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Baby names

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Original poster

Choosing from our final 4

33 replies

JaJaDonkey · 05/11/2022 21:43

In case it's relevant to these names- have close Irish and Welsh heritage, but live in England. We have no French heritage but some close family connections to France.

Would really appreciate any thoughts on these. We love them all for different reasons. Brutal honesty welcome. Help and thank you!

  1. Etienne
  2. Lorcan
  3. Emrys
  4. Quentin
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Bigslippers · 06/11/2022 19:17

Love the name Etienne but I think of a beautiful girls name sorry

Emrys (Em Ris) is a good welsh name.
Lorcan needs to be said in a lovely Irish accent
Quentin - under used but Im not sure if its pretentious sounding like Tarquin

Welsh names is you need inspiration

Gwyn (gwin)
Rhys (rees)
Glyn
Dylan
Griff
Llew (cant explain how to do the ll sound ) chl ew (is my best way to explain)

Jaminas · 06/11/2022 19:11

I think most kids today will more likely know illustrator Quentin Blake (or Tarantino) than an Uncle in Famous Five.

I also like Lorcan.

ContadoraExplorer · 06/11/2022 19:08

Quentin makes me think of the Famous Five and whilst he had a brilliant mind,he was forgetful and prone to flying into terrible tempers...

I like Lorcan the best out of the options.

Magnoliasar · 06/11/2022 18:31

They're all great names but I'd choose Quentin. Q is a cool initial.

CheshireCats · 06/11/2022 18:26

I only like Emrys from your list.

caitlinrose · 06/11/2022 18:19

Etienne - from experience (I knew one) I can tell you that non-French-speaking people will always assume that this is feminine. Also in a non-French accent it sounds quite bad, sorry!

Lorcan - this isn't bad but I don't find the Lorc-sound attractive.

Emrys - I know that this is masculine but I could see many people assuming this was a girls name (unless you live in Wales). It looks like Emily meets Carys.

Quentin - this is cool and what I would go with.

KitchenSupper · 06/11/2022 18:16

Emrys, love it
I think the pronunciation is better known than other similar uncommon names because of Merlin

Madeyoulook · 06/11/2022 18:14

I like Etienne but the others are horrible.

OliviaFlaversham · 06/11/2022 18:12

Before Tarantino and Blake I always think of Uncle Quentin. Childhood stories clearly hold strong.

Still like it!

Gummibär · 06/11/2022 17:40

I have a Quentin so am slightly biased Smile but I love it. DS is 17 and we've generally had very positive comments. I'm guessing that the most 'famous' Quentins out there are Quentin Tarantino and Blake, neither of which are considered 'uptight' imo. We've only come across one other during his time at school, so it's a well known but not overly popular name.

Original poster
JaJaDonkey · 06/11/2022 16:58

Interesting to hear Quentin called 'uptight.' I've seen similar comments on other threads. It's one of those rare names that has absolutely no connotations to me; I couldn't give you any impression at all of what a Quentin in my mind is. Which is one of the reasons I like it so much. But I can see that for lots of others that's not the case.

Where does the 'uptight' connotation come from? I've also heard 'geeky' or 'reedy.' Is it an Uncle Quentin thing?

OP posts:
Jamimas · 06/11/2022 08:41

I think the issue with Emrys is whether it's Em-riss or Em-rees as the latter seems to the Welsh pronunciation.

I really like Quentin. Reminds me of the lovely illustrator Quentin Blake.

OliviaFlaversham · 06/11/2022 08:35

I like all except Lorcan which puts the image of a Lord of the Rings baddy in my head.

Etienne is my favourite and the ones I know have never shortened it-always the full name.

Luredbyapomegranate · 06/11/2022 08:31

Lorcan is alright, although prefer Lachlan, Lorne is nice too.

I don’t like Emrys personally, makes me think of a middle aged football pundit or something… it’s ok I guess - how about Idris instead?

Quentin - I think this really IS awful. Such an uptight little name. Corin instead?

Etienne- I’d dump this - it really does sound and look like a girls’ name in English - and that isn’t fair on him. Fabian, Lucian, Julian might be alternatives

Gawain is a fabulous Welsh name..

Original poster
JaJaDonkey · 06/11/2022 07:29

Also a couple of people have mentioned Emrys being difficult to pronounce- to me it's quite straightforward- EHM-riss- am I getting that right? Not being snarky, just checking that I haven't missed a subtlety in the Welsh pronunciation, because it's not my accent (or language!)

Equally I love the Irish pronunciation of Lorcan with the rhotic R, but feel like it's not quite as lovely in my non-rhotic English accent.

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Original poster
JaJaDonkey · 06/11/2022 07:16

Thank you all, this is really helpful.
Looks like consensus is Etienne would be setting the poor child up for a lifetime of 'no, I'm not French... my parents are just pretentious.' Such a shame, it's a beautiful name!

OP posts:
DaisyChristina · 05/11/2022 23:55

Emrys

Snugglemonkey · 05/11/2022 23:52

I think they are all lovely. Though I do think French heritage would be assumed for an Etienne.

GlassDeli · 05/11/2022 23:13

I like Emrys best.

NellBeau · 05/11/2022 22:50

I love Emrys. I wanted the name for my DS but DH vetoed it, mostly because he couldn’t pronounce it.

I also love Quentin.

ladygindiva · 05/11/2022 22:31

I love Lorcan. I only know one, about 9 years old. It's a fantastic name.

Mulberrybushes · 05/11/2022 22:29

I like Quentin - I think most people, especially younger ones, would think of Quentin Blake or Tarantino, rather of Famous Five. I think it's a great underused classic and Q a cool initial.

I also like Emrys and Lorcan, but find Etienne a little too obviously French, although it is a lovely name.

Gummibär · 05/11/2022 22:22

I like Quentin (biased i we have one Smile)

I also like Lorcan. Étienne sounds very French and I'd assume French heritage.

wherearetheturrets · 05/11/2022 22:19

Emrys ❤️

Margo34 · 05/11/2022 22:18

Emrys