Although I do not necessarily favor most of these names, I do wonder if an -ette or -etta suffix trend is happening now (or is about to happen) in girls’ names?
[name_f]Scarlet/name_f and [name_f]Violet[/name_f] and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] are popular (at least at nameberry) and here are some others. I am wondering if there are any that people think will make it big [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]. Or that should make it big? Also, I am sure I am missing some.
These kinds of names peaked in about the late 1930s, so soon they will all probably be due for revival on the vintage trend. It’s unsurprising they’re starting to pop up now.
One [name_f]Etta[/name_f] name I like is [name_f]Annetta[/name_f], I think it’s very lovely. I also like [name_f]Georgette[/name_f] and [name_f]Claudette[/name_f]. [name_f]Georgette[/name_f] is in my signature, actually.
I’m quite partial to [name_f]Georgette[/name_f] myself. It reminds me of my late grandmother’s grey cat and the Regency writer [name_f]Georgette[/name_f] Heyer. I think there’s also a kind of fabric called georgette.
I did forget to add [name_f]Linnet[/name_f] to the list, another one I like.
I think [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] are the next few tha will make it “big”, though not as big as [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f] or [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f].
[name_f]Colette[/name_f] and [name_f]Odette[/name_f] (maybe [name_f]Lisette[/name_f], too) might have the [name_m]French[/name_m] thing going for them, so I can see people liking these, too.
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f] will always be associated with [name_u]Les[/name_u] Misérables and [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f] with [name_f]Marie[/name_f], so I think there will always be a few people choosing them, but they won’t blow up like the others.
The rest seem like they will need another 20+ years to get more popular as they often incorporate still “dated” names ([name_f]Jeanette[/name_f], [name_u]Simone[/name_u], [name_m]Paul/name_m, [name_u]Lynn[/name_u], [name_f]Loretta[/name_f]) or are rather clunky themselves ([name_f]Bernadette[/name_f]).
The -ette ending, making a “diminutive” form of a more traditional name isn’t very popular right now ([name_u]Claude[/name_u]->[name_f]Claudette[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f]->[name_f]Violette[/name_f], etc.). It’s funny though… if you drop the extra “te” on the end, and make the spelling a little less elaborate, the name gains popularity: [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f].
I’ve noticed that names ending -lyn seem to be very popular: [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u], [name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f], [name_f]Adalyn[/name_f], [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], [name_f]Kaelyn[/name_f].
I like [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], but I like even better [name_f]Jessamine[/name_f], [name_f]Jessamyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Jocelyn[/name_f], even [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f], even very slightly [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f].
I don’t like that -ette is a diminutive though there are a few on the list I fancy.
I do like [name_f]Georgette[/name_f] and [name_f]Jeannette[/name_f], but that’s largely because of personal associations like the [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] carol I’ve always loved, Bring a Torch, [name_f]Jeannette[/name_f] [name_f]Isabella[/name_f].
I think I’m just hungry for new names to make it big, even if I wouldn’t name my child them because I teach and it seems to me it is the same boring names over and over. Names much nicer than [name_f]Janet[/name_f] (which I frankly dislike) but too much of a muchness.
I love the femininity and softness an “ette” ending brings. My daughter has a mn “ette”, but that’s only because [name_f]Betty[/name_f] was one of the two names we smushed for it. I do see that it may be an upcoming trend, though will different lead in-s than in the past.
And wow! You have even wilder, bolder name favorites than I do (I like [name_u]Tangier[/name_u], [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u], [name_f]Tangerine[/name_f], among others).
PS I forgot [name_f]Minuet[/name_f] and [name_f]Manette[/name_f] (and I really like the former).
I think you may be right, lesliemarion. It will be interesting to see if some of the names you mentioned (especially [name_f]Colette[/name_f], [name_f]Cosette[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Jeanette[/name_f], [name_f]Rosetta[/name_f], and [name_f]Odette[/name_f]) will rise in future years. Maybe even [name_f]Etta[/name_f] itself will continue to rise. Those names all seem right in line with [name_f]Violet[/name_f] and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]. I think these names will especially rise in about 30-40 years, when names like [name_f]Annette[/name_f] should be due for a comeback.
It gives me a kick to see that tonight’s [name_f]Pam[/name_f] and [name_f]Linda[/name_f] blog is about -etta names! One of the most pleasurable aspects of nameberry is predicting trends; it allows us all to feel like bookies and betting pool experts!
And I agree that the names you chose from this type of name do seem more likely to rise than others.
I’m still rooting for [name_f]Paulette[/name_f] and [name_f]Georgette[/name_f] too – they seem less musty to me than quaint and delicate.
Bookies without the money It’s still fun, though, and it’s an amazing feeling when you’re right about a trend or name prediction.
[name_f]Georgette[/name_f] definitely has potential, especially with the nickname [name_u]Georgie[/name_u]. [name_f]Paulette[/name_f] isn’t my favorite, I vastly prefer [name_f]Pauline[/name_f] (my late grandmother’s name), and I think [name_f]Pauline[/name_f] is more likely to rise due to a celebrity using it recently.
I also forgot to mention earlier that a celebrity this year used [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f]. Maybe it’s a sign that it’s coming back?
It’s still fun, though, and it’s an amazing feeling when you’re right about a trend or name prediction.