Would it be wrong to call an English Boy Etienne?

Decadence · 14-05-2009, 2:34 PM

If we have another Son (this is totally theoretical as my wife is not even pregnant yet) I kind of like the name Etienne but my wife thinks it is silly because it is French, and also sounds girly.

I know it is not an English name, we called our Son Aidan rather than Aiden because it was the English spelling. It's not as though I would want to call him Tetsuo or Feng or anything. Etienne is, after all, a variant of Stephen!

What do you think? Is it a daft name for an English lad? Oh and do you think it is a bit of an airy fairy name like Jonty or Tarquin (no offense if that is actually your name by the way!)

Naaktgeboren · 14-05-2009, 2:36 PM

Yes

Your choice but it sounds a little feminine in my opinion of course.

Zeromajor · 14-05-2009, 2:37 PM

I think Tetsuo, Kaneda and Urotsukidoji are fine names for anyone.

I like french names, Etienne's a winner. How about Xavier?

Decadence · 14-05-2009, 2:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloggyNL

Yes

Your choice but it sounds a little feminine in my opinion of course.

Yeah...reading the name back now it doess seem to be a little effeminate...hmm...

**Iccz** · 14-05-2009, 2:38 PM

What's wrong with Stephen?

I think it'd be fine, though children with "different" names often get remarks about it in school etc, but then again, some names are just seemingly "boring" and "unoriginal" to some people.

I know some French people who have it as their surname, none with it as their first though.

Naaktgeboren · 14-05-2009, 2:39 PM

We have the same dilemma if we have another. Do we chose a typically Dutch name or do we try to integrate more as we are living in the UK?

Decadence · 14-05-2009, 2:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloggyNL

We have the same dilemma if we have another. Do we chose a typically Dutch name or do we try to integrate more as we are living in the UK?

Well as Roy Castle always said..."integration's what you need"

wormvortex · 14-05-2009, 2:42 PM

All depends really as to whether you want the kid to get picked on constantly at school or not

FZR400RRSP · 14-05-2009, 2:44 PM

I think it's opening up a world of hurt for a boy, for sure.
You have to 'think outside the box' and imagine how it's going to affect him in later life.
And 'Etienne' would be a curse, it's almost guaranteed.

smallclanger · 14-05-2009, 2:45 PM

Ah that reminds me of Sarah Cracknell...

indianwells · 14-05-2009, 2:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloggyNL

We have the same dilemma if we have another. Do we chose a typically Dutch name or do we try to integrate more as we are living in the UK?

Maybe span both countries.

Clogbert?

Shoka · 14-05-2009, 2:51 PM

What's wrong with Decadence Jr.?

FZR400RRSP · 14-05-2009, 2:52 PM

I regularly deal with a guy called Richard Head.
I mean, what the hell were his parents thinking??
Who doesn't know the connotations of that and the humiliation he must have suffered because of it?
Maybe we should go down the route of Iceland and New Zealand.
Where you're only allowed to choose from a list, or the name you choose has to be approved.

Naaktgeboren · 14-05-2009, 2:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indianwells

Maybe span both countries.

Clogbert?

Both countries

Throw Sweden into the equation, my wife is Swedish but has lived in the Netherlands since the age of 6. I have been informed that if we have a girl in the future, she is likely to have a Scandanavian name. I have warned her though..... if we had a boy and she was considering the name Benny......

Jenn · 14-05-2009, 2:55 PM

Etienne doesn't sound girly at all in French but you're not planning to live in France so...

The name only reminds me of the song by Guesh Patti - Etienne (the video is quite interesting)

I wanted to call my son Enzo as I have italian roots but was told I shouldn't as he'd be called Bonzo

Decadence · 14-05-2009, 2:55 PM

Yes, he would get bullied...I think my wife is more sensible than me...I was overruled by her against Brutus when Aidan was born.

BenchyUK · 14-05-2009, 2:58 PM

I know a French Magician called Etienne and he's horrible. Even though he is French, he still gets the **** taken out of his name

loz · 14-05-2009, 2:59 PM

as long as you don't name the child Princess Bluebell Brooklyn Heavenly Tiger Lily Plasma Bluray Trixibell Moon Unit then I think you will be OK with anything else....

Magslad · 14-05-2009, 3:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decadence

If we have another Son (this is totally theoretical as my wife is not even pregnant yet) I kind of like the name Etienne but my wife thinks it is silly because it is French, and also sounds girly.

