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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ethel

87 replies

Moonbea · 30/04/2019 18:43

What do you think of the name Ethel?

Is it too old fashioned?

What middle name would go with it?

Opinions and ideas please.

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hopelessatthinkingupusernames · 07/05/2019 12:20

I don’t like it either. I used to work with an Ethel and she hated her name and couldn’t believe when Lily Allen used it

JenSFP · 07/05/2019 12:10

Sweet! And I love Victorian names

Freyanna · 04/05/2019 02:29

No, why land your beautiful baby with such a clunky name.

MintedLamb · 04/05/2019 01:38

When I hear it I instantly think "brown dress and brown shoes" it's just dreary.

MumUnderTheMoon · 04/05/2019 01:28

I like it Etta would be a great nn.
Ethel Alice
Ethel Bronte
Ethel Jane
Ethel Pearl
Ethel Violet
Ethel Annabelle
Ethel Clara

Clawdy · 03/05/2019 22:32

Some old names are beautiful, or sweet. Ethel is neither, it's horrible. I class it with Bertha, Gladys, and Gertie. Really ugly names.

escapade1234 · 02/05/2019 11:24

to say not today

escapade1234 · 02/05/2019 11:24

When naming my children I used to imagine having the name myself and introducing myself to others. Would you like today “Good morning, I’m Ethel”.

Would you?

outvoid · 02/05/2019 11:22

It’s an old lady name that hasn’t moved with the times. I really don’t think it’s cool or will come back into fashion anytime soon as other older names have.

campion · 01/05/2019 22:36

Awful. My DM used to tell the story of how, when I was born,the local busybody was very disapproving of my name (which is a diminutive of another,but a common enough name),and said so.

DM's story ended 'and this was from a woman who called her daughter Ethel!' said with indignation. I agree with DM.

Smellslikemiddleagespirit · 01/05/2019 22:25

I had this book as a child, and so for that reason, no.

Ethel
ScreamScreamIceCream · 01/05/2019 14:04

Ethel is one name that shouldn't come back - awful.

Nanasueathome · 01/05/2019 14:01

I’m not young and so a lot of these ‘comeback’ names bring up an image of someone I know
Ethel, to me, is a woman in a pinny and turban, smoking and drinking in the local pub on a Saturday night
Not really a name I would use for a baby

Still18atheart · 01/05/2019 14:01

Dreadful your dd - it reminds me of miserable cantankerous old ladies

Soubriquet · 01/05/2019 13:57

I’m not keen on Ethel

Prefer Edith personally

Tutulafromage · 01/05/2019 13:54

One of them old fashioned names that has not aged well.

I had an old next door neighbour called Ethel and she was the most miserable woman to walk the earth.

Antonin · 01/05/2019 13:52

I always think of ethyl alcohol.
Doesn’t sound nice to me and what if she has a lisp?

Summerwalk · 01/05/2019 11:44

Too try hard/hipster type name that is really, really terrible.
Would you want to be called Ethel?

AGoodWench · 01/05/2019 10:51

Gertrude is worse imo but it does have the cuter nicknames Gertie and Trudie.

WeaselsRising · 01/05/2019 10:46

Ethel is the ugliest name of all time.

AGoodWench · 01/05/2019 10:38

I prefer Edith (or even Enid!)

Elsie is similar.

floraloctopus · 01/05/2019 10:32

I like Ettie as a nickname for Henrietta, Ethelia is a good name too - softer than Ethel.

Sassy306 · 01/05/2019 09:22

I know an Ethelia. She gets called Ethel sometimes and Ettie. Shes 14 and she loves her name :)

barberstreisand · 01/05/2019 09:19

I think it’s a beautiful name, but that’s only because the Ethel I know is lovely

Original poster
Moonbea · 01/05/2019 09:17

Thanks for all of your opinions, I have showed the other half who was insisting on the use of this name.

Now he's not so sure, so hopefully he will drop that suggestion!

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