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Baby names

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

Original poster

What do you think of Ethel?

59 replies

trysty · 23/08/2009 19:40

What do you think of Ethel as a girl's name? It's listed on Mumsnet's Baby Name Finder.

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bluesnowfalcon · 24/08/2009 07:44

Ethel - sorry but i hate it. Being a teacher I can't see it leading anywhere that is good! All I can see is taunting and being horrid in the playground. Sorry

piscesmoon · 24/08/2009 07:35

I had a great aunt Ethel, known as Eth,like maize's nana, she hated it. I think that people ought to ask these old ladies what they think of their names before they saddle a new born with them.

jemart · 24/08/2009 00:30

Old lady of Eastenders fame. Had a little pug dog.

maize · 24/08/2009 00:29

My nana is Ethel, she hates it and says it was old fashioned when her mum named her it in the 20s. She has always gone by 'Eth'

I think its a hideous name!

JeanLouiseFinch · 24/08/2009 00:26

I like it

StayFrostysOtherSister · 23/08/2009 22:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bleh · 23/08/2009 22:32

Nope. too old lady.

Thunderduck · 23/08/2009 22:30

It isn't pretty or stylish.

Thunderduck · 23/08/2009 22:29

Yes it is that bad. It's awful.

Sidge · 23/08/2009 21:44

It's awful. Some nursing home names are lovely. Ethel isn't one of them I'm afraid.

How about Elspeth? Elenora? Evelyn?

blithedance · 23/08/2009 21:40

It was good enough for my grandma.

I like it, like a sort of feminine of so-popular Ethan.

MrsMattie · 23/08/2009 21:40

Hideous.

Slickbird · 23/08/2009 21:38

Sorry, Ethel.

Am exhausted.

Slickbird · 23/08/2009 21:37

Nothing. If you're a granny.

Stella, on the other hand can work remarkably well. I knew one, and once she got to her feet, she was not to be messed with!

I'm really trying to imagine a baby called Ethil. And then a little girl. And then a teenager. And I'm sorry, I just can't.

tummytickler · 23/08/2009 21:35

I love Ethel. It is on our list (along with Enid, Aphra and Hilda)

mathanxiety · 23/08/2009 20:48

Oh no please no. It's as bad as Gertie.

screamingabdab · 23/08/2009 20:08

I was thinking about Faith today ........

nigglewiggle · 23/08/2009 20:07

I think it is still very "old-lady" and I have an Edith, so I'm not anti old-lady resurrections. I think this name is not helped by Ethel in Eastenders with her "little willy"!

cyanarasamba · 23/08/2009 20:06

How about Eunice? (My lovely nan's name!)

Not keen on Ethel, sorry.

screamingabdab · 23/08/2009 20:05

I think it is probably too fashion-forward (and I like old lady names)

BoysAreLikeDogs · 23/08/2009 20:03

I prefer Edith

piscesmoon · 23/08/2009 20:01

It is just about the worst name possible!

muggglewump · 23/08/2009 19:56

I think you are joking, and if you aren't, then you are mad!

It's awful.

Old lady chic taken too far.

Original poster
trysty · 23/08/2009 19:54

My thinking is that if I use this in a few months. It may casue a few raised eyebrows with some,but it will be normal and ahead of the fashion when she is growing up.
It has a pretty sound, no? I think it is stylish too as pp says.

OP posts:
brokenspacebar · 23/08/2009 19:48

My Gran is called Ethel, she is really lovely, I like it for that reason alone, though it may have a certain nineteen twenties cool, arts and crafts stylishness, that is when my Gran was born.