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Baby names

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

Original poster

Etsuko

114 replies

Tubaluba · 06/09/2014 13:52

or Emiko?

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WaveorCheer · 06/09/2014 20:43

English speakers struggle with the 'tsu' sound, and it would grate on me to hear the name pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable (Et-SU-ko).

I must admit I'm not a huge fan of -ko names at all as I find them a bit old-fashioned. The newest dual heritage girls I know of are Aya and Aika. My fantasy names are Marimo and Chitose though, so I may not have the best taste :o

NotTheKitchenAgainPlease · 06/09/2014 20:31

I love Etsuko - it sounds lovely when I've said them both aloud.

KoalaDownUnder · 06/09/2014 20:30

(And no, it's not some unwritten rule that if someone posts 'Candida or Fanny?', you are only allowed to answer one or the other. People say 'neither' all the time.)

KoalaDownUnder · 06/09/2014 20:27

No, I wouldn't have questioned Jack or James, because they're English names, and this is an English forum. I think that's pretty obvious.

People have plenty of criteria for liking or disliking names. One of mine happens to be whether the name seems incongruous with the child's heritage. You can disagree all you want, but I'm entitled to my opinion. And to post whenever I want to.

I don't think a baby name thread really gets 'derailed', so I wouldn't worry too much.

SunshineAndShadows · 06/09/2014 20:17

If you don't give a toss Koala why keep coming back to attempt to derail the thread? You could simply have asked the OP to clarify her post if you were confused. As both names are not typical Caucasian names the OP's ethnicity is not relevant. She's clearly not asking if you think a Caucasian vs non caucasion name would sound silly on a Caucasian person living in The UK. She's asking which name you prefer. If she'd posted 'jack or James' you wouldn't have questioned it.
Do you actually have an opinion on either name or are you just on this thread to criticise?

YoniMitchell · 06/09/2014 19:53

I prefer Etsuko if it's going to be used in the UK as I can see the other becoming 'Eskimo' in the playground.

LetticeKnollys · 06/09/2014 19:45

Emiko sounds more feminine IMO, if that makes a difference in your considerations (and it might not). Smile

DiaDuit · 06/09/2014 19:32

I prefer Etsuko.

KoalaDownUnder · 06/09/2014 19:19

Oh, and my reason for asking wasn't about cultural appropriation. It's because I think a Japanese name sounds silly on a person who lives in England and looks 100% Caucasian.

Just like I wouldn't call my blue-eyed blonde-haired daughter Mi-Hyun or Changying.

KoalaDownUnder · 06/09/2014 19:04

She didn't 'politely' emphasise anything, Sunshine.

And her OP didn't say 'Which name do you prefer the sound of?' All it said was 'Etsuko or Emiko?' If she wants specific types of answers, she needs to bother to write a more specific OP.

I clearly wasn't the only person who found her tone rude, either. Really, no stranger on the internet could give a toss what you call your child. If you can't be bothered posting an intelligible OP (e.g. 'I'm having a baby girl and I like Etsuko or Emiko; which do you prefer the sound of?'), then don't be short with people who make the effort to engage with you.

Leeds2 · 06/09/2014 18:38

Prefer the sound of Emiko.

VerucaInTheNutRoom · 06/09/2014 18:13

Etsuko is lovely, and Suki is a great suggestion for a nn.

Alisvolatpropiis · 06/09/2014 17:27

I like Etsuko.

Suki could be a nickname?

SunshineAndShadows · 06/09/2014 16:37

Sorry forgot to say. Prefer Emiko

SunshineAndShadows · 06/09/2014 16:36

I don't see anywhere that Tuba was rude Confused Simply clarified that her own heritage is not the question. Why should it be? - when someone asks 'do you prefer Jack or Zachary' they don't usually get questioned on their personal heritage. Why ask if you're not going to make a judgement based on that heritage? The OP's heritage is irrelevant as to whether you prefer the sound of either name, and she politely emphasised that, to stop the thread being derailed.

Original poster
Tubaluba · 06/09/2014 15:40

Not offended at all, I do want honest opinions on the names. My DH prefers Emiko as he thinks Emi is a better nn than Etsy or Etta. I have lots of friends in their 30's and late 20's with Ko names, but I can see why it's out of fashion. It's quite hard trying to find a name to please both of us that also isn't vaguely off in either culture. I'm glad you both found one that you love and works well in either.

OP posts:
MokunMokun · 06/09/2014 15:20

I'd rather not say but it's a bilingual name.

I hope I didn't offend with my comment but I was just surprised to see Etsuko as all the Etsukos I know are over 60 but if you don't mind then that is good.

I would probably choose Emiko as I do love the name Emi and I think Etsuko might be harder for people to pronounce.

TheWorldAccordingToJC · 06/09/2014 14:45

I don't like either. And I also think you're rather rude.

Koala asked a reasonable question.

Original poster
Tubaluba · 06/09/2014 14:43

What names did you go for Moko? I know that ko names are now old fashioned in Japan but that doesn't bother us so much.

OP posts:
picnicbasketcase · 06/09/2014 14:42

I prefer Emiko, but they're both nice.

Mintyy · 06/09/2014 14:39

Emiko then. Hth.

MokunMokun · 06/09/2014 14:38

I live in Japan and they are both quite old fashioned names. The -ko endings for girls' names isn't so popular now. For me I'm afraid I don't really like either name. Emi was on my list for girl's names but DH vetoed it for sounding too old fashioned.

Of course this may not be relevant if you are living in the UK and have no strong connection to Japan.

Original poster
Tubaluba · 06/09/2014 14:35

Which name do you like the sound of most, that's the question.

OP posts:
Mintyy · 06/09/2014 14:33

Sorry, what is it you are asking again? Surely (unless we are Japanese and familiar with both names) we can only comment on how they sound? I would guess you're going to get a 50/50 split.

Original poster
Tubaluba · 06/09/2014 14:30

They are Japanese girls names

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