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Baby names

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

Original poster

Etta or Blythe

119 replies

BoomBoomBoomLetMeHearYouSay · 15/12/2019 09:10

Which of these names do you prefer and do you have any other similar suggestions?

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MikeUniformMike · 15/12/2019 13:48

Blythe sounds exactly like the Welsh word for wolf. Grin

TatianaLarina · 15/12/2019 13:47

Blythe is great.

Etta’s ok but it’s a bit meh and it will date.

Saharafordessert · 15/12/2019 13:45

Blythe is very ugly sounding to me too.
Etta is much nicer.

puds11 · 15/12/2019 13:43

The town Blyth is a shithole, from near there. I think anyone from the north east would wonder why you’d named your child after a crappy seaside town. It’d be like calling her Scarborough.

1990shopefulftm · 15/12/2019 13:43

I like blythe, it does sound like the welsh word for wolf though but if you don't know any welsh people it doesn't matter.

MikeUniformMike · 15/12/2019 13:41

surname

MikeUniformMike · 15/12/2019 13:40

The town is Blyth. Blyth is a surname.
Etta is ok as a nn, but a bit insubstantial as a name. Works well with the suname Lamb.

ByAppointmentTo · 15/12/2019 13:40

I like Blythe. Etta just makes me think of terrorists!

Hulagirla · 15/12/2019 13:39

Both are awful. Etta is a bit ‘Euskadi Ta Askatasuna’ for me.

Whoops75 · 15/12/2019 13:39

Bette is the best of a bad lot, sorry.

OublietteBravo · 15/12/2019 13:38

The town is Blyth (rather than Blythe)

GloriousGoosebumps · 15/12/2019 13:37

It's got to be Etta but be prepared to have everyone asking if it's because of the jazz connection. Blythe seems a little bland.

Original poster
BoomBoomBoomLetMeHearYouSay · 15/12/2019 13:36

Wasn’t aware there was a town called Blythe.

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Original poster
BoomBoomBoomLetMeHearYouSay · 15/12/2019 13:35

Well I do quite like a bit of Agatha Christie 🙈

Also I am not understanding the negative connotation

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DramaAlpaca · 15/12/2019 13:21

To me, Blythe has a horrible sound, it's sort of slithery Confused

I'm not mad on Etta, but it's not in the least bit cutesy which is a good thing. It's better as a diminutive of Henrietta, but that's an altogether different sort of name.

I don't like Bette/Betty at all, to me it looks & sounds ugly.

OublietteBravo · 15/12/2019 13:15

I like Blythe more than Etta.

How about Audrey, Cecily, Leonie, Margot or Sasha?

AuntieStella · 15/12/2019 13:15

Etta or Bette

I don't like place names on girls much. Though I suppose if you're Tory and celebrating the first declared major overthrow, then that would make the name more attractive. It's not a particularly attractive town though

BarkandCheese · 15/12/2019 13:08

For some reason Blythe makes me think of the name Verity, although they’re not remotely similar. I think because they’ve both got a slightly old fashioned (in a good way) feel to them.

BarkandCheese · 15/12/2019 13:05

I really like Blythe, not so keen on Etta. I like Bette but I’d probably go for Elizabeth on the birth certificate so she’s got options when she’s older.

BlouseAndSkirt · 15/12/2019 13:02

And Blythe sounds like the surname of a stuck up character from an Agatha Christie novel.

BlouseAndSkirt · 15/12/2019 13:02

Blythe is awful.

I suppose I hear blithe and blithely is such a negative description.

I find the sound unattractive , too.

peachgreen · 15/12/2019 13:00

I adore Etta. Blythe is a lovely middle name.

Too much pronunciation difficulties with Bette I think.

Original poster
BoomBoomBoomLetMeHearYouSay · 15/12/2019 12:57

I am surprised Blythe is so divisive.

To me it’s a classic and I thought I slightly preferred it to Etta. Worried Etta is a bit too cutesie.

Dare I ask what thoughts are on Bette?

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ladycarlotta · 15/12/2019 11:25

Aw, I think Blythe is lovely. Etta is nice too but I'd expect it to be short for something - Henrietta, Nicoletta or similar.

TalentedMsRipley · 15/12/2019 10:38

Etta. Blythe is grim.

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