Eithne pr. Eth-nee/Eth-nay?

[EarnestDullard]

DD2 due in October, and Eithne has so far been the only name DH and I agree on. Having originally heard it in the film The Four Feathers, we though it was pronounced Eth-nee or Eth-nay (or somewhere in between). But having researched a bit, the traditional pronunciations seem to be Enya or Eth-na. I'm not overly keen on those, so I sort of discounted the name. But now, a couple of months later, it's the only name DH still really likes.

So: is Eth-nee/Eth-nay an acceptable alternative pronunciation, or would we technically be pronouncing it wrongly?

Hi, I'm Irish and have heard this name back home pronounced Eth-na only. If you're mainland UK, it's the sort of name you'll probably find yourself explaining a lot, so to that end, you'll be able to put people right on how you want to pronounce it...in which case I think Eth-nee would be easier for people to get their heads around.

We're in London, so I do understand that we'd probably have to explain the pronunciation to people. We're Scottish originally though, so the "nee" is quite soft in our own accents, more like a "neh" or almost a "nay" than a longer "ee" sound.

I just don't want to feel like we're making up a pronunciation to suit ourselves. I'd rather choose a different name than do that.

In Scotland I've heard it pronounced Eyeth nay (neh)

lovely name btw.

My Irish mil has a sister called this who's lived in Ireland her entire life as had her parents - pronounced Eth-nee

Ooh, thankyou, that's good to know. I guess it's back on the table then :)

beautiful name I love it too and would dearly love to use it but my last name ends in a 'lee' sound and it just doesnt go.

I know it as Eth-na

I'm Irish and it is ONLY pronounced as Eth-na! It would also be considered as a super dowdy name!!

In Dublin its more like Et-na, without the h sound. And it is a mammy kind of name.

Yes, I've only heard it pronounced Etna (like the volcano). And it's right up there with Dymphna, Dearbhla, Fidelma and Brenda in terms of appeallingness.

Elderly nuns' names are coming back in though - I know a couple of little Philomenas, which is quite sweet in a retro kind of way.

Oh god Pollymorfic not Philomena......are you serious?? I agree with you about Eithne being up there with Philomena Dymphna etc.!!

I'm Irish and all of em I know are Eth-neh

I knew one and she was Ethnuh , but I think I'd read somewhere that it can be pronounced Enya, which is much nicer!

lol at Brenda, Fidelma and Dymphna coming back!! I'd hardly put Dearbhla in the same category though! I know lots of Dervlas about 35=40. It is not an owlwan's name from where I'm standing.

Oh, is it really a middle-aged sort of name then? I just saw it on a list of Celtic names and remembered it from The Four Feathers.

I think it's pretty though. Maybe I'll start a revival

Well, seeing as the only one I knew died about five years ago, I'd say it's one of those name like say,,,,,,, Dulcie. YOu know she's going to be 95 or under 5

my auntie is called Eithne and it's eth - nee
she is in her 70s so it must be due a revival

The only one I have ever heard of is about 10 and is in Scotland

I'm Irish too and would pronounce it Eth-na. Sorry, I agree with LemonLovesLilac, it's a dowdy name.

But, surely that is the fashion at the moment in the uK anyway?? - the country is apparently heaving in little Ruby/Ida/ivy/Norah's - and if you don't live in the country where the name is seen as dated then does it matter? Not saying it doesn't, just asking.

I am Irish but I think it's fabulous granny-chic.

Only ever heard of Eth-na

Irish here, and it's only pronounced ETH-neh or EN-yeh (like the singer).

I think the ETH-nee pronunciation is akin to DEER-dree for Deirdre. Just a bit wrong in other words, from an Irish language pov.

I know a little Eithne who is 6. I think it's coming back.

nice name!

Only ever Et-na.

Sorry but it just makes me think of old spinster ladies, sergeant major types.
It's too harsh for a little kid/squashy newborn IMHO.

it is IMO a middle aged woman name, Lots of women who worked with my mum called Eithne, had teachers called Eithne etc, but if you're not in Ireland then people wont associate it like that and will just hear the pretty sound IMO