Genuinely honest opinions needed please.

[MrsSET]

Hey. I'm playing around with a name in my head and would appreciate some honest opinions on it because I really like it but think it could know it will be one of those names that is just a bit to out there.

I would use it if I had a little girl as, despite it being a boys name, I think it is very elegant, classy and feminine but commonly used.

I also think it goes with my first daughters name well which Maud. I'm wary of having another old fashioned name and making them sound like a pair of old woman!!

Anyway, enough of a build up now!

It is Etienne.

Let me know what you think. I know if I really like it overall I should go with it, but am interested in what you say.

While I'm here! If it is a boy, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with Elwood/Woody Saul.

Feel free to suggest alternatives if you have any you think it is worth me considering.

Thank you!

I think it's a really lovely name and it does sound feminine. However, if you don't have any French connections then that's the first mark against it, the second is that it's the wrong sex.

I know you know that and it will sound pretty here but you can't assume that your DD won't ever go to France (or encounter French people here). When she gets there, with her English accent, people will either find it funny, or judge you as mean! Either isn't really nice for her and it seems it would cause problems for absolutely no reason, as there are lots of other uncommon names that you could use.

Also, in her life time, she will encounter lots of French speakers, or may live in a city, where many will expect a French Steven to walk in.

I really want to tell you to go for it as you love it, but really, it's just unkind.

I really like the suggestion of Juliette, although I'd stick with the Juliet spelling.

Pop an A on the end? Sounds flippant but think Michaela, Thomas

The shortened version of my name is a unisex name in the UK and 95% a boy's name in the US.

I haven't exactly found it a problem that people who I have interacted with in the US have thought that they were emailing a man.

Sorry, thomasina, Christina, etc

Really appreciate all the comments. Thank you. Hard now because it is the name I am beginning to associate with baby so I think I need to put it on a back burner until the baby arrives. Might be a boy anyway!

It's funny with number 2 because you also need to think about what goes with your other child's name. Adds another dimension.

Other names that I'm thought of but don't really grab me are:

Nell
Martha
Elsie

For a boy I quite like Grayson and Gus but think we're pretty set on Woody now.

Had lots of really positive comments re maud - lots of people who say I would never have considered it but it I think it is a great name. And that was also a name before she was born that quite a few people made me question. Would have kicked myself if I hadn't used it so also considering that.

Oh and Claude for a boy but it's rules out for rhyming with Maud!!

Hugh is nice. Or Hugo, which has the French vibe à la Victor Hugo (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Misérables).

What is it about Étienne that you like?

Oh, and how are you pronouncing it? Ett-ee-en? Or the French way, Eh- tee-ann?

Have to agree with the 'add an a on the end' comment. Or choose a more feminine name altogether which has the same feel, such as Vivienne, Marieanne or Juliette?

OP Etienne is a beautiful name & just because many disagree with your choice, it shouldn't put you off, but a word of caution; I have a girls name. It's unusual but defo a girls name, yet my induction meeting at my senior school was embarrassing because they had me written down as a boy! I was ragged about that for years afterwards & I wasn't the sort of child that handled micky taking all that well. Your child may come across similar small minded comments & administration errors & these may be hard for her to handle?

I like it v pretty - the Stephen thing really wouldn't bother me.there are lots of unisex names in uk already.

I would never use it for an English boy, as to me it sounds very feminine. Stephanie is the feminine version of Stephen, so what is the French feminine version of Stephen?

Etienna?

I love the sound of it though, unusual in the right sort of way for me!

I wouldn't care if it was French for Stephen. It sounds utterly beautiful to me.

What about Etta?

It sounds pretty.

Anyway, I can't see the big deal as I have met many Francescas that go by Frank - and where I'm from it's a boy's name, but I've never found it confusing/weird when I've met women who have shortened their name in that way.

Don't be ridiculous.

It would be like a French girl being called Hector because it "sounds like a girls name" in French.

What about Amity instead?