Editor’s note: This post was originally published on January 20, 2009. It was substantially revised and re-published on October 7, 2013.
Take one medieval saint, transport her to Paris and what do you get?
Thanks to Mariuccia and JNE for suggesting today’s Baby Name of the Day: Elodie.
In the age of Ella, plenty of parents are searching for creative ways to arrive at that nickname, or the equally appealing Ellie. Factor in the fashionable allure of French appellations for girls, and it comes as no surprise that Elodie is attracting quite a bit of attention.
She sounds like modern noun name Melody, but goes much farther back.
Sisters Alodia and Nunilo lived near Cordoba in the ninth century. It had been more than a century since the Muslims had come to power in Spain, and the girls’ mother remarried a Muslim man. The girls refused to convert.
It was a perilous time for Christians – the tolerance that had characterized the first century of Muslim rule was fading. Four dozen Christians would be executed for apostasy in the 850s.
Nunilo and Alodia were both martyred for their beliefs, are both considered saints. The carving pictured to the right is from a church in the small town where the sisters once lived.
Alodia is probably a Visigoth name – the Visigoths ruled the area for centuries. That means that Elodie is a cousin to Otto – both are derived from od – wealth.
It is also a place name. Part of Nubia was called Alodia while under Christian rule during the Middle Ages. It was established before the girl known as Alodia was born, and would last for several centuries after her death. We’re not sure how the state got its name, but it may share the same roots as the saint’s name.
As the saint’s story traveled from Spain to France, Alodia eventually became Élodie.
Variants like Elodia and Alodie appear occasionally in various European languages, and all forms appear in the US Census records, too. But they’re very rare. In the late 19th century, British citizen Elodie Lawton married a Serbian diplomat, learned his language and translated many classic Serbian works. Women religious sometimes took the name.
Alodia is nearly unknown today, but Elodie is at her most popular:
- She peaked in the 1980s in France, peaking in the 1980s, and ranks in the Top 50 in French-speaking Canada.
- French actress Elodie Bouchez appeared in the final season of television sensation Alias, playing a secret CIA assassin.
- Gail Carson Levine gave the name to the heroine of her 2011 novel, A Tale of Two Castles.
- My favorite? Short-lived cast member of The Hills, Elodie Otto, because of the link between her first and last names.
Elodie charted in the US a few times in the late nineteenth century, then disappeared. But she looks to be making a comeback. 149 girls received the name in 2012. That’s double the number in 2010. Judging by the positive attention Elodie generates, she’s likely to continue her rise.
She’s startlingly pretty, even delicate. There are so many great three-syllable, ends in ‘ee’ choices. Elodie is among the most ethereal of them all, a sister for Ariel or Lorelei.
Overall, she’d wear well on a modern girl. Elodie is tremendously historic, in step with current trends and still nicely uncommon.
We’ve named our 4 week old beautiful baby girl Elodie Rose and we call her Elie for short. We love the name, it’s melodic, pretty, feminine and unusual too.
We are finding a lot of people don’t know what we’re saying when asked her name. We’re having to repeat it and say it rhymes with melody and that it is an old old name. They usually say that they like it but i don’t know if they’re just sayin’ they like it when really they are thinking ‘ Oh My God’!!!
We think the name Elodie flows really well, especially with Rose (which is one of my middle names) and with our surname. So all in all we feel that we lucked out with this very pretty name which in my opinion is only going to become more and more popular with some time and recognition. Hopefully Elodie agrees even after years of confused faces and when she’s had to repeat her name yet again!
GO ELODIE!!!
Congratulations, Phoenix! What a lovely, lovely name.
Hi there,
I was just browsing the web, finding out what my name means when i came across this. My name is Elodie and my middle name is Rosiena. Such a coincidence! Anywyas, you will have to repeat the rhyme – i say it so often, ‘elodie, like melodie, without the m. but it works!
I am putting Elodie on my list. I like the French pronunciation better but I can go for the English one. I’d just call her that, no nn. Don’t really like Ellie, Ella’s nice but there are so many of them around now.
Elodie is lovely. She was on my list for a while, before being replaced by Eloise (which got replaced by Eliza which got replaced by Eleanor). I don’t mind “Ellie” as a nickname, though it might not be my first choice, and it seems I always have at least one “El-” name floating around in my top 10.
I think what first drew me to the name is that she sounds SO straightforward and workable and yet she is SO rarely heard. Perhaps I was also drawn to it since it feels like a combination of mine and my sister’s names. I’m Emily and she’s Melody. It’s certainly better than Memily! 🙂
Thank you for giving the background on this light and pretty name. Elodie is an unusual name that I’ve liked for awhile, and all that I seem to know about it is that it rhymes with Melody!
It feels authentically French (and it should; it is) unlike some Gallic standards like Danielle and Nicole, which are very nice, but sound rather English/American to me now.
As far as nns go, I’m a fan of Ello (though it sort of sounds like you’re saying ” ‘ello!” with an exaggerated Cockney accent) instead of sort-of-boring Ellie.
Final word: an airy choice that I would love to see on someone (I’ve never met an Elodie). Elodie’s got my vote!
I like Elodie; it’s pretty and feminine without being frilly. I’d add her to my list if I had a drop of French blood running through my veins, but I, unforunately, do not. If I were to name my child Elodie, I’d feel like some Polish person who’s second cousin’s half sister’s ex-husband is 1/3 Irish and feels as if that gives her the right to name her child Aidan. If it were more established as an English name, it would be on my list, but as it is, it feels too French to me. I’d love it on someone else’s kid, though!
Alodia is what really intrigues me. I know of the saint, but never gave her name a second thought before. It’s definitely going on my list now!
She sounds so quintessentially French – pretty, stylish and elegant. I met an Elodie once whilst on holiday in France years ago, she encapsulated everything that we have just described an Elodie to be. I can still remember my shock/horror when I learnt that her sister was called Gregory(!) Even at my young age and with my limited knowledge of French names I found this a most bizarre choice/combination!
Elodie and Gregory – what a wild pairing! I wonder if they were family names?!
Elodie is pretty. I’m still tired of the Ellies for the most part but this one I don’t mind as much as most. Only Elinor ranks higher. Elodie’s *very* pretty, sweet, charming and ladylike. Not for me but I would be pleased as punch to meet someone elses. Elodie’s got the makings of a real winner these days!
I knew an Elodia back in the 60s when her family moved briefly from Texas to California. The next time I heard/saw the name was last year when I discovered baby naming boards. Thanks for the write-up!
Interesting that you’ve met an Elodia!
Elodie is so pretty! It makes me happy, I can hardly say it without singing it. So lyrical and lovely. I like Melody too, but this is so much more distinctive. Alodia is also gorgeous, totally different feel for me, but equally nice. Mmm, I hadn’t really considered Elodie before, but she’s going on my list!
Thanks for the history – that is very interesting, indeed. I love the sound of this name. (And for the record, I’ve probably been mangling it somewhat, since I pronounce it eh loh DEE – half way between the two pronunciations you mention.) While I like all the pronunciations, I like the emphasis on the ending, like the French Canadian way you mention, a little more. I know the “El-” names are kind of over-done in general, but I can’t help but like Elodie… not as much as Eleanor, but I very much like it. For now, I’m keeping her around to see if she sticks.