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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Ethel...too old lady?

73 replies

powderbluerose · 02/11/2017 21:19

I don’t know why but I really like Ethel. Ettie for short. But I can’t get the image of a cute little old lady called Ethel out of my head! Opinions please! :)

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kjhh · 02/11/2017 21:55

Etta is lovely... if you’d nickname Ethel ‘Ettie’ why not call her that instead? Ettie is lovely and original... I think Ethel is a really old name sorry

PandorasXbox · 02/11/2017 21:56

Sorry awful. It’s in the same bracket as Vera, Enid, Doris, Phyllis and Beryl.

BernardBlacksHangover · 02/11/2017 21:57

I love vintage names, but I don't like Ethel at all I'm afraid.

How about Elspeth or Edith?

BhajiAllTheWay · 02/11/2017 21:57

Not a fan , Just don't like the sound and can't imagine it suiting a child.

Chaffinch4 · 02/11/2017 21:57

I like it. But then I like Enid, Phyllis and Vera too!

PandorasXbox · 02/11/2017 21:59
Grin
flumpybear · 02/11/2017 22:20

Dreadful and my grandmas name to boot, albeit she was lonely!

I loathe and woman names anyway reminds me of boiled sweets, moth balls and lavender SadEnvyConfused

silkpyjamasallday · 02/11/2017 22:22

DD has an 'old lady' name, so I may be biased but I like Ethel and I can see it suiting a feisty toddler very well. Ettie for short is very sweet, Etta I'm not keen on, but that is because the Etta I know is a middle aged Jamaican man Grin

Nonameyet1 · 02/11/2017 22:25

Ethel is lovely, as is Ettie. Or another nn could be Effie. I like them all.

BeanoNoir · 02/11/2017 22:27

Esther nn Ettie?

cathyclown · 02/11/2017 22:35

Edel, or Adele instead maybe. Same name just a variation.

SuperBeagle · 02/11/2017 23:03

It's horrible.

My opinion might be slightly clouded by the fact that the only Ethel I've known was an absolutely feral, vicious cat.

I worked with an older Ettie though. Not sure for anything. Just Ettie.

SuperBeagle · 02/11/2017 23:03

short*

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 02/11/2017 23:30

How about Etta, or Greta?

willyougotobed · 02/11/2017 23:38

Esme? I prefer Etta to Ethel myself.

I'm not that fond of the Elsie, Edith, Ruby type of names. They remind me of a swathe of great aunts I had. There was a Hilda and a Beattie too.

ElChan03 · 02/11/2017 23:45

I like it. I think it's classy. When she's growing up all the great aunts will be called Jennifer, Louise, Catherine etc. So less connotations of it being an old lady name. Work in a care home and the most common name I see is Edna and Joan so... I don't know any ethels. Go with what you like! Ethel is beautiful!

Thrillofit · 02/11/2017 23:49

Really bad. I know an Ethel in her 60s and it's really old fashioned for her age group.

buttercup54321 · 02/11/2017 23:58

its terrible. no just no.

junebirthdaygirl · 03/11/2017 00:07

Its a lovely name. Know an older Ethel with sister Iris..both beautiful names.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 03/11/2017 00:11

Ettie short for Juliet/Juliette/Julietta.

I'm not keen on Ethel. Really like Enid :)

FreddieFazzbear · 03/11/2017 00:13

Not my bag, love Elsie though.

pixie8 · 03/11/2017 02:37

I hate all old lady names.Ethel/Edith/Maud/Ivy etc,it`s like calling your kid Bertha or Vera or Joan!

FrancisCrawford · 03/11/2017 07:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

allegretto · 03/11/2017 07:46

I've always loved Ethel.

whoareyoukidding · 03/11/2017 07:47

I am very fond of the name Ethel for purely personal reasons but I do think it's a very sweet name.

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