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Baby names

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

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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!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Pippidoeswhatshewants · 21/11/2014 16:12

In our neck of the woods Ethan has stopped being MC and is now quite popular with the even lower classes.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 21/11/2014 16:05

If you are having this kind of dilemma, just stick with Rupert or Giles and be done with it.

I know one Ethan, he is 13 and a lovely lad. His family live in a rented semi-detached house though - so unsure whether they would be considered good enough for your standards.

dottytablecloth · 21/11/2014 15:55

I'm a teacher and Ethan is a v v popular name in recent years.

You sound awful by the way.

snufflebum · 21/11/2014 15:28

Haha Middleton, they just pronounce it Shahvay dontchaknow

MiddletonPink · 21/11/2014 15:20

Middle class people don't mention the chavvy word

that's if this isn't horse shit

snufflebum · 21/11/2014 15:14

at a suitably middle class person using the word 'common'.

whatsagoodusername · 21/11/2014 13:13

I think american with ethan. Not sure why!

I'm American. Maybe that's why I liked it. Although I've only actually met one American Ethan, who is probably in his 30s now. All the other few Ethans I have met are British.

It is also Biblical.

midnight1983 · 21/11/2014 12:21

Wow, you sound like a judgemental person. Wind up?

pommedeterre · 21/11/2014 12:08

I know a 3 year old and 10 year old one!

I like it.

Worrying about popularity and school is unhelpful I think. Dd1 has top 20-25 name and at 2 local nurseries and 1 local school have never met another one. Lots of repetition of names not in too 100 though!

MyCrazyLife · 21/11/2014 12:01

I don't like it, and it's definitely not middle class!

Sorry but an Ethan pissed on my son in school last year :(

SquirrelledAway · 21/11/2014 11:56

Well, if The Archers is going to provide baby name inspiration, it could only be ...

Mungo.

Riverland · 21/11/2014 11:53

I know a mc Ethan. Only one, though. I'm not sure if it might be a bit chav.

If I were you I'd err on the side of caution, though any of us could unwittingly name our child the next Sharon type name.

Squirm · 21/11/2014 11:47

It's not MC, nor the opposite.
It's in the same pile as Joshua.

Leviticus · 20/11/2014 21:50

Because Ethan Hawke was the first famous Ethan I reckon. I think it's American too.

SevenZarkSeven · 20/11/2014 21:43

I think american with ethan. Not sure why!

If you like it then use it.

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 20/11/2014 21:41

A very mc-sounding woman in The Archers has just had a baby called Ethan, if that helps.

Leviticus · 20/11/2014 21:38

I could tell you were being funny OP and it made me laugh.

I know a few under 5 Ethans. All from reasonable stock.

TheCowThatLaughs · 20/11/2014 21:32

I knew brothers called Kai and Ethan. Does that help at all?
I think of Ethan as a sort of "surfer dude" name

spamanderson · 20/11/2014 21:25

I love Ethan, I wouldn't call it 'chavvy', particularly middle class or posh, just a nice name.

burgatroyd · 20/11/2014 21:04

How about Nathan? Or Nathanial. That's quite posh.

Original poster

nnaturegirl · 20/11/2014 20:46

Apologies - hadn't meant to offend anyone with my post. I'd meant it to come across more tongue in cheek than it obviously has. Thanks NotMrsTumble, it is really about not wanting to saddle the child with a name that has unintended connotations.

OP posts:

Mrsgrumble · 20/11/2014 20:42

Ethan Bucket

That's cheered me up

BIWI · 20/11/2014 20:20

Welcome to Mumsnet, nnaturegirl.

Just a tad goady for your first post.

usualsuspect333 · 20/11/2014 20:20

I'm not sure Ethan Bucket goes.

whatsagoodusername · 20/11/2014 20:20

I have an Ethan. We are middle class.

Occasionally meet one out and about, but none in his preschool or any nursery he has attended.

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