I didn't make it up. It's a real name. I swear!
I found Elodie's name in a baby name book. It's pronounced El-oh-dee (like Melody, but without the M) and it's a French name meaning wealth. I guess it's pretty popular in France...it was the French "Jennifer" of the 80's. The baby book warned that the name hasn't crossed the ocean yet and is unknown in the US.
I loved it the first time I said it out loud. (It's almost musical.) Everyone else? Not so much.
Around month 8 Kevin finally warmed up to it enough to consider it as a real name and not just Jaci's crazy pregnant hormones talkin' smack. He wanted a Rachael.
Gag.
When I told my Mom, she actually said, "Ewww! If you're going to do that, just name her Melody."
Niiiice. This from the woman who called me "Jock-leeeeeene" with an exaggerated French accent all snooty and pretentious-like.
My theory? Hatred for my daughter's name is a generational thing. People over 40 think it's godawful and I'm a stupid moron. Under 40's think it's beautiful and love it. And? They get it right away--I don't have to keep repeating it over and over and over again while they try to wrap their tongue around it.
I'm shuddering at the thought of coaching my 85 year old Grandma through it... Ell-what? Huh? *evil stink eye*
I don't think I'm burdening my daughter to a lifetime of name-correcting. She'll be going to school with a sea of Emily's, Emma's, Ella's, Olivia's, Ava's...Elodie fits in with all the other uber popular vowel names but will stand out on it's own. At least, she won't be doomed to a school life as "Elodie...no, not THAT Elodie. Elodie D.!"
I was the only "Jaci" until high school when there was finally another "Jackie". (No, I have never met another "Jaci".) I loved that I was the only one! The only downside? Try fitting "Jacqueline Nicole" on a check. It doesn't work.
And yes, I gave Elodie my middle name. You're...so vain. You probably think this song is about you...
Someone asked if I asked Aunt Becky about my name choice--yes, I did! I wanted some brutally honest opinions, and where else can you get 'em but online? Bloggers be some nasty bitches--especially if they can do it anonymously. "Ask Aunt Becky" was my litmus test. If someone said it in the comments, then someone will say it at PTA...or in the teacher's lounge...or behind my back.
I think I'll screw with people when they ask where I got that name. How about "I found it on an old tombstone and loved it?" Then I'll just stare at them without blinking.
41 comments:
I think it is a beautiful name!
i LOVE it. i'm a naming nerd and think it's beautiful :)
OK...I'm over 40 (by a year and a half, lol) but I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the name!!! I'm not just saying that! I have a Reese and a Griffith....I have come across a Reese or two, but they screw up the spelling by using a "C"..imagine that, LOL Griffith...never met ONE, met tons of Griffin's tho....anyway, this is about you, not ME, lol....just wanted you to know that if I were still birthin' babes, I would seriously consider the name Elody!! It's BEAUTIFUL!
I think it's a great name. I've actually seen it written in a book twice & I heard a mom call her daughter that at the store the other night...it might be catching on already lol.
I LOVE it! I mean, it is just such a unique but not weird name. I think it is a beautiful name!
WHY do people feel the need to voice their opinion? I mean, it is YOUR baby and it is YOUR decision on what you name her! Our Mother's had their chance to name us...opinions need to stay away from a pregnant woman. I'm dealing with the same thing right now...
It is like when I told my mom i was having a girl. "But I wanted a boy"
Seriously?
I think her name is beautiful! It is unique and not weird.
I love her name and this post! I named my daughter Kara Ellasyn. I still get some crazy looks when they hear her middle name. My husband fought me up until the last minute (I kid you not) in the hospital. We were getting ready to walk out when he finally agreed on the name/spelling and handed the paperwork to the nurse.
My name is Bobbi-Jo. Maiden name is Phillips. Ugh, the jokes I received in school...heck I was called a boy so many times I wondered what if it was true. Totally kidding but man were those kids relentless in school! I hated my name until my mid-twenties. Now I love how unique it is and I am the only Bobbi-Jo in our area. ;)
Congrats again on your beautiful baby girl!
I'm 25, so obviously... I love the name! :-) Congrats, again.
Elodie is beautiful. I'm all about names that are not too common. I grew up being the only Brittany around for YEARS! Never met another until I graduated high school. I still turn around cringing if I'm in the food store and I hear my name being yelled out. I think someone is yelling at me. Now it is so common I cringe 50% of the time I go food shopping.
