I’ve been crushing on [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] lately, love her Nordic/German, wintry vibes, and I like her leagues above [name_f]Elsie[/name_f].
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Back before Frozen came out, [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] and [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] equally were on the rise, but after Frozen, [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] well, froze (pardon the pun). [name_f][/name_f] [name_m]Plenty[/name_m] of [name_f]Disney[/name_f] princess names are popular or were at one point (Aurora, [name_f]Ariel[/name_f], [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f], Ana/Anna, even [name_f]Tiana[/name_f], [name_f]Belle[/name_f], etc., are familiar if not popular), so I’m having trouble seeing why [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is so taboo.
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[name_m]Will[/name_m] [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] ever be usable again? [name_f][/name_f] And if not, why not? [name_f][/name_f] Admittedly it’s been years since I saw the first film, and haven’t seen the second, but in my memory [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] was mostly misunderstood and not a true villain?
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I don’t even know that I would use [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] today if I could, but would love further thoughts on this since it’s been a while since I’ve seen an [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] thread around here.
This is so interesting because I can’t exactly pinpoint why it feels less useable than other princess names, other than Frozen likely being the most famous princess related movie of all time, and one of the more recent? (I know it’s over 10 years old now, but compared to others that have been around for decades it’s much newer) [name_f][/name_f]It really is such a beautiful name- I think it’s the name of [name_m]Chris[/name_m] Hemsworth’s wife, so perhaps that helps make it less singular, plus it closely emulates the very popular [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f] and [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f]I would say it is absolutely useable, but you’d have to be brave to use it (which would be fitting as [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is a brave character)
Like @rosajune said, it’s really hard to pinpoint exactly why it feels less usable than the other princess names but it does. I went to school with Auroras, Jasmines, Tianas and Belles and though I probably made the association to the princess, it feels more singular with Elsa. Which I suppose has something to do with it.
I was 9 when the first Frozen came out, so when I was in early primary school, we were all watching Jasmine, Belle, Ariel, Rapunzel etc - so I think there was a lot of variety and everyone had a different favourite princess. But Frozen just exploded, from 2013 to I’d be willing to say now, it’s just had such a hold on kids. I swear every little girl’s favourite princess was either Elsa or Anna (I say this having just asked my 3yr old sister who’s response was Anna despite loving Tangled and Moana) - and that’s a strong hold to have 11 years later because as popular as some movies have been since then (like Encanto for example), I don’t think anything had quite come close.
And even though there are other characters named Elsa, it really does feel singular. Like I grew up watching Power Rangers and I believe there was a villain named Elsa in Dino Thunder. But, like everyone else I assume, if you were to say the name Elsa, my first thought would be Frozen.
I think it could potentially be usable but I also picture A LOT of ‘do you wanna build a snowman’ jokes. That said, I think usability may be still a little ways off, the first movie came out in 2013, the second in 2019 and the third is set to be released in 2027 so I see that unlocking a whole new wave
I think so [name_f][/name_f]- I’ve known a few Elsas [name_f][/name_f]- one in her teens, two adults, and one little [name_f]Elsa[/name_f]. I’m sure Frozen comments might come up but I don’t think that renders in unusable [name_f][/name_f]- plus, having watched the film a grand total of twice, I wouldn’t consider [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] a villain
Ahhh gosh as a mother of a daughter obsessed[name_f][/name_f] with frozen I had to respond!
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[name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is a lovely name and I have met Elsa’s in IRL so for me I do think the name is usable. She’s bright, elegant, has a lovely meaning and has this sunny yellow imagery. Furthermore [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is definitely on the rise (I’ve met tons) so why can’t [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] be a more common feature?
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However [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] will be associated with frozen. When my daughter met a real life [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f] she was incredibly excited and kept referring to frozen. The girl named [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f] was clearly born before the movie was created [name_f][/name_f] as she was around 16 years old. Luckily this [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] thought [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] was sweet and wasn’t bothered by [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] thinking she was in some way related to [name_f]Elsa[/name_f].
