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Baby names

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

Original poster

Etienne....for a girl?

109 replies

Mammammio · 02/01/2015 20:04

Is this a massive no no? I know it's 'Stephen' in French, we are not french and live in the UK but we both love this name and prefer for a girl. Would you assume this was a boy if you heard it? She would go by Etti as a nickname and be called that the majority of the time but I think that the full version is lovely.

I know a little girl called Elliotte and another called Dylan and no one seems too fussed but wondered what people think?

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Bonnefoi · 03/01/2015 22:49

What about Etain? It is an Irish girls name. You could still use Etti as a pet name.

I think Ettiene is a popular French boys names and it will come across a bit unfortunately. Some one is bound to comment.

BikeRunSki · 03/01/2015 22:48

But Wendy has fallen into common-ish use, and has been adopted as a diminutive of Gwendoline. Arietty hasn't, but I guess someone needs to get it out there.

Alisvolatpropiis · 03/01/2015 22:43

Don't be absurd op, Shakespeare did not make Miranda, Jessica or Olivia.

JM Barry did however invent the name Wendy.

Original poster
Mammammio · 03/01/2015 22:15

Yes I know it's made up, I think many names are made up and have only come to us through literature so I can't see much difference there...for example Shakespeare made up Miranda, Jessica and Olivia...it's a more recent made up name used in the 50s for the Borrower's I believe.

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Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 03/01/2015 21:41

I don't like it but it's a pretty name.

BikeRunSki · 03/01/2015 21:41

You know Arietty is a made up name don't you.

Harriet is nice though.

Original poster
Mammammio · 03/01/2015 19:31

Sorry Arrietty (miss type with 3 T's!) I do like this name but it does sound slightly like Amaretti so need to work out if I can deal with that connection! Although I do quite like the drink and biscuits!

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Original poster
Mammammio · 03/01/2015 19:25

Yes Arriettty is from the Borrowers.

I don't like Etta as much as Ettie but thanks for the suggestions.

I wouldn't use Stephen for a girl no, mainly as I don't like the name. However I would use George, Frankie and Freddie and Tbh I think all of those would be assumed male on paper.

Anyway it's personal choice but I was hoping to find alternatives that won't provoke so much confusion / eye-brow raising so thanks to those that have posted some, much appreciated.

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RiverTam · 03/01/2015 17:21

isn't Arrietty the name of one of the Borrowers?

midwinternights · 03/01/2015 17:13

Use Etta instead

florascotia · 03/01/2015 16:46

Please excuse bluntness. I really don't want to sound rude, but would you call a girl 'Stephen' in English? If not, why should the same name in another language - any language - be different?

There are unisex names, as other posters have said, but (so far) I don't think Stephen is among them.

Alisvolatpropiis · 03/01/2015 16:16

Save me from the arrogant cultural appropriation of English people.

Kitty the female french character was called Françoise. The male french charater was called Etienne.

NoodleFace · 03/01/2015 10:08

I'm from the north west, first thing I thought of was the Etiad stadium, which is manchester city's ground.

Maybe if your not from these parts wouldn't bother you?

I really like Ettie as a nickname,

TheNewStatesman · 03/01/2015 09:07

How about Vivienne or Adrienne?

tiggy2610 · 03/01/2015 08:52

One of the consultants at work is called Etienne and I genuinely thought he was a she until I met him Blush I remember exclaiming to my colleague that Etienne was far too pretty to be a boys name - showing how uncultured I am, clearly. BlushIronically, this is coming from a Stephanie who endured many hours of teasing in school when I was almost always referred to as 'Stephen' by new teachers as my whole name wouldn't fit on the register.

Not at all relevant or answers any questions... I'll leave now Blush

EhricJinglingHisBallsOnHigh · 03/01/2015 08:43

The characters in the beach are ettiene and francoise, ettiene being the man.
You could probably get away with mis naming if the name came from a very far away country but France? Just no. Every French person she meets will raise an eyebrow at her and it would just be really embarrassing.

Spinaroo · 02/01/2015 23:25

I think you are right to move away from it.

MinceSpy · 02/01/2015 23:24

It's a male name. Yes people will comment.

Kittymum03 · 02/01/2015 23:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

anothernumberone · 02/01/2015 23:03

I never realized Etienne was a boys name. There is an irish name Etaoin which can be pronounced almost the same, Et ain, although it can also be Eeee tain. It is a girls name and very pretty.

Terramirabilis · 02/01/2015 22:54

Crosspost with OP!

Terramirabilis · 02/01/2015 22:54

Weird idea, I'm afraid. It's a fairly common name where I come from (Channel Islands) due to mixed French/English culture. I would be judging. Hard.

Original poster
Mammammio · 02/01/2015 22:51

Moving away from
Etienne as I can see most people think it's a bit weird...! And we do go on holiday in France most years so perhaps it would raise too many eye brows!

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Original poster
Mammammio · 02/01/2015 22:51

Arrietty is nice too, not sure it works with our surname as that also begins with an A but maybe that's not a major problem.

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bouncingbelle · 02/01/2015 22:43

What about Ethni instead?