Ethan - common or suitably middle class?

[nnaturegirl]

My dh and I love the name Ethan, particularly because we thought it was really unusual, but when we consulted the top baby name lists it appears to have been Top 20 for years (neither of us have ever met an Ethan though). Are we going to find that naming him Ethan means he is one of many of the same name when he gets to school?

Also, being middle class parents, we do not wish to unwittingly bestow a chavvy name on our pfb, but we have no point of reference for Ethan. Is it suitably middle class or does it belong with Kai and Jayden?

Thank you!

Because Ethan Hawke was the first famous Ethan I reckon. I think it's American too.

It's not MC, nor the opposite.
It's in the same pile as Joshua.

I know a mc Ethan. Only one, though. I'm not sure if it might be a bit chav.

If I were you I'd err on the side of caution, though any of us could unwittingly name our child the next Sharon type name.

Well, if The Archers is going to provide baby name inspiration, it could only be ...

Mungo.

I don't like it, and it's definitely not middle class!

Sorry but an Ethan pissed on my son in school last year :(

I know a 3 year old and 10 year old one!

I like it.

Worrying about popularity and school is unhelpful I think. Dd1 has top 20-25 name and at 2 local nurseries and 1 local school have never met another one. Lots of repetition of names not in too 100 though!

Wow, you sound like a judgemental person. Wind up?

I think american with ethan. Not sure why!

I'm American. Maybe that's why I liked it. Although I've only actually met one American Ethan, who is probably in his 30s now. All the other few Ethans I have met are British.

It is also Biblical.

at a suitably middle class person using the word 'common'.

Middle class people don't mention the chavvy word

that's if this isn't horse shit

Haha Middleton, they just pronounce it Shahvay dontchaknow

I'm a teacher and Ethan is a v v popular name in recent years.

You sound awful by the way.

If you are having this kind of dilemma, just stick with Rupert or Giles and be done with it.

I know one Ethan, he is 13 and a lovely lad. His family live in a rented semi-detached house though - so unsure whether they would be considered good enough for your standards.

In our neck of the woods Ethan has stopped being MC and is now quite popular with the even lower classes.

My very posh colleague has just named his son Ethan.

I don't really like names with the "th" sound. Not sure why (maybe because in some parts of the country a lot of people would pronounce it "ff").

I have noticed 2 Ethans in my kids' nursery recently so think it is getting popular. I know it is very popular in US (it may even be top 5). I would think of it as trendy and a bit American but not particularly 'chavvy' (for want of better word).

I thought it was a Jewish name?
It's very popular nowadays.

Just came across this thread as I have been worrying since joining this forum and seeing 'chav' comments about various different names (including what I would consider some old biblical and traditional names) that I may have given my child Ethan a name with negative connotations which is sad really but some people do make assumptions. Would you worry? In which parts of the country is this the case cause I had never heard that before....Ethan does appear in the Archers
Thank you

I wouldn't worry, Bluesand - people who describe names as 'chavvy' are not people whose opinions should be valued.

I don't ascribe the name Ethan to any particular class or group. It's hella popular at the moment, though (I know of three born in 2014 to my friends alone!).

Ethan is popular but not chavvy. Have a few in kids school and 2 under 7 on our street

Thanks guys. I don't know any others so good to get an outside perspective even if it isn't all good...!

I have an Ethan - I simply liked the name and felt it wasn't too out there or too popular in our area < naice village in SE > - if ta pronounced properly with the 'th' sound I love it but I do when someone I know calls him "e-fan"

I can fully understand why you don't want a ' Chardonnay' type name. Ethan doesn't sound middle class or council. It just sounds an average name to my ears.

The only Kai I know is middle class.