I the name Elliot (possibly with the middle name Harrison or James) for our baby that is due in July.

My DH says he doesn't like it because he thinks it's not "masculine" enough. Of course he can't come up with an alternative suggestion

WDYT of the name Elliot in terms of whether or not it's a "strong" name?

ETA: he's not *as* opposed to my second suggestion of Jacob (no idea about mn).

Elliot is a lovely choice and definitely masculine sounding. Jacob is great too, I think Elliot Jacob actually makes a nice combo.

In my experience (or at least from reading EB), "strong" is in the eye of the beholder, but I can't see anything about it that's particularly feminine or non-masculine.

...Except the fact that people think it's now a girl's name because of effing Scrubs. That character name aside (which, remember, is a running joke in the show because her dad wanted a boy), I think it's fine.

Oooh eeer now there's an idea..Elliot Jacob. That might sweeten the suggestion

Thanks for the replies. I was shocked when DH said he thought it wasn't "strong" enough. I've certainly never thought of it that way.

I have an Elliot - and he is the cheekiest monkey around!! Love the pp suggestion of Elliot Jacob.

I think Elliot is a great name, and to me it is masculine. I think it has a very intellectual vibe which some people equate with not being 'strong'.

For me Elliot is masculine only. I prefer Jacob though but agree with PP's that Elliot Jacob sounds very good. I think Jacob Elliot goes just as well. I would definitely go with a combo of these rather than use Harrison or James.

I think the name sounds kind of nerdy.

cookieluck - lol yeah it does have that vibe but it adds to it's appeal imo.

i do love Elliot for a boy. Unfortunately i now know two people that have used it for a girl... sigh

I think Elliot is completely a boys name

Sad that because of one show, it's all of a sudden now a girls name (or should I say 'unisex')

Too me, it should be a girl's name. It is the 'ette' sound on the end, a suffix which makes things female eg bachelorette.
Other female names which end in the sound are Yvette, Minette, Juliet, Georgette, Claudette, Paulett. (many male names converted to female because of the ending)
I know they are different spellings, but it is the sound. I can't think of any other boys names that end with the 'ette' sound.
Combined with the nickname Elly, def. female.

My husband is Eliot.
He is 6ft8, with a big beard and long hair (picture a scary biker ).
He is as masculine as you can get!

-Tina

-

Interesting point kymbahlee. But I can't imagine a boy named Elliot having the nn Elly. Plus, say Elliot outloud and you're not saying "ette" at the end. Unless you're saying it strangely I DO love Juliet though and were going to use it if were having a girl.

Ditto!

I do know of two baby boy Elliotts (this spelled & under the age of one), but then again, I hang with a very smart crowd!

i think the name Elliot is great! My DH on the other hand agrees with OP's DH....my only conclusion is that both our DHs are wrong

lol silly husbands!

I love it and I love the spelling with one 't', it is my brother's name

I love the name and it is on my list (also have to convince DF - I am working on it!!)

I love the name Elliot / Elliott and my second DS was going to be Elliott but my DH thought the same as your DH - that it wasn't masculine. We used it as his middle name instead

I love the name Elliot, I do think it is a masculine name. I went to school with an Elliot who was a very sporty kid, good at rugby and very handsome.

I love the name Elliot but for a girl

The only Elliots I know are girls and one is in her 20's.

I love Elliot but I can imagine my DH wouldn't think it masculine enough either. Men

But it's not the 'ette' sound! If you're saying it that way, you're saying it wrong. Your logic doesn't fly with me.

i really like elliot/elliott for a boy!!!! there are quite a few boys around my sons ages whose names are elliot/elliott.

I love the name Elliott, for a boy, and actually have one He is Elliott Magnus, which I think is a strong sounding name


Have to agree with this! Certainly not pronounced to sound similar to those other 'ette' names.

I love the name Elliot/Elliott! Unfortunately a friend of mine has an 18mth old of this name and she refers to him as Elli - don't like that at all!

I love Elliot.. I see you have a Thomas too I think they go so well together, I like Elliot James or Elliot Jacob as some others have suggested

I love Elliot, I certainly think it sounds masculine enough, I can't imagine anyone thinking it was a girls name.

Yes, I know they are not the exact same sound, but when I say Harriet and Elliot to me they sound pretty similiar. When I say the names very precisely and enunicate it exactly, yes, there is a difference. But not a big enough difference for me.

Yeah sure, I can hear the similarities between THOSE two, but myself and another PP were responding to your original post that mentioned:

My DH had the same reservations about Elliot - he thought it sounded nerdy and girly. I really like the name myself.

I love Elliot.

It's very masculine to me because I'm used to hearing it on Law & Order (Elliot Stabler).

My DS is Elliot

I think I recall my DH having the same reservations initially, but he came around and now we both love it. Our boy is a small, sweet thing though - so perhaps a 'softer' name suits him.

I think it does have academic/literary associations (which I love!) - I guess some people see that as less strong or a bit feminine, but I don't.

I am very annoyed that it's going the 'unisex' way It's NOT a girls name!!

ETA: We don't shorten his name at all. MIL was worried that he obviously couldn't have "Elli" as a NN....Personally I think Elliot is not so much of a mouthful that it needs a shortened version!