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Baby names

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Original poster

Eithne pr. Eth-nee/Eth-nay?

31 replies

EarnestDullard · 09/08/2012 13:57

DD2 due in October, and Eithne has so far been the only name DH and I agree on. Having originally heard it in the film The Four Feathers, we though it was pronounced Eth-nee or Eth-nay (or somewhere in between). But having researched a bit, the traditional pronunciations seem to be Enya or Eth-na. I'm not overly keen on those, so I sort of discounted the name. But now, a couple of months later, it's the only name DH still really likes.

So: is Eth-nee/Eth-nay an acceptable alternative pronunciation, or would we technically be pronouncing it wrongly?

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MaryHansack · 11/08/2012 18:47

or possibly eth-neh now i think of it

MaryHansack · 11/08/2012 18:42

well my aging auntie is Irish and her name is eth-nee

babyblabber · 11/08/2012 18:39

I'm Irish too and have only ever heard it pronounced as eth-na (or etna I guess by people who pronounce th like t). And I happen to know a 29 year old eithne who is gorgeous.

KatieTaylor · 11/08/2012 18:36

Thank you!

Well your siobhán will be the only one in her class I'm sure!

Quicknamechange2012 · 11/08/2012 16:06

Quick name change for obvious reasons. KatieTaylor my 20 month old DD is called Siobhan.

PS: congrats on the gold medal Grin

KatieTaylor · 11/08/2012 11:45

irish names are subject to the same rotation i'm sure. I would find it quite odd to hear of a baby called Siobhán for example, even though I know loads who are adults. I think I'd be less surprised to hear of a baby Eithne than a baby Siobhán.

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 11/08/2012 11:40

it is IMO a middle aged woman name, Lots of women who worked with my mum called Eithne, had teachers called Eithne etc, but if you're not in Ireland then people wont associate it like that and will just hear the pretty sound IMO

TiggerWearsATriteSmile · 11/08/2012 06:55

Only ever Et-na.

Sorry but it just makes me think of old spinster ladies, sergeant major types.
It's too harsh for a little kid/squashy newborn IMHO.

airedailleurs · 11/08/2012 06:46

nice name!

mathanxiety · 11/08/2012 06:42

Irish here, and it's only pronounced ETH-neh or EN-yeh (like the singer).

I think the ETH-nee pronunciation is akin to DEER-dree for Deirdre. Just a bit wrong in other words, from an Irish language pov.

I know a little Eithne who is 6. I think it's coming back.

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 11/08/2012 01:19

I am Irish but I think it's fabulous granny-chic.

Only ever heard of Eth-na

amck5700 · 10/08/2012 23:34

But, surely that is the fashion at the moment in the uK anyway?? - the country is apparently heaving in little Ruby/Ida/ivy/Norah's - and if you don't live in the country where the name is seen as dated then does it matter? Not saying it doesn't, just asking.

Slainte · 10/08/2012 23:28

I'm Irish too and would pronounce it Eth-na. Sorry, I agree with LemonLovesLilac, it's a dowdy name.

amck5700 · 10/08/2012 23:17

The only one I have ever heard of is about 10 and is in Scotland

MaryHansack · 10/08/2012 23:15

my auntie is called Eithne and it's eth - nee
she is in her 70s so it must be due a revival

KatieTaylor · 10/08/2012 23:09

Well, seeing as the only one I knew died about five years ago, I'd say it's one of those name like say,,,,,,, Dulcie. YOu know she's going to be 95 or under 5

Original poster
EarnestDullard · 10/08/2012 23:08

Oh, is it really a middle-aged sort of name then? I just saw it on a list of Celtic names and remembered it from The Four Feathers.

I think it's pretty though. Maybe I'll start a revival Grin

OP posts:
KatieTaylor · 10/08/2012 22:59

I knew one and she was Ethnuh , but I think I'd read somewhere that it can be pronounced Enya, which is much nicer!

lol at Brenda, Fidelma and Dymphna coming back!! I'd hardly put Dearbhla in the same category though! I know lots of Dervlas about 35=40. It is not an owlwan's name from where I'm standing.

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 10/08/2012 22:55

I'm Irish and all of em I know are Eth-neh

LemonLovesLilac · 10/08/2012 22:54

Oh god Pollymorfic not Philomena......are you serious?? I agree with you about Eithne being up there with Philomena Dymphna etc.!!

PollyMorfic · 10/08/2012 22:41

Yes, I've only heard it pronounced Etna (like the volcano). And it's right up there with Dymphna, Dearbhla, Fidelma and Brenda in terms of appeallingness.

Elderly nuns' names are coming back in though - I know a couple of little Philomenas, which is quite sweet in a retro kind of way. Confused

PenisVanLesbian · 10/08/2012 22:36

In Dublin its more like Et-na, without the h sound. And it is a mammy kind of name.

LemonLovesLilac · 10/08/2012 22:31

I'm Irish and it is ONLY pronounced as Eth-na! It would also be considered as a super dowdy name!!

Northernexile · 10/08/2012 21:21

I know it as Eth-na

fanjodisfunction · 10/08/2012 21:08

beautiful name I love it too and would dearly love to use it but my last name ends in a 'lee' sound and it just doesnt go.