Message: "Eth- and Adal-names..."

Eth- and Adal-names...

by Joiya

3/12/2015, 10:41 AM

So, BtN's name of the day is Ethel.

This name honestly makes me sigh, swoon, smile, etc...
I know its a bit frumpy and layered in dust for some... and I agree that the only ones I know are sadly passed away from age now. However, it might be the memory of Ethels past that makes me love this name.

I checked out our resources here on the name element (eth) used to create Ethel... and found this:
http://www.behindthename.com/element/ae32th30el
I'll put the pertinents below...

Basically from the Old English element meaning "noble". WIth several related names in ---
Ælred, Æðelberht, Æthelflæd, Æðelflæd, Æðelfrið, Æðelind, Æðelmær, Æthelnoð, Æðelræd, Æthelred, Æthelric, Æðelric, Æthelstan, Æðelstan, Æthelthryth, Æðelþryð, Æthelweard, Æthelwine, Æðelwine, Æþelbeorht, Æþelræd (Anglo-Saxon), Alvin, Elfleda, Elmer, Elvis, Elwin, Elwyn, Ethel, Ethelbert, Ethelinda, Ethelred, Aylmer, Elvin (English), Athelstan (History), Elric, Etheldred, Etheldreda (Medieval English)

Ethelyn as well.

So - what do you think of these "noble" names?
Any favorites, or related names not mentioned?

Would you USE any or advocate for any of these.

I personally am now contemplating whether Clarisse, Ethel and Nadine could be sisters ;) Maybe I am missing an option and you can help!?

______________________________________________
"How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve upon the world." -Ann Frank
Mama to my "bright star" Clarisse Bituin and Wife to Julius. Mahal na mahal from our little family to yours!

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- Kinola

3/13/2015, 7:02 AM

My favorite is Ethelinda. So elegant.

- Moirrey

3/12/2015, 4:19 PM

My great-grandmother was named Ethel Flossie. She died before I was born, but my mom talks about her so fondly that I've developed a real soft spot for the name. I'd consider using it as a middle name someday.

I also like Athelstan, and Ethelred (for boys) not sure I'd use them though.

- Anneza, nsi (guest) +2

3/12/2015, 2:23 PM

I found a sibset of sisters, all born in late 1940s, early 1950s:
Margaret Anne
Barbara Joan
Gillian Ethel

And the youngest sister just blew my socks right off! Such a wonderfully edgy contrast of names. Not saying I'd use Ethel - more likely to use Gillian, actually - but it's fun to think about.

I also know a man in his 30s named Adalbert. English-speaking, no Germanic connections at all. Nice guy.

- Joiya (guest) +1

3/12/2015, 4:51 PM

Gillian Ethel is quite lovely. I like that combo the best of the sibset actually.

Ethel is a great name for the middle spot because of it's quirk.

Adalbert is great... though I always think Adalbert Humperdink. (sp?)

- Anneza, nsi (guest)

3/13/2015, 2:39 AM

Nope, he was (is?) Engelbert! After the classical composer who wrote the opera "Hansel und Gretel", which I've heard of but never heard any of the music of. Remarkable that two forgettable music people should share a name!

- Pie

3/12/2015, 1:00 PM

I think they're all great fun. I don't think I'd actually use any myself (although I once joked about calling a daughter Aethelflaethelfrithburga) but I'd love to see any of them used.
I did an Ethel post a while back and collected a selection of variants used in the UK during peak Ethel saturation, which you might enjoy:

Etheline
Ethelia
Ethelinia
Ethelfleda
Ethelreda
Etheltraud
Ethelberta
Ethelwyn / wynn / win
Ethelwin
Ethelind
Etheldrida
Etheldry
Etheldra
Ethelda
Etheld
Etheldora
Etheldine / Etheldene / Etheldean
Ethelswyth
Ethelswitha
Athelia
Atheliah
Athelgoda
Athelda
Athel
Athella

- any you like?

- mirfak +1

3/12/2015, 10:55 AM

Æðelþryð - I would love to hear how that sounded in its day.

I dislike Ethel. Ethelinde is sort of appealing, though. Elfleda and Eldreda are neat too.

If I had to use one, I'd use Ethelinde and call her Lindy. Elric for a boy.

- Joiya

3/12/2015, 11:50 AM

Elric really is a little gem isn't it?

I like the similar Alaric and Alec already.

Ethelinde is actually quite pretty. Lind-names are quite popular in PH too, with the most common being Rosalinda, Gerlinde and common ones like Belinda, Melinda and Selinde. Ethelinde might be a bit long for many tastes though - I like it regardless.

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