View Message

That's funny because I would have thought Elder, Deacon, etc... So I guess if it was in a nature-y sib set, I would think of the elder tree. Maybe Rowan, Poplar, Elm, Oak.. or any other nature themed name and I would nake the connection.

---

You would also have to contend with elder meaning "one who is older, your elder" There are a few meanings so I don't know if it would be immediately apparent to most people. If that bothers you, I think Elder would make a really nice middle name.

It's a middle name at best.

---

The box elder beetle and Elder Scrolls video game series also enter my mind before the tree.

I wouldn't use it just for its sound. If you've got powerful personal reasons for using it, then the mn position would be excellent. But as a fn it'd be more trouble than it's worth.

I'd keep it as a middle name because I do think people would hear it and think "older." One of my brother's best friends has Elder as his surname. When he was growing up, there were plenty of jokes about "Young Elder." Now that he's grown with 2 kids of his own, his friends refer to them as the Elder Elder, Elder the Younger, and Elder the Youngest.

---

To be honest, I think "older" is a more pleasant association than the elder tree, which has so much dark symbolism attached.

I don't think it's useable. I think people would think of the word meaning "older" rather than the tree.

---

I just think of Pitt the Elder

I would think it's almost unusable, due to the meaning.Although I once knew a girl named Elda.(she was indeed the oldest child of a large family. )

---

Maybe Alder, also a tree?

---