What does everyone think of the name [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]?
We’re still trying to finalise our girl name, and this is one both DH and I love though I think a lot of people will not understand why we’d use it. Big sister is [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], and I did get a sister list together earlier from posting here on nameberry, but DH didn’t get on board with anything I’d had on the list.
I watched some old I [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] clips and Worst Witch clips online to listen to the characers saying ‘[name_f]Ethel[/name_f]’, and it really does sound nice. Why do so many (in online forums about baby names) seem to call it ‘hideous’ (a word Brits seems to use to describe it). If [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and [name_f]Esther[/name_f] are kind of ‘in’ why not [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]?
I do like a lot of the Victorian-era names, but [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] just seems like the coolest/strongest/most mysterious to me.
Enough rambling… what are your thoughts on this name?
It’s not a name I would personally use but it has a clunky charm that I like, I’d be delighted to meet a baby [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], especially if she had a really feminine middle name.
I think [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] will be making more of a comeback in the future as people look for fresher choices that were once head turners such as [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] even [name_f]Edith[/name_f] until recently…today they seem completely wearable on a modern kid.
It has a soft, gentle sound and wonderful meaning. If you don’t mind being on the cutting edge, go for it.
I actually really like [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]. I think you’re right, it does have ‘clunky’ connotations but when you hear it spoken it’s no clunkier than [name_f]Edith[/name_f], which is huge in the UK.
I also really like [name_f]Ettie[/name_f] as a nickname.
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f] is beautiful - so soft, wispy and ethereal. There’s something magical about her, and plenty of mysterious storybookish charm. I would love to meet an [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] of any age!
It’s definitely not a name I would use, it is a little clunky for my taste, but it’s a perfectly good name. And [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] and [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] make a very striking sibset, it’s definitely not too mismatched, [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] and [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] nn [name_f]Elle[/name_f] would also work nicely.
Your description of [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] is so loving and beautiful, it’s made me fall for the name! You should definitely go for it. It sounds beautiful with [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]. I think it will fit in with the other little girls with “older” names, but stand out at the same time - perfect!
I think it’s a name like [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], where it either clicks or doesn’t. My problem with [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] was that it reminds me of Ethanol or else, for some reason, a little witch. But it’s actually really nice to say and I think once it’s on someone its charm will grow.
The reason I don’t like the name [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] is simply because when I hear the name or even say it myself, all I can think of is the scene from Made of [name_f]Honour[/name_f] (with [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] [name_m]Dempsey[/name_m] playing a Maid of [name_f]Honour[/name_f]) where they’re in [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] and a future [name_f]MIL[/name_f] suggests the name [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] for a baby, but her thick accent makes it sound like as*hole. From then on, I could hear nothing else, but I do love names like [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and [name_f]Aster[/name_f] (a bit fresher than [name_f]Esther[/name_f] I find) and am even coming around to [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], so [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] probably would have been one I liked if not for the association in my brain.
I’m not huge on [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]. My Australian accent doesn’t do wonders for it, and there’s just something about the ‘th’ with the ‘l’ so close behind that irks me. I definitely don’t hear whimsy or magic, it is much too clunky for that. I agree that she fits in with the Ediths and the Clementines, but she also fits in with the Dorises, the Beryls, and the Myrtles, which are also of that vintage but not necessarily pleasant to the ear in all accents.
As I’ve said, I’m not an [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] fan, BUT if it feels right for you, then go for it. We’re just a bunch of strangers on the internet, after all!
We have a few weeks before baby’s arrival, but we may go for this one. No one in our families liked our first daughter’s name, [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], so I’m definitely not discussing baby names with friends and family in real life as I think most people I know like the really popular names and dislike most anything below the top 20 unless it’s cutesy - so this feedback is much appreciated!
It is definitely interesting to imagine the name in a Scottish or Australian accent. Maybe it is prettier when said by British or American accents. For example, [name_f]Beth[/name_f] is a nice name but I hear Beeth when said by Australians, so I imagine [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] is a bit like Eethle, maybe. Didn’t think of that and we do move around a lot, so it’s good to also consider the different accents.
I think the woman in Made of [name_f]Honor[/name_f] is saying the Scottish name Athol, which is a name much more traditional to [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] (the lady suggests it because of the family connection to [name_m]Duke[/name_m] of Athol). I think in a Scottish accent it would be a drawn out Ehh for [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], and not the ‘a’ in Athol or the very long ‘o’ in Athol. But yes Athol is an unfortunate association LOL.
So true what you said about the top 20. I’ve been struggling with wanting a unique name but also a name that close friends/ relatives like - near impossible. They’re the most popular names because people like them (seems obvious but it was a revelation to me)
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f] is one of those names I want to love, I read the good comments and I agree then I read the negative leaning comments and find myself agreeing.
It is a known name so once it is associated with your daughter I think the negative opinions will change.
It goes nicely with [name_u]Rowan[/name_u].
Sidenote: I use to be obsessed with the name Ettel - someone mentioned it is the [name_m]French[/name_m] version of [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]
I disagree, I think it has a bit of a hard sound there at the beginning, and to me it sounds like a strong, no-nonsense kind of woman. I like it for that reason, like it would be something a child could grow into really well. I do prefer [name_f]Edith[/name_f] solely due to the nickname [name_f]Edie[/name_f], there isn’t a great nickname for [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], but some people prefer that. I think if you love it, it’s absolutely usable and yeah, probably due for a comeback.