My sons names are not common either: Xavier, Ashe, and Soren.
I actually have an aunt named Jacqueline who also goes by Jaci. I thought she was the only one till I found your blog!
Ahahaha, love the tombstone idea. I hate the name game. We are well into month 8 and still not agreeing... Most our names roll pretty italian... I am really liking Lucianna, but NOT LUCY. Which I know it will take the inlaws .00895 seconds to call her that. We are still considering Gabriella, and Jaqueline, as our top contenders, though Gabriella is quickly getting pushed out. Anyshway, I love Elodie, I think it is a refreshing name to hear. If I read another birth announcement with the name Nevaeh, so help me....
Really? People think Elodie is weird? The first time I read it, I knew how to pronounce it and thought it was a pretty name. Maybe you're right- maybe it's a generational thing. I know my husband's parents weren't (and still aren't as far as I know) crazy about my son's name choice- Camden. I think our parents typically like more traditional names. I think Elodie is a great compromise, like you said-- it's unique and will stand out but it's not super trendy (yet).
Funny, I did get my daughter's name off a headstone...Savannah Mae, she's 11 and there are lots of younger Savannah's but very few her age...too bad it sounds kinda like a stripper too!
I LOVE Elodie, it's beautiful. We are naming our little boy Samson (due in 4 weeks)and everyone hates it..Too fricken bad, we love it!
When my daughter was born in 1966, we chose a name that we both loved. Neither of us had ever met anyone with that name and we thought it would stay that way. It didn't! The name we chose was Rachel Noelle (You're entitled not to like it, but we still love it!).
Nevertheless, I meet a Rachel about once a month!! Best laid plans and all that.
My granddaughter is named Madeleine. Another beautiful unusual (she thought) name. We still don't see very many with that name spelled that way. So she did good, right? Uhhmm....no, every other child you see is called Maddie, including our Madeleine! There are 2 Maddie's and an Addie on her softball team. Makes cheering confusing to say the least!
So, either my daughter and I are great trend setters or our choices are not as unusual as we thought!
All that matters is that you like the name. She will always be the best Elodie that you know!!
I'm afraid however, that by the time she is out of grade school, her friends will call her Elly or worse, El!! And it will probably stick!
I love her name. It's beautiful and feminine without being gag-me-precious. My parents and inlaws are not big fans of names that aren't super traditional. That's why we don't tell them the names until the kid pops out. Kind of hard to bash the name when you're holding a bundle of cuteness. Ha!
I love Elodie, Samson, and Griffith and I'm 45. When I told people that my son was going to be named Eric (11 years ago), I can't tell you how many responded with, "Oh well, you still have time to decide on a name." RUDE. And now, though everyone knows an Eric, he's the only one in his school of 600 students.
Renee
I love it! It's the first thing I thought when you wrote her name here for the first time - how lovely, feminine and unique! Just for the records, yep, I'm under 40, have an unusual name myself (Stina, not short for Christina) and grew up in a veritable sea of Heathers and Jennifers. I think it's great to have a name "all your own" too!
I love it. I get flack over my kids names too. Manks me like them more.
Beautiful name! I wanted something a little different for our little girl, and we found "Calla" in a book. It comes from the flower calla lily, and is no different from naming a girl Lily or Rose or Iris or any other flower name! But the older generation definitely has trouble with it. And people who've never heard of or seen a calla lily.
I'm sure she will grow up and love her name, it's beautiful and unique!
I named both my children somewhat "none mainstream" names because I wanted them to be "different" and of course everyone says BOTH their names as a slightly more popular version and it really really bugs me. If I had wanted to name them that I would have!! Anyway, I think Elodie is sweet and such a wonderful name.
And my aunt and my grandmother were both Jaci's (yes, spelled the same way). So your not weird... and my name is Tina and some people just assume that I'm a "Christina" but I'm not... just plain ol' Tina. But when I tell people they get confused and say "Kina"... AHHH come on people!!
So glad to get that off my chest!! UGGGH.
I follow many blogs. But, mostly I look at the pictures. Like a kid (or man) with a magazine. Yours is one of the few I will read.... Without any pictures, even.
You crack me up!
And, Elodie is beautiful and her name is beautiful fits her perfectly. Of course, I'm under 40 (but just barely).
