Name Poll

Nickname maybe but if that is her actual given name it leaves her nowhere to go if people do make jokes (which they will as that stupid show will run in reruns forever) and she is uncomfortable.

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My best friend's daughter is named Elizabeth Maegan, and they call her Ellie. I think it's an adorable name and I've never once thought of it as a hillbilly name. I think you're right- not many people in this generation even know who the Beverly Hillbillies were!

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I got the same advice when naming my 2nd son, I wanted to name him Wyatt but everyone said "like Wyatt Earp"? I named him that anyway and then was told that there is a character in "Charmed" named Wyatt too! IMO there will always be others named the same name...you just have to decide how much you like it and how you feel about the others who have had that name before. I have a pretty original name but even I have run across someone else with that name...and lots of other weird remarks, the most popular w/men being "Are you good K. or bad K." and people often sing me the Boy George song...but I still LOVE my name!

I say to tell your friend it is only her choice to make!

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Don't like it at all, JMO

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Hmmm, yah I thought of the Beverly Hillbillies too.
Um, I would not chose that name.
Of course, that show is from a different generation... but, when the child gets older, she WILL know about that tv show, and who that character was... and if it is "flattering" or not, to her. And then I would wonder why the heck, my parents named me that. The tv show, WILL be a point of reference, for her name.... always.

And well, MIL is not the one to 'chose' her name anyway. And she is just being annoying, making a HUGE drama about it.

all the best,
Susan

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It's a *cute name*. That said, I don't necessarily picture a woman with the name of Elly. To me, its a girl's name.... And of course, her daughter will live as a woman for much longer than she will be a girl. Perhaps she can choose a traditional name that can be shortened/nicknamed to Elly or Ellie (like, Elise, Ellen, Ella... or base it on the 'elle' in the last last of Michelle, Gabrielle, Isabelle, Annabelle, etc.)

Of course, I prefer the traditional spelling "Mae" instead of May (like the month).

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It is cute, but she will get made fun of. That can be said, however, about every name. This one is just an easy target. If your friend loves the name, then I'd suggest they embrace the bad and teach their daughter to love and laugh at the original Elly May, maybe even dress her up in baby cut-off's and a tied off shirt for Halloween as an infant. My parents never prepared me for having my name ridiculed and so I was super-upset when I told my mom a friend had called me "M.-Pissy" and my mom yelled at me and told me it was mean and I should feel bad. I was doubly hurt then. I was too young to know "Pissy" wasn't nice and just thought it was cute that it rhymed. Same thing happened with "Sissy" later.
My daughter's name is Piper and we know at some point someone is going to call her "Piper-Diaper" so it's been a family nick-name since she was born. We'd rather her be able to laugh it off if someone calls her that then be hurt by it. I'd do the same for little Elly May!

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I doubt that many people will know the reference to the Beverly Hillbillies. I have certainly heard many names I liked less. Elly sounds like a nickname to me though. I would probably pick a name that sounds like it (Ella, Ellen, etc) and use Elly as a nickname. Besides, someone may give this child a totally unrelated nickname anyway.

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People made names special, no the other way around.
Besides is not her MIL bussiness, I mean, she is the grand ma but at the end she is the MOM.
My middle name is April and I can't tell you all the jokes I was make when I was a kid, but I love my name(s). Also, let me tell you, most people don't even call your kids by their name.
I actually don't like that because I spend months thinking on my 1st. daughters name, I wanted it to be strong, and match with her last name.
I call her Fernanda, and she goes around calling her self FERN!!!!!
UGGG!!! I hate when I go to her school and I ask for Fernanda and everybody tells me, ohh you meant Fern?
Then with my second child my husband got to name our second girl and he name her Alessandra Quinn, I can't even pronounce her middle name, but guess what, no body calls her Alessandra or Quinn.
When they grow up they are probably going to pick the name or nick name they wanted anyway.
PS: I do like Elly May.

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i think its cute only the older ladies will even remember that show. It didnt even cross my mind til you said it and I'm 30. by the time anyone is old enough to tease her about that name they should be old enough that teasing isnt an issue. And if she chooses not to go by both I think elly is a very cute name. Maybe if she is worried about her monster in law criticizing her granddaughter she can name her elizabeth may so she can still call her elly may but if it does lead to teasing she can revert back to Elizabeth?

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I too would do Elizabeth, Eleanor, ellis, Ellison, Elyse, Elise, Elisha, Elissa, Eliza, ellery, Elisa, elle, Ella, etc and call her Elly/Ellie or do elly Marie/Megan/etc.. I have a friend named Ellie may and she hates it!

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You know what? Elly May is a very cute name.
And so what if people think of Beverly Hillbillies.
First of all, Elly Mae I believe it was spelled, was gorgeous and she had a love for animals.
That's not so bad.
Let's see. I know a Montana. (Girl, after Joe Montana).
I know an Indiana Jones. (Girl, No joke!)
I also know people who were so in love with the song Billie Jean and dad's name was Billie, that they were going to name their kid Billie Jean or Billy Gene regardless of the sex.

