I think [name_u]Elisha[/name_u] is such a stretch to honour a [name_f]Sheila[/name_f], even though it is a really nice name (for a boy)… to me naming a baby after a person is using the original name or a variant of it, or possibly the same initials (SG in this case). It’s more a both “the person” than about the name [name_f]IMO[/name_f].
This. I could tell straightaway that it was all the letters in her FN rearranged, but I don’t like it for a girl at all. eh-LIE-shah/ee-LIE-shah doesn’t sound feminine to me at all, and it just looks masculine to me. If I was growing up a [name_m]Christian[/name_m] (which I assume your children will be, since you like the meaning of [name_u]Elisha[/name_u]?), I don’t think I’d want the association to such a rough-and-tough guy. I mean, don’t get me wrong, [name_u]Elisha[/name_u] was a great prophet of God, and he did a lot of great things, and he had great faith, but he’s a guy. And he was pretty disturbingly he-man at times. I don’t get the appeal of [name_u]Elisha[/name_u] on a girl at all, and I’ve only ever known boys with the name [name_u]Elisha[/name_u]. But I know most people seem to see it as a girls’ name now, so I expect from non-Christians you’ll get a pretty positive response. I think it’s generally pronounced like [name_f]Alicia[/name_f]–eh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-shah. Which, I never would have gotten, but that seems to be the general consensus. [name_f]Amity[/name_f] [name_u]Elisha[/name_u]… I don’t know, I’m really biased. The styles totally clash for me. But then again, I have very strong associations with [name_u]Elisha[/name_u].
I’ve only ever taught or known girls named [name_u]Elisha[/name_u] - pronounced “[name_f]El[/name_f]-ee-sha” boys have always been spelt [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] - pronounced “Ee-lie-ja/[name_f]El[/name_f]-eye-sha”? Depends where you are from though?
I’m Jewish, and pronounce biblical names in Hebrew. So to me, [name_u]Elisha[/name_u] is pronounced Eh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-sha. I actually didn’t realize that anyone pronounced it differently, although I usually am aware of that kind of thing!
So while it’s definitely a boys’ name to me, the pronunciation I’m accustomed to sounds feminine to American ears - like [name_f]Alisha[/name_f] or [name_f]Alicia[/name_f]. So I’m ok with it if it’s pronounced that way.