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[Opinions] Ethan
I've been thinking about this for some time, I love the name Ethan I first fell in love with at 15years old when I wrote a story about a young man named Ethan James.
But now with the name ranked so high I worry about using it for my child, I don't want him to be one of five Ethan's in his class but I don't want the popularity to rule what names I love.
The name combo I've come up with is Walter Ethan Robert, I want to call him Ethan but I thought putting the Walter first would help him not get lost in the pool of Ethan’s.What do you think? What would you do if a name you've loved for years suddenly was number 5 on the list?Joanna
“I never wanted to be different I just wanted to be me” ~BMEzine.com
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I feel your painI don't want the popularity to rule what names I love. A noble theory, but unrealistic. Either the popularity bothers you or it doesn't. If it doesn't, just use Ethan and ignore it, but worrying over it and relegating Ethan to a MN spot enveloped by other names to obscure its popularity is ineffective.The name combo I've come up with is Walter Ethan Robert, I want to call him Ethan but I thought putting the Walter first would help him not get lost in the pool of Ethan’s.1. If you're going to call him Ethan anyway, he'll still be lost in a pool of Ethans. Yelling "Ethan" on the playground will still inspire 5 replies, even if it's Walter Ethan Robert on paper.
2. Walter isn't my favorite name, but Walter Robert is a handsome, timeless combo. Ethan doesn't really flow with Walter and Robert, but I think Ethan Robert would be nice.
3. If you called him by both names as a sort of double first name, or hell, even just as a FN and MN that you call him by, I could see that working. It would distinguish him, and you'd still use Ethan, but I'm sure he'd be the only Walter Ethan or (Ethan Robert) being yelled for at the playground.What do you think? I guess what I'm getting at is if you love Ethan, just use it. Ethan is popular, and this solution just isn't a solution.

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This message was edited 5/13/2006, 9:59 AM

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Thank you for your input:) I guess I'll just have to not care then.
I forgot to say that also Walter really needs to be a first name because there are two other nephews in my husband's family with this for a middle name. Walter was my husbands grandfather and so far all the grandkids have wanted to honor him (includding my Hubby) by using his name. My husband wants it to be a first name for one of his sons.
But I do agree I love Ethan Robert a combo :)
I've thought about calling by his first and middle Walter Ethan, it's something that happens alot in my family anyway.Thanks again :)
You've brought alot I need to talk to my husband about and think about.Joanna“I never wanted to be different I just wanted to be me” ~BMEzine.com
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Glad to help. I like Walter with Robert, and that would be nice to honor your husband's grandfather. Good luck with your decision! :)
What are the convulsions of a city in comparison with the insurrections of the soul?
Man is a depth still greater than the people.
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I wouldn't use it. But having an uncommon name is probably the most important quality of a name to me. I grew up with a common name, and didn't care for it. Boys care less than girls about having popular names though. I'd even say that boys like that extra comfort of fitting in with a regular name.
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I checked out the SSA for North CarolinaEthan is not in the top five. Ethan probably spiked on the charts from other states where it is ranked as number one."And I believe, that angels breathe, and hat love will live on and never leave" -Josh Groban
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How do I check the SSA for Kansas?Thanks“I never wanted to be different I just wanted to be me” ~BMEzine.com
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http://www.socialsecurity.gov/cgi-bin/namesbystate.cgi there's a link that if you copy nd paste it into your browser should give the info for Kansas, top 100 names. Unfourtunatly Ethan is #2 in Kansas :(
"And I believe, that angels breathe, and hat love will live on and never leave" -Josh Groban
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Thanks but I won't be living in NC when I have children, I'm moving back to Kansas in Feb of '07.
But thanks again for the idea I didn't even think to check the SSA for Kansas :)
Joanna
“I never wanted to be different I just wanted to be me” ~BMEzine.com
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I really really dislike when long time favorites suddenly spike in popularity, it almost makes me mad because I want to know how the country wised up so quickly. However, I also don't want to choose names just based on where they are on a silly list. I think Walter Ethan Robert is a beautiful combo. I also like to check out state rankings because if every kid in California is named Ethan but barely anyone in Ohio than I would go ahead and use it as a first name. "And I believe, that angels breathe, and hat love will live on and never leave" -Josh Groban
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