My mom has told me that my grandmother's husband suggested Elise and it just stuck. That's how it's spelled on my birth certificate, but we changed it to Elyse when I was in grade school because people kept calling me Elsie. I'd like to change it back, but it's not easy to do now that I have things like a driver's license, a nursing license and a mortgage! But Elise is a lot more popular than it was 45 years ago when I got it.

My middle name is Kay after my great grandmother Katherine. My oldest niece's middle name is Kay and my youngest niece is Katherine Frances after her great-great grandmothers.

My dad and my brother are both Raymond. My brother and sister-in-law purposely decided not to make my nephew the third Raymond -- but there was another guy with the same name in one of his college classes so he now goes by Ray too. He likes it! (and I think my dad likes that my nephew goes by Ray)

My sister and my second youngest niece share the middle name Claire after my grandmother.

And Pomtzu, my sister-in-law's mother is Eleanor and i love that name!