Elkin or Elkan

Is there a better or worse spelling here?

Are they both okay-ish looking? Like, even if you wouldn’t use them, would you just be thinking “meh” or would you be thinking “that poor child!”

I thiiiink I like it but I’ve only really discussed it with one person who is so into it that I’m not sure what other people would think of it.

This is too rambly to be a poll. [name_m]Just[/name_m] tell me your impressions.

[name_f]My[/name_f] preferred spelling is Elkin.

To be honest, I’m not liking it. And though I love nature and word names, I can’t get past the heavy image of ‘Elk’ in it. I’m not sure, but I think it also has too heavy a sound for my liking or something.

I don’t care for it, I think it’s partially due to the “elk” part of the name. I do prefer the Elkin spelling though.

Oof. Thanks for the honesty.

It looks like if I had to do it, Elkin is the way to go, but nobody is sure I should really do it at all.

I’m not sure either.

I did know an “Elkie” growing up who wore it well, but it’s very uncommon as a nickname.

It’d be a nod to my grandfather’s name but it’s rather roundabout and I can’t decide if it’s any better/less eccentric than more direct nods.

Does Elkin sound more modern than picks like [name_m]Harvey[/name_m] or [name_m]Heath[/name_m]? Or more old-fashioned? I can’t even decide on that!

I honestly cannot decide…
It isn’t an awful name, but I wouldn’t personally use it…
Elkan or Elkin… I like the LOOK of Elkan better, but Elkin looks more “real” if that makes sense.
Elkin would have the easier option of Kin if he dislikes the name.
The “Elk” part is sort of iffy.

Elkin does sound more modern than [name_m]Harvey[/name_m] and [name_m]Heath[/name_m].

Elkin reminds me too much of [name_m]Elven[/name_m]. So maybe if you like [name_m]Lord[/name_m] of the Rings?

Ooh, I like [name_m]Harvey[/name_m] or [name_m]Heath[/name_m] much better than Elkin! It’s a little out there for me…maybe better fit for Middle [name_f]Earth[/name_f]?

Makes me think of the Yiddish girl name [name_f]Elka[/name_f]. I know a few little girls named [name_f]Elka[/name_f] and Elkie, and while at first it was a shocker, it is growing on me more and more since those girls are so incredibly adorable.

If you’ve got frum relatives, you’d get a lot of ‘You mean like [name_f]Elka[/name_f] but for a boy?!’

I don’t mind it, I actually think its kind of cool… definitely prefer the Elkin spelling. Although I do prefer [name_m]Harvey[/name_m]!

Elkanah is a Hebrew name from the Bible so Elkan looks like a short form of it. Neither Elkin or Elkan appeal to me.

I know a few [name_f]Elke[/name_f]/Elkas who are girls, yeah.

I’ve known a frum male Elkie, he was an Elchanan. Which I cannot convince my husband of, either Elchanan or Elkhanan, even as a middle name. :frowning:

I like [name_u]Micha[/name_u]'s suggestion of Elkana. That would be really cool for his Hebrew name. I like off-the-beaten-track biblical names. Elkana is a good one.