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Baby names

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

Original poster

Etta or Maeve

69 replies

Jay87 · 07/12/2020 17:32

I'm stuck between Etta and Maeve for a first name. Just after initial reactions because I can't decide, thank you!

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DramaAlpaca · 07/12/2020 22:27

Maeve is beautiful.

Etta is horrible, unfinished looking and so hard sounding. Sorry to be blunt.

PlantPotting · 07/12/2020 21:41

Both so nice
Can't go wrong

20shadesofgreen · 07/12/2020 19:52

I love Maeve and really don’t like Etta. I cannot figure out why, it just doesn’t sound like a name to my ear.

I am very interested about what the Irish version of Maeve sounds like to non Irish ears. To me the Mae bit is a teeny bit longer but it is essentially Mavis without the is. We always called one of our friends Maeve - Mavis Davis as a kind of pet name - but Maeve is pretty and Mavis well it isn’t.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 07/12/2020 19:47

Both nice, but Etta will get mangled in much of the UK (Eh-ah, Etter, Eh-ur, Edder)

missmouse101 · 07/12/2020 19:42

Etta. Maeve is lovely in Ireland with an Irish accent but in the UK it's reminiscent of the frumpy 'Mave'.

Oneandabean · 07/12/2020 19:28

I had them both on my list but Etta sounded a bit too much like “ate a” I think Etta Maeve is a beautiful name if you wanted to use both

TizzDeSeason · 07/12/2020 19:25

Two of my favourite names! Tough call, as they’re both gorgeous. But I vote Maeve by a smidgen, just because I’d love to be called it myself.

Original poster
Jay87 · 07/12/2020 19:15

Yes I was expecting a surge in popularity and had taken Maeve out because it was set to be the next trend but the 2020 top 100 list has just come out and it's not on there, maybe 2021 is it's year 🤷

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Original poster
Jay87 · 07/12/2020 19:12

Thank you everyone it's much appreciated. We really don't have much of an accent and our last name goes with both. Our two other daughter's names are short and end in A so I suppose Etta would fit with them. If we went with Etta we'd probably have Maeve as a middle name. If we have a girl she'd be our third daughter so we've slightly exhausted girls names now but these two I love.

OP posts:
wishingitwasfriday · 07/12/2020 19:04

Maeve is my favourite but would imagine Maeve it will be due a rise in popularity due to character in sex education.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 07/12/2020 19:01

Maeve is beautiful - very romantic sounding but strong.
Etta sounds like a nn to me personally (short for Henrietta/Harriet?) so I'm not as keen, it seems insubstantial somehow compared to Maeve.

KleinBlue · 07/12/2020 18:59

They’re completely different in style! I far prefer Maeve, but judging by responses on here, English people routinely misassociate it with Mavis.

I think my reservations with Etta are to do with the watpy different accents pronounce ‘t’.

Swingometer · 07/12/2020 18:53

Etta much nicer IMO

LynetteScavo · 07/12/2020 18:53

Etta is gorgeous!

diddlediddle · 07/12/2020 18:51

What's your last name? Etta could be challenging with a few.

I prefer maeve I think, it's a stronger name/ending

KittenCalledBob · 07/12/2020 18:25

Etta

prunetang · 07/12/2020 18:25

It might sound obvious, but if you haven't already, consider how the names sound with your local accent.

I liked "Etta" until I realised how it would be pronounced/said by family in Essex for example.

latheritup · 07/12/2020 17:33

Etta

Mammyloveswine · 07/12/2020 17:32

Oooh I love Etta!!