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It’s hard to pinpoint why [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] appears to not be usable whereas the likes of [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f], [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] & [name_f]Belle[/name_f] are. [name_f]My[/name_f] thinking is that frozen is just so popular and has remained popular since the creation. Furthermore [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] has always been a rarer name without any popularity of something else associated if that makes sense. For example [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f] is a name that has always been popular along with being a floral name/common scent so you have lots of associations. Similarly [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is also terminology associated with Northern Lights. In relation to [name_f]Belle[/name_f] she’s a popular sound anyways so doesn’t have an overtly strong [name_f]Disney[/name_f] feel. Whereas [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] feels rather singular in comparison so the only association is Frozen. Regarding her character [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] definitely isn’t a villain she’s an amazing character and most frozen enthusiasts would want to be [name_f]Elsa[/name_f]. I know [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] definitely puts on her multiple [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] dresses numerous times a day and when her friends are over they argue over who is going to be [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] today
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Personally I think [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is a sweet name and is usable for a braver namer someone who doesn’t mind the frozen associations!
I don’t see what makes it unusable. [name_m]Plenty[/name_m] of other [name_f]Disney[/name_f] [name_f]Princess[/name_f] names are used, so why not [name_f]Elsa[/name_f]? I really think her association with Frozen is a positive thing rather than a negative. [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is a heroine, after all!
I think [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is perfectly usable! She has familiar, soft sounds and Frozen[name_f][/name_f] is by no means a negative association. I would be thrilled to meet an [name_f]Elsa[/name_f].
I think [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is lovely and perfectly usable if you have no issues with an occasional Frozen reference. I grew up with Frozen and [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is definitely a character adored by many little girls [name_f][/name_f]- however, I’m from a country where [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] isn’t that uncommon, so I don’t know exactly how ‘taboo’ the name feels in other places. [name_f][/name_f]I think it will take some years until [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] does not immediately equal Frozen, but in my opinion it’s mostly a positive association. I know an [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] “Elsa”, which might also be an option similar to the suggested [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].
Thanks everyone! [name_f][/name_f] It’s interesting, just when Frozen was coming out, berries were going “oh, I guess I can’t use [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] anymore” and I never really understood that, since they didn’t even know how much of a thing Frozen would become. [name_f][/name_f] I don’t know that [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is really even my style but I do like it, it feels wintry and even Christmasy, but it’s good to see a refreshed perspective! [name_f][/name_f] She may make an appearance on my list as a middle one of these days. [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Juniper[/name_f] [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] or [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] [name_f]Elsa[/name_f], maybe.
I definitely believe [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is usable. I knew an [name_f]Elsa[/name_f], born circa 2006, so before the movie. She got a lot of references. It’s not a deal breaker though. [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] isn’t a villain and is generally liked.
I know a few people named [name_f]Elsa[/name_f], it’s fairly popular where I live though albeit most were born before Frozen. I do remember one saying she was annoyed by Frozen comments, but that was a few years ago and I feel like it would be less of an issue now that more time has passed. Totally usable imo
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(Also as others have said [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] isn’t a villain, she’s a very well-liked character and people have probably avoided the name because of the association in general, not because it’s an especially negative one)
I absolutely LOVE the name [name_f]Elsa[/name_f]. I think it’ll be the same as [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] and [name_f]Ariel[/name_f] like it’ll kinda remind you of [name_f]Disney[/name_f] a little but it can still stand on its own. [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is also becoming a very popular name.
I agree with previous users that the association will remain strong, but it isn’t negative or a deal breaker in my opinion! I think it is similar to [name_f]Ariel[/name_f], [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f], [name_f]Belle[/name_f], etc. in that it is very tied to the princess, but completely wearable!
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[name_m]An[/name_m] [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] might get some Frozen jokes, but people would quickly associate her name with her as opposed to the character once they meet her.
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I will suggest [name_f]Ilse[/name_f] / [name_f]Ilsa[/name_f] though, one of my favorites!
Ahh, thank you! [name_f][/name_f] I do like [name_f]Ilse[/name_f], but I like [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] and [name_f]Ingrid[/name_f] more than [name_f]Ilse[/name_f] individually. [name_f][/name_f] I think [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] is easier to use in the US than [name_f]Ilse[/name_f], but I do like both. [name_f][/name_f] I also like the [name_m]Danish[/name_m] [name_f]Else[/name_f], but think it would be ridiculously confusing for Americans lol.
