Saints RB Travis Etienne Jr. Reveals Proper Pronunciation of His Last Name

Etienne says his name is pronounced "A-chan," not "ee-tee-en"

Mar. 13, 2026 at 8:11pm

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In his first news conference since signing with the New Orleans Saints, running back Travis Etienne Jr. revealed that his last name is pronounced "A-chan," not "ee-tee-en" as it has commonly been said. Etienne, who is originally from Jennings, Louisiana, said he tried to correct people on the pronunciation during college at Clemson, but it never stuck, so he just went with the "ee-tee-en" version. Now back in his home state, Etienne is happy to go by the proper "A-chan" pronunciation.

Why it matters

The correct pronunciation of an athlete's name is an important part of their personal identity. Etienne's revelation highlights how names can evolve over time, especially when an athlete moves from their hometown to a new region. This story also draws a connection between Etienne and his brother Trevor, who plays for the Carolina Panthers and also had his last name mispronounced early in his NFL career.

The details

Etienne said that growing up, his name was pronounced "A-chan," but when he went to college at Clemson, people couldn't get it right no matter how many times he corrected them. So he just went with the "ee-tee-en" pronunciation, which was easier for announcers to say. Now that he's back in his home state of Louisiana playing for the Saints, Etienne is happy to go by the proper "A-chan" pronunciation without having to correct people constantly.

  • Etienne revealed the correct pronunciation of his last name during his introductory news conference with the Saints on March 13, 2026.
  • Etienne was drafted in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021, where his last name was pronounced "ee-tee-en."

The players

Travis Etienne Jr.

A running back who recently signed with the New Orleans Saints after being drafted in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. He is originally from Jennings, Louisiana.

Trevor Etienne

Travis Etienne Jr.'s younger brother, who is also a running back and plays for the Carolina Panthers. His last name was also pronounced "ee-tee-en" during his rookie NFL season in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Growing up, it was Travis 'A-chan', so it'd be like 'A-C-H-A-N-E'. That's how you always said it, Travis 'A-chan.'”

— Travis Etienne Jr., Running back, New Orleans Saints

“It kind of just took off because it was easier for the announcers to say it, I didn't have to correct them every day with how to say my name. It made sense, but I'm very much open to being Travis 'A-chan' again, being myself. I don't have to correct people here on how to say my name each and every day, and I kind of love that.”

— Travis Etienne Jr., Running back, New Orleans Saints

What’s next

Etienne will look to make an immediate impact with the Saints this upcoming NFL season, as he aims to establish himself as the team's starting running back.

The takeaway

This story highlights the importance of respecting an athlete's personal identity, including the proper pronunciation of their name. It also shows how names can evolve over time, especially when an athlete moves to a new region. Etienne's willingness to go by his preferred "A-chan" pronunciation is a refreshing reminder that players should be able to embrace their true selves.