turn naming children - it’s totally your turn now!
When they see baby [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]'s smiling face, they won’t even remember that they didn’t like it.
Best of luck!
my two and a half year old daughter is named [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. While pregnant I had plenty of criticism too, which I found amusing and was unphased by. I realize that to people in my parents’ generation (people over age 50), “[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]” to them sounds like “[name_f]Linda[/name_f]”, “[name_f]Deborah[/name_f]”, “[name_f]Brenda[/name_f]”, etc sound to me - tired and old (but not good-old ). To my children & grandchildren, those names will likely sound fresh, charming, and vintage.
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is ADORABLE on my toddler. I am sure there are people who dislike the name, but we receive MANY compliments. We do call her [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] (because I love saying the name. So beautiful), but also call her [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]… which has morphed into [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]-Jellybean, Jellybelly, Bellybean, etc. [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is a name with some really fun nickname options.
My husband was not initially a fan but when I was pregnant, my then two year old daughter ([name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]'s older sis) would try to say the name and it would come out “Eh-[name_m]Nin[/name_m]-Noh”. So Freaking Cute it completely won him over. And now at two herself, this is about how [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] pronounces her own name. Kills me with cute.
I love her name more and more as time goes on. While I can see it is coming back into fashion, just crossing my fingers that it isn’t the next fad name that will sound tired & dated in another forty years! Good luck
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is a beautiful name. Try to remember that it is your baby you are naming not your mothers. I have a friend called [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] who loves her name and goes by [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. If you mother has a big problem with the name [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], I am sure she will be able to find a nickname that she likes. [name_f]Elle[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Nell[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], even [name_f]Anna[/name_f]!
Google [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] [name_m]Davis[/name_m]. She’s a popular lifestyle/mommy blogger who has an adorable toddler named [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. If your mom can’t picture the name on a baby, just show her some of the pics from [name_f]Naomi[/name_f]'s blog - that should change her mind!
Ironically, after getting a negative reception of the name we wanted for our daughter from my mother ([name_u]Wren[/name_u]), we ended up naming our daughter [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], with the nn [name_f]Lena[/name_f]. Sometimes, I wish we had just stayed with [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] rather than the nn because it is such a beautiful name. I always think of [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] of Acquitine when I hear it. It is such a regal, important name. I also really love the spelling [name_f]Elinor[/name_f]. I imagine your mother just doesn’t full get the trends with names now. Old lady names are in and awesome. And, while it isn’t everywhere, I’ve been surprised of how many adorable baby Eleanors I’ve run into. Rest assured, it will be a great name. You will not regret it.
My family was talking about [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] the other night actually. I’m lucky in that my mom likes it, but she works with little old people, and two of her favorite little old ladies are both [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. My sister mentioned that she really loved [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], and my mom and I were talking about how we loved [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. Needless to say, it wasn’t received too well with my sisters (they are in total agreement with your mom!), but because my mom and I have beloved ties to [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], we love it (personally, I like the [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u] ties!). Besides, [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is just so sweet and classic, and I agree–a lot of its nns are just wonderful! [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f], and even [name_f]Leni[/name_f] ([name_f]Eleni[/name_f]?) are my favorites, but [name_f]Nora[/name_f]/[name_u]Norrie[/name_u], [name_f]Nell[/name_f], etc. are nice, too.