Running back Travis Etienne Jr. is returning to his home state after signing with the New Orleans Saints in free agency this week. He’s also taking the opportunity to clear up the pronunciation of his last name, which he revealed sounds more like “A-chan” than “ee-tee-en.”
At the beginning of his introductory news conference Friday, Etienne was asked: “Now that you’re back here, how would you like your last name pronounced?”
“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,’” he said. “But when I went to college, I kept telling them my name every day, every day, every day. After like four weeks, they just couldn’t get it. So, I was like, ‘Man, it’s ‘ee-tee-en’, how you see it is how you say it.’”
Etienne, originally from Jennings, La., won a national championship during his sophomore season at Clemson in 2018. He was a two-time ACC Player of the Year and became a first-round draft pick in 2021 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Even on draft night, commissioner Roger Goodell announced the pick as “Travis ‘ee-tee-en.’”
“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,” Etienne said. “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.”
PSA: Travis Etienne Jr. on how to pronounce his last name pic.twitter.com/UNfFdXcrCg
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 13, 2026
Travis’ younger brother, Trevor Etienne, is a running back on the Carolina Panthers. His last name was also pronounced ‘ee-tee-en’ during his rookie NFL season in 2025.
So, make room, De’Von Achane. The Miami Dolphins running back isn’t the only one with that last name … sort of.