I love it too! It must be because I'm 38. ;)
LOL! My father-in-law saw the name he named his daughter on a gravestone. Fer reals. ;)
I think it is a great name! My mom hated my sons name Rex...said she once had a dog named that! And it also took me awhile to agree to it...my hubs loved it. So glad I did agreed....You did a great job picking it- least you dont have to worry about someone saying it was a dog name!lol
This is actually relating to the previous post: It sounds like you and Elodie might be dealing with a little Thrush. With my first monkey, I had an experience very similar to yours, and it wasn't until I spoke to an NP (the Ped. was clueless) about my problem that she suggested Thrush. I'd read alllll the books, and I thought Thrush would be itchy nipple. Oh no! Cracking, bleeding, mommy crying. And the little monkey's mouth was so itchy he would chew on anything to try to get some relief. I got a prescription for Nystatin, and by the third little monkey, I just had them send me home from the hospital with some. Aaaaand now, with 42 (yeah, I just sat here and recounted to be sure!!!) months of breastfeeding under my belt (um, my shirt?), I gently suggest you ask your Ped. about Thrush. Gently but firmly, you understand.
And just never wake a sleeping baby. Just don't.
And who cares what others think of the name? You named her with love, and in the end, if SHE doesn't like it, she can change it when she's an adult.
So there's my 37 cents. You're all welcome and stuff.
I love it, it's perfect and don't listen to anyone who would suggest otherwise.
I love it too! It's so beautiful - I'd never heard of it either, but I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it on here!
I love the name in fact I am kinda jealous that I didn't think if it for Claire.
I am all about different. I was one of many Jennifers in school. I swore to myself at a young age that MY kids names were gonna be different.
I have a Slade and Kase.
And yes I hear it ALL the time!!
I love Elodie!
And she is as cute as her name! :)
I will be 50 in a few weeks and I love her name! Unique names are so wonderful. Hope things are going well otherwise. (My child has four names all of them unusal.)
I actually know someone named Elodie--she is probably in her 50s by now. She was married to the recreation minister in my church when I was little. Nicest lady ever, but not attractive.
Cool name though
Perhaps a generational thing, because I think it's a great name.
Speaking of names and families not liking them, we named our daughter Blythe and it seems everyone has a "love it or hate it" reaction. My family hates it. Anyone I tell it to hates it. Anyone my husband tells it to loves it. What's up with that?!
I think it's a beautiful name!
My name is Rachel...I didn't love it when I was younger but now I adore my name. Things change!
It's your baby and other people should just keep their thoughts to themselves if they don't like it.
I thought the name was just beautiful and could figure out the pronunciation without an explanation. Old people are just stupid.
another Bobbi Jo here... i only go by Bobbi tho and I HATE my name! ;) just saw the comment by the other bobbi and thought i'd put my 2sense in.
i LOVE the name Elodie!! i think it's lovely, not common, but not weird!
I think its great! I like "different" names; not trying to see she's "different" or anything! People are always going to have an opinion. Unfortunately. Our's is going to be Kase. Yes, like a Case of coke. My husband picked it and I just gave in. :)
Glad you're still blogging despite being sleep depraved.
I'm over 40 and once I got started saying the name it grew on me. I had never heard before. I looked it up and it said it was Greek for flower. Either way, both meanings are great and it's a beautiful name.
I'm 43, and I LOVE Elodie's name! When I first saw it, I was thinking "E-low-dy", but then I thought, "DUH. It's Melodie without the M."
I'm the one who asked about Aunt Becky. (Well, I may not be the only one, but I did ask.)
As the ONLY "Trina" I ever knew until adulthood, I hated my name because people were always asking me how to spell it or asking it it was short for Katrina or they couldn't pronoune it. (It is NOT Terina or Torina. How hard is it to say Tina with an R?) Anyway, as I got older, I appreciated having a "different" name, and because my grannie is the one who actually picked out my name makes it SO much more special now.
Of course, I do have to share my name now with the Trina of music. Not so sure I like that.
HA!!! I am SOOO with you!! I literally got chewed out at a baby shower from someone else's grandmother that I DIDN'T KNOW because I had named my son Blazer. "Can't you people name your kids NORMAL names??!!!"
Not to mention my dad hated it too...HA...my kid...I love it...go suck an egg. Anyhow, of course I love Elodie...how could I not??!! I haven't gotten too much flack for Romy yet...mostly mispronunciations so far...I think I will teach her to write her name with the "long o" sign over it...heh heh
People really tell other people they hate their child's name? That's ridiculous on so many levels!
Elodie is lovely.
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