Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Unflip

1 2

Original poster

Girl name: Étaín

32 replies

kittyonthebeam · 27/08/2010 13:30

Off the cuff what comes to mind?

We'd probably spell it Etaine.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

chipmonkey · 28/08/2010 23:42

Stleger I am glad about that. I thought I had it wrong when I met the Etain I know as I secretly preferred the Etain-rhymes-with-Elaine version!

Original poster

kittyonthebeam · 28/08/2010 11:40

Oh thank you stleger, very kind of you. And thanks for the link must look it up now.

OP posts:

stleger · 28/08/2010 10:20

Gotcha! It is pretty. Www.babynamesofireland.com has pronunciation, and a very posh gentleman telling you the history of the name, and related legends. He is saying it more or less to rhyme with Elaine.

Original poster

kittyonthebeam · 28/08/2010 09:26

My daughter's name is www.babyhold.com/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,70/func,view/id,144607/catid,2/limit,6/limitstart,0/

The post with the rose. It is a very unusual name and I'd out myself immediately if I just wrote it down. We are very ungreek btw, though my Dad is Persian and all his family have a greek middle name for whatever weird reason.

An Irish name is a bit 'out there' for us as no connection, just love the story behind it.

It would fit with our last name I guess. Will ask husband for opinion though ultimately it'll be me who decides. I push, I have the last say

Thank you stleger, I will search online for a website to pronounce it for me.

OP posts:

mathanxiety · 28/08/2010 01:34

Echo?

wisteria12 · 28/08/2010 01:07

maryz - The fact that people have to argue over the pronunciation is my point exactly. I mean, I'd pronounce Caoilfhionn "Kowillfeeon" for goodness' sake.

maryz · 27/08/2010 23:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stleger · 27/08/2010 23:32

Ya reckon? I have a customer called Grainne, I pronounce it the way she pronounces it, my boss strangles it (he was educated through Irish). I must ask him how to pronounce Etain. It is a nice name, looking at it written down, it should be user friendly!

maryz · 27/08/2010 23:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stleger · 27/08/2010 22:39

I wanna know the Greek name too! Pronunciation of Irish names always lead to chaos on here, I think you need to hear it aloud; plus different regional accents vary it.

wisteria12 · 27/08/2010 22:24

kittyonthebeam - What's your DC's name? I love love love Greek names (and Greek men people) but I'm just too un-Greek to pull one off.

RE: Etain or however you spell it, I think it sounds lovely but I honestly would have no clue how to pronounce it without someone telling me. It's the curse of gaelic names unfortunately; they're lovely once you hear them aloud, but written down they're a nightmare.

chipmonkey · 27/08/2010 20:21

All I know about her is that at some stage she sat by a well!

maryz · 27/08/2010 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chipmonkey · 27/08/2010 20:01

Now, Etaoin would be pronounced like Elaine but with a "t"

But I usually find people outside Ireland get confused by too many vowels.

stleger · 27/08/2010 18:49

I'm sure there is a website which pronounces Irish names out loud? Does it go well with your surname? My dd1 has a name, 4 letters, very phonetic English pronunciation - nobody seems able to say it or spell it first time.

ValiumSingleton · 27/08/2010 18:28

I've heard of Etaoin.

Original poster

kittyonthebeam · 27/08/2010 17:21

Our first one has a very old greek name that really no one has but sounds french so not a problem. Like unusual names if they are not very out there

OP posts:

Bagpusstree · 27/08/2010 17:12

Reading the thread title, I pronounced it as its spelt, what with being un-cultured an all.... 'Eh-tayn"

Quite like it though, definitely unusual without being far out there.

Original poster

kittyonthebeam · 27/08/2010 17:10

I know prettybird. Hence the importance of fada and spelling. It will definitely not be pronounced french...I hope.

I've trailed google but cannot come up with a comclusive spelling. I am v v confused now. I think this name might be too challenging for me. hmmm

OP posts:

Mahraih · 27/08/2010 17:06

I like it, written, but would be confused as to how to pronounce it if someone didn't explain.

But yes, it has a lot of charm when writtenm it's cute.

prettybird · 27/08/2010 16:58

"étain" is pewter or tin in French.

Original poster

kittyonthebeam · 27/08/2010 16:43

I didn't know this math. Thanks for your input. Unforch I only know 1 Gaelic speaker. Have only seen the writing as in my OP, never knew there was a different one. I can't even do a fada on my old rusty laptop.

Off to google a different spelling. Many thanks! Cannot really find anyone alive with that name. Does it have a bad connotation?

OP posts:

BabyBolat · 27/08/2010 15:40

It's gorgeous! No one can pronounce my sons name properly (even me sometimes) but it doesn't matter - if you love a name you love it xxx

mathanxiety · 27/08/2010 15:32

If you put the fada on the I you make the I sound EEE (long E). So you come up with Ay-teen if you spell it as in the OP.

If you want to end up with AY-tawn you need the fada on the E and then the A.

Original poster

kittyonthebeam · 27/08/2010 14:17

Thanks Morgan, hadn't considered that

True.

OP posts:

Unflip

1 2