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Baby names

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

Original poster

Etain

31 replies

BMO · 10/01/2015 19:32

For a girl. This is hypothetical at the moment but any thoughts?

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Anjou · 12/01/2015 20:42

I love it. Well, I love it if it's pronounced Ee-tain. I've never heard it said aloud but that's how I've always pronounced it in my head.

I became aware of it as a teenager when reading Neil Gaimens Sandman, then read The Wooing of Etain.

I think it sounds lovely. Isn't it spelled Etaine (with some accents or other such special characters) in the original text? Would that be an alternative spelling if you think people may assume it's a boys name?

Rhubarbgarden · 12/01/2015 20:32

I rather like it. I haven't heard it before.

HolyTerror · 12/01/2015 20:24

I love it. I would have considered it had DS not been very visibly a boy from the 18 week scan.

SwedishEdith · 12/01/2015 20:18

I've never heard of it but assumed it was a boy's name from the title. Doesn't look complete, somehow, and I wouldn't be sure of how to pronounce it.

florascotia · 12/01/2015 20:14

More like Aideen, surely, or even Ay-dawn/Eh-dunn??
www.forvo.com/word/etain_%28old_irish%29/

Lovely myth, but the name means 'jealousy'.

Original poster
BMO · 11/01/2015 13:16

I quite like that it isn't an obviously frilly/girly name.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 11/01/2015 13:11

Google 'The Wooing of Etain', the tale is gorgeous. In earlier forms, her love turns him and her into swans and they fly to escape.

ShadowSuperNova · 11/01/2015 13:09

I assumed to was a boy's name too.

ByTheWishingWell · 11/01/2015 13:07

I assumed it was a boys name because I'd never seen/heard of it before so related it to Etienne somehow.

It's not what I'd choose (although my DD has an 'is that made up?' because it isn't English name!) but I think it's quite nice. Certainly not dreadful.

SquidgyMummy · 11/01/2015 13:05

Etain is French for Pewter

I think it sounds quite nice in French (sort of Ay-tan) but it sounds like a boy's name to me.

shakemysilliesout · 11/01/2015 13:01

I saw thread title and assumed it was a boys name.

lyspaere · 11/01/2015 11:42

I think because it's quite vague. You hear it and you think 'what did I just hear there?'

Pertain?

A lot of names out there I wouldn't know but they seem to sound stronger, more like a name. I'm not unfamiliar with Celtic names and I had heard of this one but it still sounds like a word not a name. I can think of a few random words that wouldn't work as names that sound like Etain.

Original poster
BMO · 11/01/2015 11:05

How is it not easy to say?

OP posts:
HelloItsStillMeFell · 11/01/2015 11:01

It isn't easy to say or particularly attractive on the ear I'm afraid.

lyspaere · 11/01/2015 11:00

ett ayn

Original poster
BMO · 11/01/2015 10:48

Is Etaoin pronounced E-tane or Ay-deen?

OP posts:
lyspaere · 11/01/2015 10:46

No, I didn't. I know of two Etaoins but I don't know a single Etain. That's why it looked wrong to me.

It's dreadful by the way.

Original poster
BMO · 11/01/2015 10:38

No I mean Etain, as per the title lyspaere. Do you mean Eadaoin?

OP posts:
Alisvolatpropiis · 11/01/2015 09:54

I'm not massively keen but I do tend to like a frillier sort of name Grin

It's nicely phonetic and unusual without being strange though.

MilkThistle187 · 10/01/2015 23:30

I know an Etain, pronounced Et-ain, not mad about it tbh

2tired2bewitty · 10/01/2015 23:25

Makes me think of Eitan which is the Hebrew form of Ethan. It has a pretty sound though

lyspaere · 10/01/2015 23:22

do you mean Etaoin?

HumpsLumps · 10/01/2015 23:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DramaAlpaca · 10/01/2015 23:16

I quite like it.

I came across an Etain through work recently & I remember thinking how unusual it was.

squoosh · 10/01/2015 20:39

It's okay, sounds too much like 'attain' though.