I know it is not an English name, we called our Son Aidan rather than Aiden because it was the English spelling. It's not as though I would want to call him Tetsuo or Feng or anything. Etienne is, after all, a variant of Stephen!

What do you think? Is it a daft name for an English lad? Oh and do you think it is a bit of an airy fairy name like Jonty or Tarquin (no offense if that is actually your name by the way!)

Interesting - we called our son Aiden rather than Aidan because it was the Irish spelling. Each to their own

Can guarantee Etienne would stand out as a name - can't be many Etienne's oop North. The only thing I always think is whether a name is likely to lead to being teased at school etc. I fear that this one might.

Of course, you can never tell how fashion for names will change over time - one of my brothers is called Kevin because it was quite an unusual name at the time

FZR400RRSP · 14-05-2009, 3:01 PM

I wonder if there are any French boys called Hamish.

Don't start me on names that can be spelled differently...
That does my head in.
We called our first daughter Amy.
Surely about as unambiguous a name as you can get.
We still, sometimes, get asked "how you spelling it.."
Sigh...

loz · 14-05-2009, 3:04 PM

well
- it will get shortened to ET. and kids will constantly say "Oi! ET, why don't you go home?"
- and ask "did your parents conceive you in St Etienne?"

KhalJimbo · 14-05-2009, 3:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iccz

What's wrong with Stephen?

haha why nothing at all Stephen

Back on topic, I have a friend called Etienne and nothing wrong with that, I think its quite a cool name

Liquid101 · 14-05-2009, 3:05 PM

Personally, I quite like the sound of it.

When I think of those people I know with unusual names, they always tend to be unusual people - but in a good way. Does the name effect the way they grow up and shape their personality - or is it the fact that their parents had unusual tastes, and brought them up this way?

Funnily enough, when we were choosing the name of our daughter, my partner quite like the name Rose - I thought it was a little old fashioned, and while we were discussing it, my 3yr old son said 'what about Rosa' We both instantly liked it and that's what she's now called.

It was only a few months later while watching Fireman Sam, that my son said, 'look daddy, it's Rosa!' while pointing at the cat. I asked him if this is why he suggested the name Rosa, and he said 'of course'.

So our beautiful little girl is named after a cat in a childrens program.

I would go with what you like - to me a boy called Étienne may well grow up to be rather a handsome and stylish young man with a horde of fascinated young ladies following him

KhalJimbo · 14-05-2009, 3:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowfer

We called our first daughter Amy.
Surely about as unambiguous a name as you can get.
We still, sometimes, get asked "how you spelling it.."
Sigh...

Did you ever notice that sometimes its spelt Aimee?

loz · 14-05-2009, 3:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid101

I would go with what you like - to me a boy called Étienne may well grow up to be rather a handsome and stylish young man with a horde of fascinated young ladies following him

or men...

loz · 14-05-2009, 3:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loz

- and ask "did your parents conceive you in St Etienne?"

Not that there is anything specifically wrong with that.

Long before the Beckhams made the concept famous my cousin was named Rochelle, rather than Rachel, because that is where she was conceived. (the town in France...)

FZR400RRSP · 14-05-2009, 3:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimthelegend

Did you ever notice that sometimes its spelt Aimee?

Yes, I've come across it once.
But that's the point, to me.
It's so rarely spelled anything other than 'A M Y', that it's a wonder people don't just default to it.
To me, asking how you're spelling 'Amy' is like asking how you're spelling 'Colin'.
Sure, someone, somewhere might spell it 'Collin', but surely not frequently enough to actually ask them....

Just assume it's AMY until advised otherwise.

square-eyes-baz · 14-05-2009, 3:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loz

Not that there is anything specifically wrong with that.

Long before the Beckhams made the concept famous my cousin was named Rochelle, rather than Rachel, because that is where she was conceived. (the town in France...)

Makes note to stay away from wife whilst visiting Treacle Bumstead.

FZR400RRSP · 14-05-2009, 3:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid101

I would go with what you like - to me a boy called Étienne may well grow up to be rather a handsome and stylish young man with a horde of fascinated young ladies following him

Alternatively, he may be bullied into 'going postal' at some point.

loz · 14-05-2009, 3:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by square-eyes-baz

Makes note to stay away from wife whilst visiting Treacle Bumstead.

Or Piddletown...