The one thing about names is that you can always find someone to put them down or have a serious dislike or make fun.
A person should name their baby what they want. Elly May is not that weird in the scheme of things when you consider my kids have gone to school with kids named "Wind", "Cedar", "Five", "Seven", "Rainbow", "Sunshine", "Yetti"....

Any single name can be made fun of if people try hard enough.

I think your friend should do what she wants.
Just my opinion.

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Definitely a strong association with the Beverly Hillbillies. It's a pretty well known piece of pop culture.....I wouldn't. JMO.

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I have heard of the Beverly Hillbillies but have never heard the name "Ella May" before as being associated with the show. I doubt anyone from her generation will know the characters and think most people from the mom's generation won't know it either. I doubt any of my friends do (we're mostly in our early 30s).

K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao
http://www.citymommy.com

I am 31 and I did not know the name of the bev. hillbillies. you know it is her baby and she needs to be happy w/ the name. I swere no one should ever tell anyone their baby name is not good, it is just not nice. I assume she means no harm and is trying to help, but she is not. I did not care what people thought I just named my DD. best of luck to her. xo

My niece's name is Georgia Belle. I hated it at first and thought she would be made fun of, but as of now, nada! Tell your friend to go for it. Plus, most likely she will only go by Elly in school - how will her friends know her middle name?

Tell your friend to hang in there. While I personally wouldn't name my child that, each mom gets to name her own babies. The MIL had her shot and her moment is over.

My family flipped out over the names I chose for my sons. They were too boring, too traditional, the wrong religion (no, I'm not kidding...my mom really said that), bad nicknames and so much more. It was so bad for my second son, that I finally told my family that if they wanted to name something, they should buy a dog and leave me alone.

I now advise ALL my pregnant friends to not announce the name until the baby announcements go out. It's really no one else's business and who needs the stress anyway?

Good luck.

I didn't make the connection until I continued reading. I guarantee no one in her generation will even know.

Love it! My daughter is a beautiful, smart 5 yr old princess who also plays with toads and is a training Ninja. I call her my little Elly May sometimes, she has know idea what I'm talking about! :) I don't think many her age will know who the character is. I also think that the image associated with that character, if anyone picks it up, is positive!!!! She was a beautiful girl who could also kick some butt!!!

I am in my late 30's and recognize the name from Beverly Hillbillies. That said, I would name my child whatever I wanted to name my child. MIL is the grandma yes, but has no say in the baby's name. She named her children, she doesn't get a vote IMO.

Its a cute name but its more for a girl than a woman. It would be nice if she had a more formal name and could go by Elly. I definetly think of the Beverly Hillbillies but I don't think most people under 25 would even make that association. So if that is the concern, I wouldn't really worry about it. I would just pick something that sounds nice no matter what the age.

I LOVE that name... Not hick-ish, just cute, fun, "american", feminine- and a respectable name!

HAS her Mother in law heard the OTHER names of babies that exist now?!?!? I think that there are SOOO many made-up or strange names out now, there will too many names to make fun of. The whole idea of someone making fun of someone else's name will be wiped out due to one "bad" name canceling out the other! Bad name lists are GROWING in numbers! LOL! (and I wouldn't put the name Elly May CLOSE to those bad name lists)

For fun, I'd suggest that your friend show her ignorant (at least on the naming subject- and showing proper respect with her future-granddaughter's possible name) MIL some names that she "could" choose (but not really) that ARE actually bad that people have used... LOL

AND- HOW many TV shows are out there? TOO MANY! I'm sure there's a "target" character for every name!

I say name the baby what she wants! I had my first daughter when I was single and I wanted the name Ali Rae. Well, needless to say, my mom talked me out of it and now I do not have my Ali that I wanted so badly. I always told myself that if I had another girl, her name would be Ali Rae. Well, my husband did not like the name either so I have Megan Elizabeth, Kaci Robyn, and Emily Rhea. Three girls and no Ali!!!! All I have to say is if she really likes the name, then she should name her baby Elly May. Trust me, kids now days do not have a clue about the Beverly Hillbillies! I think it is a cute name and I did not even think of the Hillbillies when I saw her name.

I don't care for the name, but that doesn't matter. I'll bet most people her age won't even know who the heck the beverly hillbillies are! Nobody will think she is a trashy hick, unless she acts like one when she grows up. MIL needs to keep her comments to herself and learn to just love the baby, no matter what her name is. She will more than likely love her grand daughter so much, that the name will not even bother her, once the baby is here. I still think she needs to keep her remarks to herself, unless they're nice comments of course. Some people-gees, louise!

I'm 27 and while I know OF the show 'The Beverly Hillbillies', I never watched it so the thought of her being named after a character on the show never crossed my mind.

Is it possible to make her first name Elly, middle name May? That way if it does turn out to be a huge concern, just call her Elly.

Personally, I think it is a BEAUTIFUL name!