NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Newly signed New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne is setting the record straight on how to pronounce his last name.
During his introductory press conference Friday (March 13), the Jennings native explained the story behind how his last name began being pronounced as “ETN.”
The Saints shared the moment on social media after Etienne addressed reporters and discussed how the french pronunciation changed while he was in college.
“So growing up, it was Travis ‘Achan.’ So it was like A-C-H-A-N-E. And that’s how you always say it, Travis Achan,” Etienne said.
He explained that when he arrived at Clemson, coaches and media members struggled to pronounce his name correctly despite repeated attempts to explain it.
“But when I went to college, I kept telling them my name like every day, every day, every day. And after like four weeks, they just couldn’t get it. So I’m like, man, it’s E-T-N. Like, how you see it is how you say it,” he said.
Etienne said the simplified pronunciation quickly stuck because it was easier for broadcasters and public address announcers.
“So that’s how that became. And it kind of took off because it was easy for the announcers to say it. I don’t have to correct them every day to say my name,” he said.
The running back said he has since learned more about the history of his last name and is open to returning to the original pronunciation.
“And just when I kind of just started learning more about my last name and how it came about and things like that, it just kind of stuck and made sense. But I’m very much open to being Travis ‘Achane’ again, just 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. And that’s just, just give that back to me,” he said.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) runs the ball against the Buffalo...
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) runs the ball against the Buffalo Bills in an NFL wild card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)(Gary McCullough | AP)
One fan joked that Etienne may have felt comfortable in New Orleans after seeing Saints fans embrace quarterback Tyler Shough’s unusual name pronunciation.
He saw that we all accepted Shough’s weird pronunciation, and that was a huge reason he chose NOLA! ⚜️
— GlazerSaint (@glazersaint) March 13, 2026
Another fan reacted with surprise, writing that people may have been “way off” on how to pronounce Etienne’s name all along.
This is actually wild. This entire time we've been WAY off on the pronunciation.
— GOWIE (@DaKidGowie) March 13, 2026
Etienne joins the Saints through free agency after spending the start of his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. ESPN insider Adam Schefter previously reported the running back agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with New Orleans.
The Saints officially announced several free agency additions earlier this week as the new NFL league year began Wednesday.
The move brings the Jennings native back to Louisiana, who starred at Clemson before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
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