okay, this is absolutely going to sound insane. I know it does but I think it’s funny as hell and I know my mom would get a kick out of it and it’d 100% be the best name story ever.
anyway, my mom and I are kind of amateur true crime sleuths. and the main case we talk about is [name_u]Jack[/name_u] the Ripper. we have literally talked about it for hours who could have done it (we think [name_u]Prince[/name_u] [name_m]Albert[/name_m] [name_m]Victor[/name_m] did it).
well, one of the victims was named [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], I love the name [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], but my cousin who is like a sister to me is named [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] so I would feel kind of odd using it even though i have about a million [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] combos. but I think [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] could work and if I explained it to my mom I think she would love it.
what do you guys think? me and my mom’s Jack-The-Ripper talks have been what has gotten me through the last few years so I think it would be kind of funny and sweet and I just love the name [name_f]Elsie[/name_f].
I think [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is a very sweet name! The meaning behind it is important to you, and this is a name that reminds us you of your mom. And most importantly, you mentioned that the conversations you’ve had with her have gotten you through some tough times. The connection may only make since to the two of you, but honestly that’s perfectly fine!
I say go for it! [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is such a cute name.
I’d absolutely go for [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] if you love it - I love it too. [name_u]Loving[/name_u] a name is plenty enough reason to use it.
But, while I love honour names, names with meaning, stretchy honours… the stretch on this one is just a bit too far for me? Like you could use the name, definitely, but I’d find it hard to consider it an honour name.
For me part of an honour name is being able to explain to my child why I chose that name, who it honours, how it honours them… and “you’re named after a victim of Jack-the-Ripper”… yeh, I’m not sure my child would appreciate it?
trust me, if their my kid, there is a 95% they’d find it hilarious, and there’s a cool story behind it, unlike my name where it was only chosen because my mom was sick of my dad suggesting names like [name_f]Hortense[/name_f].
and it is an honor name to me because it got me through some really hard times, the last few years have been a living hell for me and our hours long conversations, going through police documents, corners reports, have been a much needed distraction. so giving that name to my kid would be acknowledging everything happened, but saying that it doesn’t define those years and that this kid is the start of a completely new book.
I hear what you’re saying, I’d just perhaps be mindful of at which age you discuss her name with her - she’ll be a 4 year old and 8 year old etc before she’s an adult, and prostitution and serial killing are very heavy subjects. I also find it a bit disturbing that Wikipedia has a mortuary photo of the victim.
I can tell my 4 year old she’s named after my grandmother who I adored right now, which I quite like, rather than thinking of it as news I might share with her when she’s older. Perhaps it’s an honour name that just stays special between your Mum and you, rather than sharing it with others or your child (at least until she’s an adult?)
And while I see what you mean about your child very likely finding it funny, I think it’s important to also remember that our children are their own people, not carbon copies of us. There will be many ways in which she’s like you, but also many in which she’s a bit different. And even if she DOES share your awesome quirky humour, she might not appreciate that humour about something so personal and life-long as her name?
If she’s like 4 I’d just tell her that her name is after her grandmother, and then when she’s older explain the meaning behind her name, or just not and leave a video in my will about the meaning behind her name.
also, it’s one of the few things I share with my mom, we’re very different, I’m much more like my dad, so it’s important to me that my daughter has something that represents something that is important to me and my mom.
Very interesting story, and I love the name [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]. I do agree that you may have to wait until she’s older to explain the story behind her name.
Y’all are wrong, though. It was definitely [name_u]Charles[/name_u] Lechmere.
elsie is a lovely name, and it’s wonderful that you want to honor your mom!
this is so well-put. i have to agree with Kiriko here. i feel like it is quite a heavy topic to be named after, especially considering this woman was a victim. perhaps Jack or another Jack-related name might be more appropriate?
I’m really in love with [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] and it feels wrong to use [name_u]Jack[/name_u] as the name since it was the killers name. i would rather use a victim name then the killer name.
I also agree with this. My siblings and I are pretty different from each other, and pretty distinct from our mom as well. Same with my husband’s family, where each of the 5 kids in the family are very distinct, and while they do share some similarities and common interests with each other and their parents, they are still pretty different from their parents. Then thinking about you and your siblings compared to your parents, I am sure you are all pretty different as well even though you have a lot of shared DNA. I think this is an important thing to keep in mind. While I do think Elsie is a super cute name, I think the circumstances could make it a name that not every person would appreciate having.
I think it’s great that you want to honor your mom in a way that’s special to you both, but I think a different approach might be best because of how heavy and gruesome the topic at hand is. A middle name of Elsie might be better, but I’m still not sure I would be on board with it.
I think [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is what you love and what you’ll probably stick with. But if you wanted other options for honouring your Mum… it seems like what you and your Mum really bonded over was the problem solving, the puzzle, the detective work? So some options that are neither murderer nor victim:
[name_u]Shirley[/name_u], [name_f]Sherri[/name_f], [name_f]Cherie[/name_f] (After [name_m]Sherlock[/name_m] [name_m]Holmes[/name_m], just be aware that [name_f]Sherry[/name_f] spelt that way is also a type of alcohol!)
[name_f]Nancy[/name_f] (After [name_f]Nancy[/name_f] Drew)
[name_f]Enigma[/name_f] (pretty out there as a name though!)
[name_u]Or[/name_u] names meaning things like clever, wise, advisor, truth:
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f]
[name_f]Sonia[/name_f]
[name_u]Sage[/name_u]
[name_f]Monica[/name_f]
[name_f]Monique[/name_f]
[name_f]Athena[/name_f] (though a friend told me it’s a bit like naming your son Zeus!)
[name_f]Alethea[/name_f]
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f]
[name_f]Verity[/name_f]
[name_u]Or[/name_u] [name_f]Alice[/name_f] or something after a real detective?: Top ten real life detectives
it was actually the jack the ripper case we bonded over, every other crime thing we try to do together ends with us not talking for a week so a name involved with the case is kind of important
Ha! I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on the ripper, (Lechmere at the scene of the crime at the the supposed time it was committed.) BUT we can agree that [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is a beautiful name and a lovely way to honor your mother and your shared love. Also, how wonderful that you and your mother have that to share, and I’m glad you’ve had this fascinating story to fall back upon during your rough times. I do hope things are better for you.
maybe that’s just me
