Etsuko

[Tubaluba]

or Emiko?

This thread has taken a turn but just wanted to come back and say I have been practising saying these names with no single syllable emphasised and literally find it impossible! So I don't know if I'm just thick or if that will happen a lot with English speakers, and if that will annoy you OP?

The other day I was going to start a thread about this, but now I won't - I adore the names Ishmael, Israel and Yannick, but won't use them as I am as English as it gets and it wouldn't work, I'm sure. However I have no problem calling my future kids Zoe/Charis/Adelaide. C'est la vie!

"this is an English forum" really?

I wasn't aware Scotland had voted to leave the union already? Wales and NI were still here too at the last look.

And, as others have pointed out, the UK is wonderfully multicultural.

What a silly thing to say. HTH.

I prefer Emiko. I think Etsuko would be mispronounced in the UK, and it would sound horrible.

Personally, though, I would not choose a -ko name. It's fine for a little girl, but not for a grown woman IMHO!

My honest reaction? I thought those are v unusual/odd names and I don't like either. I wouldn't have a clue if it was a boy or a girl, though the pronunciation seems straightforward and as I would expect.

Once it was explained their origin and your heritage it made a lot more sense. However, that has apparently offended you, so I'm not sure why you asked. There was no need to be rude to people.

I think Emiko sounds nicer.

Context is relevant because the advice would be different

• We are both Japanese and live in Japan and the child will be educated in a Japanese schools. (In which case how modern a name is may be relevant. )

• One or both of us are Japanese and our child will be educated in English speaking schools. (In which case pronounciation by English speakers is more relevant than how modern a name is)

• Neither of us are Japanese but we like Japanese names and their meanings. (In which case how they sound to English speaking ears is most relevant)

Oh, FFS.

It's a forum conducted in the English language, based in England. I'm pretty sure you know I didn't mean 'mumsnet is FOR ENGLISH PEOPLE ONLY!!'. Would be quite bizarre, given that I'm Australian myself

(Oh, and I'm very aware of how 'wonderfully multicultural' the UK is, thanks wiggly: partly from living in East London for 5 years, and partly just because I'm an educated adult.)

Much as I've enjoyed being patronised and treated like a racist thicko on the internet, I'm off to bed.

Blimey there are some rude Op's on baby names lately.

FWIW, the OP's message to Koala did come across as rather snappish and short tempered whether or not it was intended that way, in my opinion.

Back to the actual question...
I like Emiko, and Emi is lovely. I had a Japanese teacher called etsuko who was only about 30 though, so it doesn't sound old to me!!

Whichever you choose, those that know your daughter will quickly learn to pronounce, so it won't seem unusual after a while...

Are they pronounced Eh-MEE-ko and EH-tsu-ko (capitals being the stressed syllable)? If so, I think Emiko. It's a prettier sound and there's a good selection of nn's.

Ignoring all the ridiculousness about heritage (which I also think was a perfectly reasonable question), I like Emiko best.

I would instinctively pronounce them:

Eh MEE ko (with ko to rhyme with mow)
Et SUE ko (again rhyming with mow).

Probably completely wrong.

Oh god sunshine.

Clearly just one of those people that makes everything about race and now infact you are the one coming across to me as having issues with what you call the standard mums netter - white Caucasian.

What koala asked was 100 percent relevant as she very clearly said.

Re: pronunciation, essentially we don't know, as we don't know if the OP's family are Japanese, because she hasn't come back to the thread.

If they are Japanese, then AFAIK they're pronounced e-tsu-ko & e-mi-ko with even stress placed on each syllable (e as in 'yet', ko as in 'cough').

If they're not, and they just like the names, then they can pronounce them any which way they like

She did say way up thread that there was Japanese heritage. I took this to mean either she or her dp were part Japanese. She explained the pronunciation of Emiko too.

Good lord what a thread!

I prefer Emiko, sound wise. Also think it would be easier for most English speaking people to say (assuming OP is based somewhere English speaking).

I thought Koala was rude. Very abrupt question, it might have been valid if she had added other comments with it but as it was rude and weird for a 1st answer.
Definitely a weird thread.

That's interesting.

Yes, my question may have seemed abrupt. But given that the OP's question was three words, 'Etsuko or Emiko?', I assumed she was into the straight-to-the-point style.

I'm future, I'll know better than to respond to someone who can't even be bothered saying whether the names are for boys or girls.

Agree with koala.

And both names are terrible.

Having said that I would choose Emiko out of the two if living in the UK. It's less harsh, easier to pronounce etc etc.

Koala your question was rude and abrupt and surprised you can't see why it got OP's back up. Your question had nothing to do with what she asked, she just wanted to know which one you preferred obviously from the sound of it as she gave no other variables.

I was wondering the same thing as Koala and so were others. Since when was "do you have heritage?" 'rude'.

ridiculous over reaction to a simple and normal enquiry

You may have been wondering about it, being a foreign name, but its rather rude and haughty to ask, and really is not relevant to you answering the question. Also just because you and 'others' were wondering doesn't mean you are right, it just means the majority are in the wrong on this occasion.

'rude and haughty'? In reply to a three-word question? How ridiculous.

Glad you've unanimously decided that 'the majority of [us] are in the wrong', though. I think the OP's tone on the whole first page was rude and haughty, actually, but since that's a subjective judgement, we'll have to agree to disagree.

I like Etsuko and I think Etta is a lovely nickname. I like Emiko too but not as much, and I really dislike Emi/Emmy as a nickname.

I thought Koala matched the OP's posting style. It was matching a style, not a tone.