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Baby names

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

Original poster

Etienne?

64 replies

Topsy34 · 30/07/2015 09:16

DH and I have barely discussed names yet, but we struggled with DS.

We only had Devon for a boy, no girls names and when he was born, it fitted him.

Now 24 weeks and we don't know the sex. DH thinks boy, I think girl!

I like Warwick for a boy, but I know people will say about it being a place name as is Devon. i also like Hunter, but I have a friend with a boy called Hunter.

I really like the name Etienne, which is apparently traditionally a boys name, said Eh-tee-n.

Still no girls names. Hmmm.

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Yarp · 31/07/2015 20:37

For girls:

Robyn
Stevie
Serena
Elodie

Yarp · 31/07/2015 20:37

Also:

Marcus

Yarp · 31/07/2015 20:35

I like it, but I think it does sound more feminine

Given your choice of Devon, I would suggest:

Levi
Leon
Gabriel
Evan

RiverTam · 31/07/2015 19:48

Harper for a girl?

midnightvelvetPart2 · 31/07/2015 19:44

Not sure about the Irish name but Etienne is Et ee enn

It's French for Stephen as has been said and it's a city and a saint also.

TopCivilServant · 31/07/2015 19:40

Lovely name for a French boy. Bit odd if you're not in my opinion

CSLewis · 31/07/2015 19:36

Surely the French name is pronounced Eh-tee-enne, with the emphasis on the first syllable..? If you want it pronounced how you write it, OP, I think you need to go closer to the Irish spelling.

Alisvolatpropiis · 31/07/2015 18:46

Topsy

ee-tayne, I think.

I think someone upthreat posted how to pronounce it too.

silverglitterpisser · 31/07/2015 18:36

I don't know the history, meanings etc but I do love the name! Obviously u would have to be really confident in using it if it is a boys name traditionally, but maybe u could be start the trend for it to cross over Smile .

Original poster
Topsy34 · 31/07/2015 18:32

Sorry, i mean see Etienne as a boys name not Etain

OP posts:
Original poster
Topsy34 · 31/07/2015 18:31

How would you pronouce Etain? Not seen it before....

I definatley see it as a boys name

OP posts:
Mimigolightly · 31/07/2015 14:35

I like the name but would prefer it for a girl, purely on the way it sounds.

ems942 · 31/07/2015 14:29

Etain is an irish girls name from 'et' meaning “jealousy.” Etain surpassed all other women of her time in beauty and gentleness and thus was an object of jealousy herself. When the fairy king Midir fell in love with her his wife, Fuamnach, transformed Etain into a scarlet fly that was blown over the ocean for seven years. When she was finally able to return to Ireland she fell into a glass of wine which was drunk by a woman who longed for a child. In this way Etain was reborn and she later married a High King of Ireland.

I've heard it more often as a girls name than on a boy as the Stephen variant

Alisvolatpropiis · 31/07/2015 11:48

Are you sure you've not just heard the Irish girls name, granted mispronounced?

Etienne is a lovely boys name but I struggle with it as a girls name. It is so very much a boys name in its country of origin.

Though that doesn't stop people using Dylan and Bryn for girls. I've yet to meet a Welsh person who doesn't think WTAF about it mind. And there are rather more French speakers than there are Welsh.

AnitaManeater · 30/07/2015 20:05

It's lovely but it reminds me of St Etienne the 90's pop band. She's on the phone...

Original poster
Topsy34 · 30/07/2015 20:00

sweetpeame any name could be a surnamethough couldnt it? I get what you are saying though.

I kinda think Hunter feels agressive, the way it sounds and its meaning. but still like it, i think we have ruled out out due to our friends little boy

OP posts:
PrivatePike · 30/07/2015 14:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sweetpeame · 30/07/2015 14:32

The only one of your names I like is Etienne. Which to me is always a boys name. I'd feel sorry for a girl called Etienne, I'd assume her parents didn't know better. Warwick and Hunter are awful names. But then I strongly dislike surnames as first names.

BothEndsBurning · 30/07/2015 12:09

If I met a girl called Etienne, I would assume that her parents were woefully ignorant.

reuset · 30/07/2015 10:52

I always seem to provoke the swearing Grin

Original poster
Topsy34 · 30/07/2015 10:47

Ok reuset, i get it, you are sensitive about it! Bloody hell. Calm down.

I have heard it as a girls name on more than one occasion and not heard it used as a boys name. Hence me agreeing it is more common.

OP posts:
stevienickstophat · 30/07/2015 10:45

Hunter is a bit awkward right now. Have you considered 'Walter'? Or 'Cecil'?

Seriously, Etienne is a lovely name, but it is a boy's name. What about Etiennette? Apparently that's the feminine form of Etienne.

reuset · 30/07/2015 10:45

cross posted Grin

I've heard of and like Etaine!

reuset · 30/07/2015 10:43

In the last available stats. 3 baby girls named Etienne (that's a decrease on the previous year, by the way) compared to 32 baby boys.

In France Etienne is usually a top 100 name for boys.

Floggingmolly · 30/07/2015 10:43

You're probably right actually, reuset. I'm familiar with the Irish name Étaíne (pronounced Eh-tayne) which I'm obviously getting confused with.
That's the name of a sun goddess in Irish mythology; so definitely girly Grin