Heidi screams of the Swiss Alps, but how about this unusual related name?
Thanks to Photoquilty for suggesting Elke as Name of the Day.
With apologies to the stylish Miss Klum, there’s little fashionable about Heidi.
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[…] Elke – A short form of Adelaide whispered down the alley, this noble name is a cousin to fellow list member Alix, an there’s also an unrelated Hebrew name.
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[…] suspect that I was trying to reach the nicknames Cleo and Elke with the first two names, but I can’t guess on the rest.
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[…] a huge fan of Elke, and so no wonder I’m fascinated by other ends-in-ke choices.
I am also an Australian Elke. When I was a child I gave up on trying to get people to pronounce it the German way, Elkeh, because they always said Elkaaaa. I prefer Elkee – sorry Elke Rose. My maiden name was Fries.
In German, it’s pronounced Elka. But my family is from Austria and their dialect pronounces it Elkay (like the water fountains). And, for the record, when I tell you my name is LK and you ask me to spell it, don’t reply “oh, you mean Elkey?” !!!!!
I am also an Australian Elke, (pronounced Elkah. I actually quite like the German version, Elkeh but i find that it’s almost a challenge or somewhat effort to say compared to elkah or elkee. I get a fair few different nicknames.. the main one also being Elk, which i dont overly like but i can handle it! A few people even call me Elk-ee… regardless that they know it isn’t how you pronounce it. Its quite interesting really, such a short simple name yet you can pronounce it in so many ways… depending on what the person likes/ feels suits you. Its nice 🙂 Go the Elke’s!
My name is Elke, which is supposed to be pronounced Elkeh (the German version), but being Australian, it is generally pronounced Elkah which is fine with me. All my friends call me Elk, which is not a problem since there are no Elks in Australia (the animal) so no-one associates my name with the animal. Like the other Elke who has commented, I didn’t like my name much when I was young because it was so different, but now I am an adult, I love it and a lot of people tell me what a beautiful name it is. It is unique and for people I know, I’m the only Elke they know!
My friends mom is named Elke, and funnily enough, she’s from Costa Rica. (Oh, and she pronounces El-Kee.)
Hm. To me it’s a Jewish name. Elka is the middle name of a firend of mine from high school. I think when she first told me about it I made fun of it. But after a while, it seemed less humorous and more interesting.
I can see the appeal, but, I just cannot like this. Reminds me of elk. I don’t hate it, there are other old fashioned German names I like better, like the similar sounding Elsa.
Just checked. Indeed, she was. Elka, Genesis, Montana, and a Syrus.
I’m w/ Panya on the Real World connotation. She was really pretty, if I remember she was kind of the “ingenue” part, and probably would be many of today’s mothers’ first association. I think it has a nice sound, just not for me.
Trying to remember…was she on with Genesis and Montana? That would have been quite a forward-named cast.
As an Elke (I pronounce it el KEE), I couldn’t help but chime in on this topic. When I was a child I hated my name. Growing up in NY, it was odd, mispronounced constantly and in that I was a tomboy, was little help in determining my gender with the nuns in Catholic school who insisted on putting my in the boys group! But as an adult now, I love my name and wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s unique and unforgettable. In business, people know me just by my first name, because after all, I’m the only Elke they know!! In this day and age of unusual names, I wouldn’t hesitate to name my child Elke or any other “unusual” name with the belief that they too one day would benefit by being one of the few, rather than the many.
All antlers to me. Maybe it’s being raised in a family of outdoor enthusiasts…
Hearing it appeals to me more than seeing it. Guess that is how it goes with some names, though, eh?
I’m of German heritage and to me, the Elke screams nickname. It’s pretty, but I’d never put it on a birth certificate.
I first heard the name Elka on a girl in the 1997 Real World Boston cast. I’ve loved it ever since. I prefer the look of Elke, but Elka works better in the U.S.
I remember her! Does that make us old?
I like it. It’s virtually unheard of around here and as such has no dated/fusty associations. I’d be wary of it getting shortened to the ubiquitous Ella. Perfectly innocuous and decent name is Ella but that would irk me.
I’ve also considered the very great grannyish and familial Ida but in NZ it would be EYE da through and through. Never EE da which I prefer.
I would like to go way outside my comfort zone and make use of the very dated Silke. I know it peaked in the 60’s/70’s in Germany but again, like Elke, it’s a very unfamiliar choice in NZ, so much so it will suffer similar pronunciation hassles – EL kee and SIL kee are more than likely. I have enough trouble with Isla and that’s top 30 for goodness sake.
My grandma was from Friesland and grew up speaking Frisian. Her aunt was named Elke, the first syllable is pronounced sort of like a cross between ILL and EEL the second syllable -kah. When Aunt Elke immigrated to the US she went be Ida.
My mother also has a cousin whose given name is Helen Ruth, who is called Elke by the family. It’s a nice name, but in my mind, its too old-fashioned to use on a newborn.
Thanks, Julie – I really appreciate the pronunciation info!