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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ethan - common or suitably middle class?

89 replies

nnaturegirl · 20/11/2014 20:05

My dh and I love the name Ethan, particularly because we thought it was really unusual, but when we consulted the top baby name lists it appears to have been Top 20 for years (neither of us have ever met an Ethan though). Are we going to find that naming him Ethan means he is one of many of the same name when he gets to school?

Also, being middle class parents, we do not wish to unwittingly bestow a chavvy name on our pfb, but we have no point of reference for Ethan. Is it suitably middle class or does it belong with Kai and Jayden?

Thank you!

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weegiemum · 14/03/2016 16:46

I know a late teen Ethan who was born a week or so before Mission:Impossible was released.

His surname is Hunt.

Dont do this!

Bluesand1 · 14/03/2016 16:42

Me too...and I hate the word 'chav' but as awful as it sounds you don't want a name with negative connotations for the majority of people. Anyway Ethan doesn't seem to fall in that category thankfully

usual · 14/03/2016 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Vixxfacee · 14/03/2016 16:28

I hate people who describe themselves as middle class.

BikeRunSki · 14/03/2016 16:28

I know several (at least 6) Ethans age 7 and under. Never met, or heard of, any others apart from Ethan Hawke. One is the son of an aneathatist, one is the son of sn unemployed fork lift driver. Mske of that what you will.

When DNeph was called Ethan, 4 years ago, FiL commented on how unusual it was, and a name he'd never come across outside the USA (he travels a lot, and widely, for work). He was genuinely surprised when we looked it up on the ONS charts and it was something like 18th most popular boys name the previous year.

I don't think you can hang any social assumptions on Ethan, but it screams "2010s".

ShowOfHands · 14/03/2016 16:25

It's best to start your own thread instead of resurrecting an old one. As you can see, people respond to the op most of the time.

Nowt wrong with Ethan btw. I know several. All lovely young boys.

Bluesand1 · 14/03/2016 16:19

Ah thank you Blue. Actually the only Kai I know is a lovely guy and half Swedish

OddBoots · 14/03/2016 16:17

It depends where you live and how you would feel if the 'th' was pronounced as 'ff'.

Blu · 14/03/2016 16:09

BluesandI - re-read the OP to understand the Kai comment.

Bluesand1 · 14/03/2016 14:53

I didn't post the original...Thank you

Ilovegummibaers · 14/03/2016 14:36

I really don't like Ethan. It doesn't sound elegant or classy to my ears. I just prefer other names.

But I find your op quite arrogant and don't like the term 'chavvy'.

VocationalGoat · 14/03/2016 10:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RufusTheReindeer · 14/03/2016 10:19

There were 3 ethans in my sons class

2 with the same initials...made naming school uniform a pain in the arse

Ethan is what hapoens when you let my husband pick a name Smile

Bluesand1 · 14/03/2016 10:13

I don't understand the Kai comment? Sorry...

Blu · 14/03/2016 09:40

The only Kai I know is middle class.

Babylove2015 · 14/03/2016 09:01

I can fully understand why you don't want a ' Chardonnay' type name. Ethan doesn't sound middle class or council. It just sounds an average name to my ears.

Imnotacelebgetmeouttahere · 14/03/2016 08:49

I have an Ethan - I simply liked the name and felt it wasn't too out there or too popular in our area < naice village in SE > - if ta pronounced properly with the 'th' sound I love it but I do Hmm when someone I know calls him "e-fan"

WizardOfToss · 14/03/2016 08:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluesand1 · 14/03/2016 07:59

Thanks guys. I don't know any others so good to get an outside perspective even if it isn't all good...!

ddeemummy · 13/03/2016 19:21

Ethan is popular but not chavvy. Have a few in kids school and 2 under 7 on our street

MamaLazarou · 13/03/2016 14:10

I wouldn't worry, Bluesand - people who describe names as 'chavvy' are not people whose opinions should be valued.

I don't ascribe the name Ethan to any particular class or group. It's hella popular at the moment, though (I know of three born in 2014 to my friends alone!).

Bluesand1 · 13/03/2016 08:50

Just came across this thread as I have been worrying since joining this forum and seeing 'chav' comments about various different names (including what I would consider some old biblical and traditional names) that I may have given my child Ethan a name with negative connotations which is sad really but some people do make assumptions. Would you worry? In which parts of the country is this the case cause I had never heard that before....Ethan does appear in the Archers Wink
Thank you

Chocrock · 21/11/2014 17:27

I thought it was a Jewish name?
It's very popular nowadays.

ataposaurus · 21/11/2014 17:19

I have noticed 2 Ethans in my kids' nursery recently so think it is getting popular. I know it is very popular in US (it may even be top 5). I would think of it as trendy and a bit American but not particularly 'chavvy' (for want of better word).

AugustaGloop · 21/11/2014 17:15

My very posh colleague has just named his son Ethan.

I don't really like names with the "th" sound. Not sure why (maybe because in some parts of the country a lot of people would pronounce it "ff").

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