Girl name: Étaín

32 replies

kittyonthebeam · 27/08/2010 13:30

Off the cuff what comes to mind?

We'd probably spell it Etaine.

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kittyonthebeam · 27/08/2010 14:16

I can barely spell it myself and we are going to always be living in a non gaelic speaking country so there will be a lifetime of correcting pronounciation but I don't care I am really taken with it!!

Am I being selfish putting that on my daughter?

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morganlebuffay · 27/08/2010 14:13

Thanks chipmonkey.

Considering the pronunciation, I think Étaín is marginally better than Etaine, which looks French to me and makes me want to pronounce it "ee-TEN", or "ee-TAIN" sort of like Elaine. However you spell it, though, I think it will be difficult unless you live in Ireland.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 27/08/2010 13:59

Lovely name, my only reservation would be the number of accents on it. Fine if you live in a Gaelic speaking place, less good if you move to somewhere else. I trained as a nurse with a number of Irish women, Grainne, was pronounced Grain or Grainy and Aofe, well she never stood a chance. Apologies if I have mispelled the names.

zazen · 27/08/2010 13:57

Étaín Doyle sprang to my mind also stledger.

Étaín is a sun goddess and heroine of ancient Irish mythology: we nearly went for it for DD.

chipmonkey · 27/08/2010 13:48

Girls name, pronounce ay-tawn.
Lovely name. The little one I know called it is lovely and very talented!

morganlebuffay · 27/08/2010 13:43

So how do you say it?

Nothing comes to mind, just puzzlement over what nationality and gender it is, and pronunciation. (so is it Irish then, going by stleger's post?)

stleger · 27/08/2010 13:36

The name of the lady who runs the Irish communications ombubsman thing. And I know how to say it but not spell it.

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