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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Eithne

32 replies

littlegreengloworm · 10/05/2014 22:51

I am going all around the houses tryin to think of a girls name (irish) that's not overused

I know it's not really common but I think I love it

Pronounced eth na

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skinmysunshine · 19/05/2014 07:53

I like it. It's really pretty. Are you set on an E name? What about one like Xanthe?

NigellasDealer · 19/05/2014 07:29

or Eth-nee

mathanxiety · 19/05/2014 01:20

Oh please choose Eithne -- it can be pronounced Eth-na or Enya.

Original poster

littlegreengloworm · 17/05/2014 20:51

Dh is keen on Ellen so will probably go for it

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soontobeslendergirl · 16/05/2014 11:43

In Scotland, I've only ever come across one - maybe about age 9 or 10 now - they pronounce it Eyeth nee.

I really like it.

Ciara is Irish (or maybe just Gaelic generically?) and is easily understood ( I have a Ciar )

barneychuckles · 16/05/2014 08:58

She will spend the whole of her life telling people how to spell it.

I have this problem with my surname and that is bad enough!

NigellasDealer · 16/05/2014 08:50

FWIW my aunt is called Eth-nee and she is about 80

PunkAssMoFo · 16/05/2014 08:49

Ellen is pretty.
To my none Irish ear, ethne sounds a bit frumpy. If you're in Ireland, fine. If not, it might not cross the waters so well. I do like Irish names in general, just not keen on this one.

ILoveCoreyHaim · 16/05/2014 08:47

Ethne from the film the three feathers. Damn autocorrect but now I am pleased I didn't use it

ILoveCoreyHaim · 16/05/2014 08:45

Ethne was on my list for DD2+3 - Ethane from the film the three feathers. DD has an Irish name with her dad's English surname, my surname is Irish. I wouldn't use another Irish name as DD1 hates her name with a passion. She always looked uncomfortable at group events when people shouted her name the way it reads to someone in England and it sounds awful. Something I didn't think about tbh

RedLentil · 15/05/2014 14:00

Ailbhe is lovely as is Maebh (biased on that one though ).

I know a 40yo Eithne here and it's pron Eth na.

But you will get big dialectal differences between here and Donegal.

Named one daughter Eibhlín after an NI friend who is Ev-Lin but all of cork assumes it's Eileen

Summerbreezing · 15/05/2014 13:51

I'm Irish and over here it's a very dated name - probably the Irish equivalent of Vera or Edna.

Original poster

littlegreengloworm · 14/05/2014 19:39

I it maybe safer to go for Ellen? I just think it could get shortened to Ellie at some stage and like it but a lot about.

Is it dated in a bad way? I only know one. She's 29 and a bit funky.

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NinjaLeprechaun · 14/05/2014 10:36

She's from Donegal, I think, so maybe it's an Ulster thing - rather than strictly NI. Although I did look it up on a baby-name website just now, and that's the pronunciation they give for/in Irish.
But, some names obviously have more than one pronunciation anyway. So feel free to ignore me. It just took me by surprise a bit.

squoosh · 14/05/2014 10:28

I think the Enya pronunciation is in NI. In the South I've only ever heard eth-na and I know a fair few. Three of my cousins are called Eithne!

NinjaLeprechaun · 14/05/2014 10:25

I've only heard Eithne pronounced as Enya, not Ethna/Etna. But I only know one person with that name and her mother is a native Irish speaker, so maybe that makes a difference.

apermanentheadache · 13/05/2014 20:29

I've never heard it before but it's got a really nice sound. I'd go for it.

florascotia · 13/05/2014 20:16

Eithne (Eth-na) has such nice meanings - either from nut/kernel = new life or else from Gaelic aodh = fire (also a symbol of life and hope).

Original poster

littlegreengloworm · 13/05/2014 20:07

Should I go for Ellen or Eithne?

Ellen might be safer???

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Original poster

littlegreengloworm · 11/05/2014 19:21

Eth na is all I've ever heard.

It's growing on me though I will think about it a lot more. I want a name that's not Ellie or Amelia even though I love those names.

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ThingsThatShine · 11/05/2014 19:14

I honestly know 3 people who pronounce it that way! The 2 Northern Irish ones were in the same family so maybe had the same mispronounciation if it's wrong... The other I have no explanation for why she would have it wrong! She said it as Eth-nee herself and everyone called her that. I never questioned it as that's how I knew the name from the other 2!

MrsJoeDolan · 11/05/2014 12:18

Never ever heard it pronounced Eth-nee. I've only ever heard it pronounced Ethna. Thee were a few in my class in school. Not a name I've heard since. Up there with Deirdre (Deirdra not Deirdree) as a popular name in 80s but not so much since

grocklebox · 11/05/2014 12:12

Never in my life heard of ethnee as a pronounciation. It just doesnt make that sound in Irish.

Original poster

littlegreengloworm · 11/05/2014 09:38

Squoosh ha ha

I actually like ailbhe but my aunt put me off ..said it sounds like vulva .. I know, I know. I didn't really see the connection

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squoosh · 11/05/2014 03:00

Ummm, it's a bit dated and frumpy to me. Reminds me of a religion teacher who'd tell you'd go to hell if you indulged in any 'heavy petting' at the school disco.

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