When I was a little girl, I thought [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] was the most beautiful name in the world and in fact, told my mother that quite earnestly. The only [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] I knew was on I [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] and I was quite fond of her.
[name_u]True[/name_u], I lisped it as âEsselâ, but still I was sincere.
Of course in the intervening years I thought how bizarre, what a horrible name, but more bizarre still, I have just overnight begun to love the name again.
Canât say I still feel itâs the most beautiful, but thereâs something about [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], [name_u]Joan[/name_u], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Louise[/name_f], [name_u]Jean[/name_u] that Iâm appreciating lately. Perhaps their common sense, adult quality? A certain solidity? A humility?
Wondering if anyone else on earth loves [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]?
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f] is really sweet. I also have a soft spot for no-nonsense âold ladyâ names, like [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] and [name_f]Dolores[/name_f].
Not [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] so much, but I get your thinking (I like [name_f]Esther[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f] and [name_f]Louise[/name_f]). Iâm wondering when/if the next generation down will come back: [name_f]Christine[/name_f], [name_f]Janet[/name_f], [name_f]Susan[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Patricia[/name_f], [name_f]Virginia[/name_f] etc.
As I didnât grow up somewhere where [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] was used and havenât seen any Ethels on TV, I donât associate it with old ladies like others do. I find its sound attractive! I used to love the similar [name_m]Edel[/name_m] about a year ago.
I adore [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]. Like emmievis, where I grew up the name was hardly used. I do know an [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] now, sheâs a co-worker. I think it sounds soft but not frilly.
I just canât get behind [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], although I love some other âold lady chicâ names like [name_f]Esther[/name_f]/[name_f]Hester[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Ida[/name_f] and [name_f]Pearl[/name_f].
I always give the same response to this question: to me, the single most effortlessly beautiful and perfect female name is [name_f]Eve[/name_f].
I actually kind of like [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] in an abstract way. The sounds are nice. But I just canât imagine it on a baby or a free spirited young woman, and it feels perhaps a bit too stuffy for 2018. But Iâve never met one, so who knows?
From the names you mentioned I adore [name_u]Joan[/name_u]. Something about that name feels very strong and beautiful to me. (I like a lot of names with the âownâ sound in them.) To borrow your words, to me they have a kind of âcommon sense, adult qualityâ and âa certain solidity.â Spot on. Thatâs why I like [name_u]Joan[/name_u] as a middle for [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f]. [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_u]Joan[/name_u], in my mind, balances the long, flowy feminine name with a grounded, strong middle. (For the record, I would probably consider [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] the most beautiful name in the world.)
So I think [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] could definitely work if itâs paired right. That way she could always go by the other name if she prefers it.
Yes, [name_u]Joan[/name_u] is an amazing name! It is absolutely impossible for me to imagine an incompetent or weak [name_u]Joan[/name_u]. And [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] is gorgeous.
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f] isnât on my list, but I do think it is super sweet.
I certainly have a soft spot for âold ladyâ names, and one of my top favorite names is [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], and I often hear that this is too much of an old lady name, and they could never imagine it on anyone younger, but that has never swayed me.
I donât personally like [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] because I think of [name_f]Ethyl[/name_f] alcohol when I first hear those sounds and kind of forget it is a name, but with current name trends I think it could be a good fit for a baby. From your list I love [name_f]Louise[/name_f]; I think the sounds are really pretty together.
A name I loved since I was little is [name_f]Silje[/name_f] (pronounced like Silka). A [name_m]German[/name_m] waitress named [name_f]Silje[/name_f] who was really young and pretty and sweet to me in particular worked at my favorite restaurant in town when I was little and always remembered me, so I always loved her name. I think I might try to use a similar name in [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] to honor that.
I love [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] but Iâve never actually met one. I adore âold-ladyâ names because the marjority of the time theyâre very uncommon regarding the newborn generation, but they still have centuries of usage. Plus I think itâs downright adorable to hear a little baby be called [name_f]Hilda[/name_f] or [name_f]Millicent[/name_f]!
I am an avid âI [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]â fan, so [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] has seemed like a charming name to me for years, as [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] Mertz is very funny and loveable. [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] has a soft, sweet, and smooth sound that seems timeless and gorgeous to me, and I can easily imagine it on a little girl, a young woman, and, of course, an older woman, too. In my eyes, itâs classic, and I canât fathom how names like [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] ever got the words âclunky old ladyâ attached to them! It is very elegant and mature and is ripe for revival. Iâll stop now before Iâve gone and written myself a novella! I just love [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] so much!
I think outside of context, [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] is actually beautiful. Eth is soft and ethereal sounding and -el is sweet and beautiful. However, itâs association with elderly women kind of sweeps that to the way side.
I donât have the same feelings on [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], necessarily, but I feel like [name_f]Edith[/name_f] is in the same category and I love that one. There are several names from that era I wish I loved more but they seem stuck to me. [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] was a beloved great aunt, but I just canât get behind it. [name_u]Joan[/name_u] is a real bad ass saint name that I wish I loved more. [name_f]Maude[/name_f] means âstrong in battleâ which I love, but the sound on my ears is too harsh. I love that there is legacy behind these names, tons of strong and notable women with the older names vs the more modern ones.
[name_m]Ah[/name_m], another [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] Mertz fan!
Yeah, I can see calling it older, or even old lady, but not âclunkyâ â to me [name_f]Winifred[/name_f], [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], and [name_f]Hortense[/name_f] are clunky with their hard sounds, though I love them too.
But [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] does as you aptly say have a âsoft, sweet, and smooth soundâ. I love [name_f]Bertha[/name_f], [name_f]Theodora[/name_f], [name_f]Theda[/name_f], [name_f]Theodosia[/name_f], and other names with that soft th sound.
I was never particularly fond of [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], but much like you, I was head over heels in love with [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] growing up. I named my favorite doll & two pets [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], and then I went through a phase where I didnât like it as much⌠and now Iâm beginning to love it again. It just feels so classy, sweet and timeless. I love the sound and natural flow of the name.
I have considered [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] as my mumâs foster mum (my [name_f]Nana[/name_f] and only grandparent I had a proper relationship with) was called [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], as was my paternal grandmother (who I also loved but who oddly disowned me in my 20s). Couldnât bring myself to consider the name seriously and then had 4 boysâŚ
I loved the name [name_f]Jolene[/name_f] (from the songâŚ) as a child. No longer would consider using that!
The only [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] I knew was on I [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] and I was quite fond of her.
In my eyes, itâs classic, and I canât fathom how names like [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] ever got the words âclunky old ladyâ attached to them! It is very elegant and mature and is ripe for revival. Iâll stop now before Iâve gone and written myself a novella! 
I just love [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] so much!