There are ten of them, sitting in front of a rugby match in an apartment nestled in the heart of the 18th arrondissement of Paris, and their presence has something incongruous.
They are brown, blond, chestnut, come from the four corners of France, are students or in active life, come from various backgrounds and most have never seen each other.
They have nothing in common.
Or almost.
Because what brings them together this Saturday, February 6, is their first name.
They are all called Eloi, and that was enough to forge a powerful bond between them.
At the origin of this “Rassembl'Eloi” (the gathering of Eloi), Eloi Courau, a 24-year-old Parisian student.
In November 2019, inspired by other similar initiatives, he decides to create a conversation on Messenger, Facebook's messaging service, and randomly adds his namesakes.
The objective, to share his experience around the first name "Eloi", to his taste too little known.
To date, the conversation has brought together more than 240 Éloi, of whom around 40 are “very active”.
“Little by little, a real enthusiasm was built around our community and we ended up seeing each other for real and becoming a real bunch of friends united by the same first name,” says Eloi Courau.
Aged on average 20 to 30 years, they are in their third gathering.
“I find it original and very nice as the idea of meeting Eloi, especially since we have a first name that is not necessarily common, that's also what creates a connection.
It is a first name that can surprise.
I am often called Edouard for example, when I say my first name, ”testifies Eloi Mathis.
The bearded student, in engineering school, attends his very first “Rassembl'Eloi”.
Passing through Paris to visit his family, he postponed his train ticket expressly for the occasion.
A united network
The warm atmosphere of the group contrasts with the cold and rainy weather that can be seen from the large windows of the small Parisian living room.
No need to break the ice, the conversation flows by itself and quickly orientates itself in exchange for anecdotes about their first name.
Eloi du Manoir, a film school student, remembers his very first meeting: “When I arrived, I said 'Eloi?'
and everyone turned to me and said “yes?”.
At first it made me a little weird because I didn't know anyone.
And then after a few minutes, we quickly had the impression that we had been friends for a long time.
It's quite funny to see all the diversity that there is between the Eloi and at the same time the common points.
"
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"It's a bit of a joke this group at the base", slips one of them.
But beyond the anecdote, Eloi Courau, its founder, wishes to form a true network of solidarity.
"We can talk about news, when there is a confinement approaching, we can exchange the information we have had from such and such well-placed friends who have had a rumor, we can help each other on exams, partial of someone or on a difficult professional situation ”, he develops with passion.
“For example, there is an Eloi who went to Dublin and who did not know anyone there.
I put him in touch with a friend who helped him settle down and meet people.
»His dream,« it would be that in any city where I want to go in the future, for example to spend three days in Bordeaux, I can meet an Eloi or have a drink at an Eloi, see dinner at an Eloi or to stay.
It would be really incredible if our community was built up to this point and that we could benefit from it like that ”.
Very active on social networks, young people make sure "to be really visible and to send a message".
Particularly on December 1, Saint-Eloi's day, completely unknown because "it is generally Saint-Florence which is mentioned on the diaries and the calendars".
