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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ethel

84 replies

tummytickler · 20/01/2010 21:17

What do you think of Ethel?
I am loving it more and more at the moment - dh is besotted by it (and Morag!). Would love some opinions, as we will not be talking to people in rl about our name making choices!
I am loving Ettie as a nn (and Raggy for Morag!). We would probably use Ethel most of the time and not a nn though.
Middle names will be two from Denise, Violet, Mary, Jean, Eileen, Angela (all family).
Is it going to become huge like Edith/Elsie/Esme?
This is dc5, and my 2dd's have old names and ds's Hebrew (so very old!)

Thanks

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everlong · 21/01/2010 20:48

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crankytwanky · 21/01/2010 20:32

I like Ethel!

It would sooo have suited DD, but her Dad said no.

I think we're in the minority though.

tearinghairout · 21/01/2010 20:03

William Brown's sister in the Just William books was an Ethel, IIRC she was about 19 and very glamourous and grown-up, with bobbed hair (1920s.

piscesmoon · 21/01/2010 19:39

'I don't know though, if you can take as gospel the experience of a woman of 92 who is called Ethel. Did she hate it because it was so popular? '

Was it very popular even then? Her sisters had much prettier names, Ruth, Clara and Lillian and so probably she was just jealous!

Ruth, Clara, Lily and Eth-I can see her point!

TinaSparkles · 21/01/2010 16:34

If you are going for the hippy vibe what about Ethereal abd then Ethel for short

Hullygully · 21/01/2010 16:28

love Ethel

Sunshinemummy · 21/01/2010 16:22

I like Ethel but not Morag.

tigercub · 21/01/2010 16:05

I like Iris, it's really pretty and makes me think of Iris Murdoch, a most gifted and successful author. I think Ethel is really pretty, but also agree that Enid is more tasteful.

CheerfulYank · 21/01/2010 16:01

I don't particularly like Ethel, but I know an adorable Esther who is called Essie as a nn.

RnB · 21/01/2010 15:57

not nice

KERALA1 · 21/01/2010 14:49

Just no - on both counts Morag or Ethel both are IMO ugly sounding and I usually like non top 10 names.

Maybe you are at that stage in the pregnancy that you are deluded into thinking bonkers names are actually quite nice. Thats fair enough but your DH really shouldnt be encouraging you.

mathanxiety · 21/01/2010 14:38

And you absolutely cannot call a girl Raggy or anything to do with rags.

mathanxiety · 21/01/2010 14:37

I like Meryl, Beryl, Hazel and Thea too, but Ethel just doesn't have the charms of those names somehow. I get a mental image of an elephant when I hear the name. Also think of ethyl this and that on ingredient lists.

Ziggurat · 21/01/2010 11:09

"Ethel is a nice sound"

You think? To me, it sounds like someone (with a lisp) trying to dislodge an insect from their throat.

And as for Morag - apologies in advance to any, but out of all the beautiful girls' names in the world, just why would you? Why??

Mabel will always be old lady to me. Plump and jovial old lady, but old lady nonetheless.

LaDiDaDi · 21/01/2010 09:30

Sorry to hear about your mcs tummytickler. Good luck with ttc again and in the meantime I will enjoy your name threads .

Lubyloo · 21/01/2010 09:08

Don't do it and definitely not if your last name is Austin!. As others have said there are much prettier "old lady names".

CybilRights · 21/01/2010 09:05

Not keen, really. Etta is lovely. though.

MaggieNilAonSneachta · 21/01/2010 09:04

mabel is much more obviously pretty imo. But if Hazel and Thea are pretty then I suppose Ethel must be too?

I don't know though, if you can take as gospel the experience of a woman of 92 who is called Ethel. Did she hate it because it was so popular? Not the case now. Or because it was kind of frumpy and she was 'too young' to be an Ethel.

I like Meryl and Beryl though. I honestly do! I think they are lovely sounds and could be Merry/Berry for short.

piscesmoon · 21/01/2010 08:07

I would talk to some of these old ladies first before you inflict dreadful names. They all tend to hate them and have since childhood! Beryl is another dire example!

mathanxiety · 21/01/2010 05:20

Have you considered Mabel? A little bit of Morag, a little bit of Ethel, but without any of the drawbacks of Morag or Ethel; some old lady names and some ethnic names are unpopular for good reasons.

displayuntilbestbefore · 20/01/2010 23:49

MadBad - nothing cryptic, just that you referred to it as an "old lady name" and I thought it was funny because if someone referred to one of my babyname options as an "old lady name", it would probably make me think twice about liking it!

LetThereBeRock · 20/01/2010 23:34

And no it's not going to become huge unless there's a mass outbreak of insanity.

LetThereBeRock · 20/01/2010 23:33

Absolutely not. It's hideous! I'm trying to picture a baby Ethel and all I can see is a miniature Nora Batty.

PureAsTheColdDrivenSnow · 20/01/2010 23:04

I know a Mavis - she absolutely hates it.

Edna will forever be 'Evil Edna' in Willow the Wisp.

There's a reason these names aren't popular.

Original poster
tummytickler · 20/01/2010 22:52

Well, I had (still do) loved Aphra, but dh is going off it now, it was going to be 'the one' - it is so hard - i will have to make a huge list i think! He is also loving Beryl, but I have posted about that before!

Maybe I should continue a hippyish thing, rather than old lady - dd's are Iris and Pearl so maybe another name along those lines?

Ethel will stay on the list though!

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