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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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Original poster
Mammammio · 02/01/2015 20:37

Yes, comes from the love of the name and not trying to be edgy or different. DD1 has a relatively unusual but definitely feminine name, people sometimes struggle with pronunciation and I have to spell it but have never regretted it. DH loves it and I am the one that has re concern of 'if she goes to france one day' / will people always assume she is a man....although then sometimes wonder if this is such a terrible thing? I also knew a Michelle, he was gorgeous. Never thought of it like that but I think Michelle is unisex in France where as Etienne isn't...

OP posts:
ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 02/01/2015 20:37

I think it's pretty and I'd like to use it for a girl, but unfortunately I really do think it's like calling a girl Stephen but probably wouldn't.

Enough people know it's the equivalent. Depends how much you care really. I mean we have various other m/f names Robin/Robyn, Tony/Toni, Rowen/Rowan and people don't stick to the m/f versions....so....?!

The other thing is I'd be 'over' emphasising the E of Etti in case people thought she was Hetty!

DamsonJam · 02/01/2015 20:35

Or maybe if you like that name you might like the Irish girl's name Etain? (www.babynamesofireland.com/etain)

BikeRunSki · 02/01/2015 20:35

It's a boys name. I know a little girl nicknamed Etti, it's short for Esther.

HollyAndIvyTime · 02/01/2015 20:34

I speak passable (well, ish....) French and didn't realise it was 'Stephen'. I like it and I think Etti is cute.

museumum · 02/01/2015 20:33

I suppose it's like Michelle?
But I would 100% assume it was a boy so I guess it depends if you're going to be bothered by that. Like a female Dylan or Elliot - no right to be annoyed if people say "he".
Personally I'm not keen on gendered clothing so would prefer a name that's genuinely unisex like Alex or chris or one that's feminine.

velourvoyageur · 02/01/2015 20:33

Netty not trying to be fighty but the OP likes the name, she's not trying to be edgy or cool....at least I don't get that impression.

Original poster
Mammammio · 02/01/2015 20:32

Wow, it really divides opinion! Interesting.

I love Abel, very cute but wouldn't work with our surname either. Never heard that before though. :-)

OP posts:
Teladi · 02/01/2015 20:31

To me it is like calling a new baby girl Stephen!

Henriette, Yvette?

WineCowboy · 02/01/2015 20:31

I didn't know it was a boys name, I think it's lovely for a girl.

NickiFury · 02/01/2015 20:30

I think it's lovely.

netty7070 · 02/01/2015 20:30

There are plenty of names that are genuinely unisex (or indeed, feminine) to negate the need to give your daughter a boy's name.

velourvoyageur · 02/01/2015 20:30

Also I went through school with no one ever having the same name as me, it was judged slightly "exotic" in my northern comps and it didn't do me any harm....who care if you confuse people a bit.

RiverTam · 02/01/2015 20:29

Eh-tee-en.

velourvoyageur · 02/01/2015 20:28

I was just saying this to someone the other day! And they started tutting and saying oh don't be silly. But I think it's a great name, quite pretty and classic.

It will obviously also be a girl's name because it will be a girl sporting it on her birth certificate won't it (unless she isn't cisgender of course).

Abel is very cute too :)

KingJarethsBulge · 02/01/2015 20:27

I've never heard if it. How do you pronounce it?

RiverTam · 02/01/2015 20:25

I think it's fine and actually quite pretty. Etti is a nice short. Had no idea about the Stephen thing. I'm sure it would be mad if you were actually French or in France, but you're not.

To me it falls into the Rowan catagory, sound-wise - not gender-specific.

MehsMum · 02/01/2015 20:23

It would be very odd and if she ever ends up in France, on holiday/school exchange/ for work it could cause a lot of confusion.

So no.

TaperJeanGirl · 02/01/2015 20:23

I love it, but then I have a daughter named Abel so I am the wrong person to comment, if you like it, use it! ( Ettie is very similar to one of my other girls names too, so I also love your choice of nicknameSmile

Original poster
Mammammio · 02/01/2015 20:22

Hmmm Ettiane is an option, what do people think of this? And I've also found Ettiena which I believe is female but I do f really like it some much? Any thoughts or other suggestions.

I like Fabienne but it doesn't work with our surname unfortunately.

OP posts:
Sundayplease · 02/01/2015 20:20

I know it's a boy's name but it sounds nice enough to be a girl's name too. Don't like the nickname Etti though.

loiner45 · 02/01/2015 20:19

def a boy's name and well known as such, even over here I think. It would be an odd thing to do IMO

zoemaguire · 02/01/2015 20:16

Etienne is definitely a boys name, not even a slight ambiguity there, though again I am french. For me it would be like calling your daughter James or William!

LillyEvans · 02/01/2015 20:16

I'd probably think the parents had made a mistake if I met a female Etienne. Sorry!

VerucaInTheNutRoom · 02/01/2015 20:14

Could you change one letter and use Ettianne instead?