Old lady names

[Gimmeechocolate]

I really love old lady names and already have 2 DDs with old names.

I have fallen in love with the name Ethel. Everybody I know hates it and laughs at it.

I guess what I am asking is what are your associations with it as a name other than 'old lady'?

Ethel is, I am sorry to say, a truly awful name. Bet you a pound to a pinch of shit that baby Ethel gets a deed poll on her 18th birthday. It's just not a pleasant sound.

If you want that pre-Conquest Anglo-Saxon feel, Edith is lovely.

Ethel Austin. (Sorry)

I really like Elsa, but DH feels the 'old lady' vibe with that one - have tried to persuade him of the lioness aspect, but no joy so far.

The first thing I think of when I hear Ethel, is the old lady that was in Eastenders, and her little willy

I don't like it at all, sorry.

Ethel might be a step too far I think......but having said that it will probably be the next "in" name- hasn't some celebrity named their baby Ethel?

Association is currently Lily Allen's baby.... Ettie is a nice nn but Ethel still feels a step too far down the old lady path. What are your other DDs called?

...much prefer Mabel or Eleanor.

There was an Ethel in Downton, not a happy story, though.
And there's Ethel Hallow in the Worst Witch, who is ever so annoying.
I like the name but then I tend to really like old ladies names like Shirley and Myrtle...

I quite like old lady names too but not Ethel.

Sorry but I just can't see an Ethel being anything other than old, just like old Ethel in eastenders

I love Ethel, less keen on Edith. Enid's another name I really like.

What about Esme, Mabel or Constance?

My DD has an old lady name and im considering Lilian if I have another dd but Ethel.is ghastly.

I'm too a lover of old lady names & think Ethel us great. Doesn't make me think of anything in particular, just a good old fashioned name but very 'now' without being try hard.

I love old lady names too, but Ethel is probably the name I like the least! What about Elsie? Probs my fave at the moment xx

Thanks for all your responses. Outing myself here but already have Iris and Hetty.

I like Mabel and Esme a lot but already know at least three of each. Would have gone for Elsie but my brother called his daughter Elsie!

love Hettie!

What about:
Flora
Meg
Nancy
Nora

I had two lovely old aunts; Ethel and Hazel.
Fantastic ladies!

My Mum is a Hetty and her sisters are/were: Margaret (Rita), Elizabeth (Bunty) and Ena - not sure what that was short for.

Sister in laws were Mary x 2, Margaret, Alison. Evelyn & Norma.

Anything any use? - Quite liking Rita actually.

Vera
Peggy
Ina
Philomina (Mina)

Ooh Iris and Hetty were my top two for a girl (I had a boy). I also loved Violet, Dora and Greta.

I for one like Ethel, though I do prefer the ones I have already listed.

I was just going to suggest violet ?

Esther? A bit similar but sounds nicer to me.

Ethel is dreadful. Even when I was a child Ethel was awful. I like Violet too. Veronica is nice but you never hear it these days. And Esther.

Ethel Austen as well and Eastenders. Not sure it actually sounds very nice? I really like Rita as well despite it having very unglamourous real life associations.