I have a 15 month old daughter named [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]. She goes by [name_f]Etta[/name_f]. I have had a hard time really embracing this name and have expressed my concern to my husband and family members. In the beginning, no one took me very seriously. They told me I was hormonal. Well, here I am 15 months later and still questioning her name. People mispronounce it often and I can tell most people don’t like it when I tell them her name. My husband still thinks I’m crazy for wanting to change it. Not sure what to change it to. I just fear she will grow up and hate her name and I’lll always regret naming her [name_f]Etta[/name_f]. Any advice?
At 15 months old she knows her name, but if you really feel that strongly about it, change it-and do it soon!
However, I wouldn’t go with [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u]…
If you like [name_f]Mary[/name_f] then I would use [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] or [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] or [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u] [name_f]Etta[/name_f] so at least part of her original name is still in there…after all this time it has to have some sort of sentimental value, no?
Good luck!
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t change it! I [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is a truely beautiful combination. It’s also unique; I’ve not once met an [name_f]Etta[/name_f]. It’s pretty, and it works. It’s not overboard with classic names or the spellings, they’re simple and sweet.
Mispronunciation is common. I know an [name_f]Evie[/name_f] who’s name is pronounced “eh-vee” and one pronounced “ee-vee,” so it also may be just that they think of it as pronounced the one way. My name is commonly misspelled, but something like [name_f]Etta[/name_f], once said, will not have that problem.
If you really feel so strongly against it, try calling her by a nickname- [name_f]Mae[/name_f], for example- until she grows into [name_f]Etta[/name_f]. And if she really hates it as she grows, she’ll probably ask to go by something else.
I think [name_f]Etta[/name_f] should stay. It’s gorgeous.
I love [name_f]Etta[/name_f]. I have only met one. A cousin-in-law and I really like it. [name_f]Mae[/name_f], [name_f]Em[/name_f], [name_f]Emmy[/name_f], [name_f]Ettie[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] all work as obvious alternatives that you could use now or she could choose later.
I think it’s a great name. I agree with the other posters. It’s classic but uncommon. If you really can’t live with it then I think you should just add a first name and leave it as a middle rather than scrap it altogether.
I think [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is adorable! So unique and fresh. It seems like a pretty intuitive name to pronounce, as well. And at 15 months… Well, she knows her name, right? I think it would be hard to change her name at this point, especially when everyone else knows her name is [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f].
I also agree that mispronunciation is common. My name is [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u] (pronounced: lind-zee) and, even as a pretty common name, a lot of people have managed to mispronounce it. I’ve been called [name_u]Lisa[/name_u], [name_u]Lesley[/name_u], Lined-say, [name_f]Lin[/name_f]-say, etc. So, unless you choose the names [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] or [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], mispronunciation is a factor.
It does sound like you don’t really like [name_f]Etta[/name_f], though. A bigger question to ask yourself may be: why? And why change the name at this point? Is it really because you are afraid your daughter may hate it someday (which you have no way of knowing, she may love it)? Or is this name stuff masking deeper/other anxieties?
You definitely shouldn’t change her name. Fifteen months is too old. She well and truly knows her name by now. [name_f]Etta[/name_f] is a nice name.
So, it sounds like the issues you have with the name are:
1.) People mispronounce it
2.) You feel as though people don’t like it, therefore…
3.) You are worried that your daughter won’t like it some day
Can I ask why you think people don’t like it? Is it a much more unique name than the other names of children in your family/social circle? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you feel like a bit of an outsider for having a more unique name?
Really, there’s nothing bad about this name at all. Stylistically, it’s nearly the same name as [name_f]Emma[/name_f], a very popular and well-loved name—it just has a different letter in the two middle spots. It’s a charming name, a beautiful combo, and there’s really no good reason why anyone shouldn’t like it. And the mispronunciation? Come on! [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u], anyone? It’s not like this name is unheard of, or even remotely difficult or unintuitive to pronounce.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you feel like it’s missing something, perhaps? My only issue with shorter, two-syllable names like this are that they’re, well, short. I tend to prefer longer names that I can whittle down to a cute nickname, but that’s just me.
What about adding a second middle name? This could solve the issue of feeling like the name is lacking something (if you do feel that way) AND if your worst fear comes true that your daughter ends up hating her name someday (which I really cannot imagine that she would), she can go by a middle name. Not that she couldn’t go by [name_f]Mae[/name_f] if she wanted, but a second middle would give another option AND allow you to stick in a name that you truly love to her already beautiful name (that you’re unfortunately so unsure of). Since [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is unobtrusive, I think a second middle would be a great idea.
Are there any names you have in mind that you really love?
What about trying out a name that could be easily shortened to [name_f]Etta[/name_f] for a while and see how you like it?
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
Best of luck!
It’s lovely. I thought of [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] right away. Great namesake, a very talented [name_u]Jazz[/name_u] singer (look up “[name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] - A [name_f]Sunday[/name_f] Kind of [name_f]Love[/name_f]” on youtube). I love the name, it was very common in the 1800s - and though its much less common now, it’s not like its spelled or pronounced crazy or anything. Its not that far off from [name_f]Emma[/name_f] or [name_f]Ella[/name_f], and everyone knows how to pronounce those. Although its more unusual its just as pretty - to me it’s smokier & sexier, but that’s probably because of the association in my mind with the musician.
I think you made a beautiful choice with [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f], and I definitely don’t think you should change it.
I agree with [name_u]Jem[/name_u]. Find something longer that has [name_f]Etta[/name_f] in it. [name_f]Julietta[/name_f] nn [name_f]Etta[/name_f] or [name_u]Julie[/name_u] later if you’d like it more. Not as confusing for her that way. Here are more ideas:
[name_f]Aletta[/name_f]
[name_f]Benedetta[/name_f]
[name_f]Colletta[/name_f]
[name_f]Coretta[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f]
[name_f]Gianetta[/name_f]
[name_f]Henrietta[/name_f]
Jaquenetta
[name_f]Jetta[/name_f]
[name_f]Loretta[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucetta[/name_f]
[name_f]Marietta[/name_f]
Marquetta
[name_f]Odetta[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosetta[/name_f]
[name_f]Yetta[/name_f]
If you really dislike it, you should change it while she’s still small. It’ll be harder later. A name is forever so you should love it.
I think poster above has great suggestions. I do think it’s too late to start from scratch. Pick some like [name_f]Julietta[/name_f] or [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f]. Or just go with [name_f]Etta[/name_f]. Definitely do it fast, because I don’t think you have too much time.
Also [name_f]Evetta[/name_f]
[name_f]Annetta[/name_f]
Good [name_m]Luck[/name_m]!
[name_f]Coretta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is a nice combo. Maybe [name_f]Greta[/name_f]?
Stretching it a little more-
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]/[name_f]Charlotta[/name_f]
[name_f]Elisabeta[/name_f]
[name_f]Bernadette[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
I think we’d need to know a little more to really offer reassurance. It’s a pretty name though.
[name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is very darling, really it is. But since she’s 15 months old and knows it by now, and you really want to change it, why not change it to something like [name_f]Odetta[/name_f], [name_f]Bernadetta[/name_f], [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f], [name_f]Harrietta[/name_f], [name_f]Arietta[/name_f], [name_f]Isabetta[/name_f], [name_f]Alouetta[/name_f], [name_f]Annetta[/name_f], Fiametta, [name_f]Floretta[/name_f], [name_f]Evetta[/name_f], Novetta, [name_f]Julietta[/name_f], [name_f]Loretta[/name_f]/[name_f]Lauretta[/name_f], [name_f]Luetta[/name_f], [name_f]Lucetta[/name_f], [name_f]Lynnetta[/name_f], [name_f]Marietta[/name_f], [name_f]Nanetta[/name_f], [name_f]Rosetta[/name_f], Aurletta/Orletta, [name_f]Olivetta[/name_f], [name_f]Scarletta[/name_f], [name_f]Violetta[/name_f], [name_f]Willetta[/name_f], Wynetta/Winetta, Ionetta (ee-oh-netta or eye-oh-netta). That way she know’s she’s [name_f]Etta[/name_f], but as she gets older learns her whole first name. It’ll also keep both you and your husband happy.
My fave pairings:
[name_f]Odetta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Harrietta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Floretta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Evetta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Julietta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Lauretta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucetta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Lynnetta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Marietta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosetta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Olivetta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]- absolute fave; so cute! nn [name_u]Ollie[/name_u], [name_f]Liv[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f].
Livetta [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Violetta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Willetta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
I agree with the others that if you change it you need to do it soon and changing it to a name [name_f]Etta[/name_f] can be a nn for would be your best bet. There are plenty of full names for [name_f]Etta[/name_f] if you chose to go that route. You already got plenty of suggustions but I’m gonna add [name_f]Estelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Estella[/name_f] nn [name_f]Etta[/name_f]. Good luck!
I don’t think it’s your name to change anymore–your daughter is an individual and you gave her a name at birth. It belongs to her now. I think you should stop worrying about the name so much (and especially what others think of it) and just focus on giving your precious little girl a beautiful childhood.
Leave it! [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is so adorable and unique. And it would be confusing at this point. Try to remember all the reasons you loved [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] to start with. I agree with rkrd, just focus on your sweet girl now.
Thank you all very much for your input!
I love [name_f]Etta[/name_f]! It’s unique and sounds classy and spunky to me. I’m surprised people mispronounce it a lot, the pronunciation seems pretty obvious to me. A good friend of mine has a unique name that gets mispronounced a lot but it’s never a big deal, she just corrects people and that’s the end of it. She’s always said she likes having an uncommon name and it doesn’t bother her that she has to correct people about pronunciation sometimes. I don’t think you should change it. But what about calling her [name_f]Etty[/name_f] as a nickname? I think its really cute and different enough than [name_f]Etta[/name_f] that it might be a nice compromise so you don’t have to completely change her name.
[name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is adorable! At this point, she knows her name and I’m sure she looks like an [name_f]Etta[/name_f] and everyone has fallen in love with her with that name. My name is [name_f]Chandra[/name_f] and people can never say it right and I hate it. I’m pretty sure she won’t hate it and if she does, she can change it or just live with it. It isn’t that bad! [name_f]Etta[/name_f] was a great choice.