Am I setting my daughter up for a lifetime of teasing?!

[unsurealways]

Hello. Long time lurker, first time poster.
My first child is due imminently. I have a list of names that i'm taking to the hospital with me, and I love them all equally. I'm hoping that once she arrives she just 'IS' one of the names as that would make my life so much easier lol.

I'm a bit worried that my taste is a bit ... out there. I love all my names, and think they all suit what a daughter of mine would probably grow up to be. But I wouldn't want her to be bullied for being to weird or poncy sounding.

So here's the list. I'm after honest opinions on whether these names sound weird, poncy etc. Which is nicest/most accessible and which you prefer.

Indigo Iris Bloom - Indie.
Lilith Emmanuella - Lily, but only Lilith at home.
Raphaela Marina - Raffie.
Sabine Allegra June - I love both sa-BEAN and sa-been-eh pronounciations, and am still unsure which I love the most.
Salome Willow - May.
Calliope Saoirse - Callie. (kal-eye-oh-pee / seer-sha)
Persephone Joy - Effie.

[Mama1980]

I literally love them all looking for names myself so thanks

[nickeldaisical]

you don't have to come up with nicknames - you can use whatever version of a name you like.

If you're going to accept/ assume that nicknames will be her going name, then you might as well give her that name.

I personally would have a maximum of 2 given names, so Indigo Iris, Sabine Allegra. mainly because paperwork usually assumes max 2 given names.

I like all of the names on your list (and prefer "full" names rather than nn )

[Machadaynu]

I take it you live in the south, OP?

They all sound "weird, poncy" to these northern ears, gradually more so the further down the list I get.

Sorry - you did ask for honest. They're nice names, but up here they would sound a bit 'try hard' TBH.

[KateSpade]

I really like Persephone but hate the others,

One of my daughters middle names is India, that I like, but indigo sounds silly to me. However, I have a silly name & I've never met a person who has said anything offensive, so go for what you love, I suppose?

[FlouryWhiteBaps]

I'm afraid Effie puts me in mind of 'effing' - possibly not the effect you're after. Lily is very common now if that bothers you. Love SeventhEverything's suggestion of Sylvie.

Hmm, not a very helpful post really.

[Gwennan]

Most of your choices are a little too unusual for me but I do like Raphaela and Salome. People will link Salome to the daughter of Herodias, which isn't a great association (!), but there's also the disciple Salome in the New Testament to whom you can refer any naysayers.

For similar, religious reasons, I would not use Lilith.

I thought Calliope was pronounced as ca-lee-oh-pee; perhaps others do too so be prepared for mispronunciations. Callie is a very wearable nickname. I might assume Greek parents with a name such as this. Persephone is also very nice but will probably be pronounced purse-phone by the uninitiated! I think that would get on my nerves.

In addition to the association mentioned above, Sabine reminds me of Sabine Dardenne - very sad - but also Sabine Lisicki. I think it's a nice choice. I may be tempted to anglicise it to Sabina if that is how you wish to pronounce it. I have a feeling it sounds better in non-English languages.

I think Indigo is a hard name to pull off.

In short, I'd probably go with Raphaela - gorgeous!

[Tamoo]

They are mostly lovely althought I have reservations about Calliope (brings the word 'callipers' to mind). Indigo seems quite gender neutral and IMO not really a nice sounding word, in itself.

Agree with the poster above: in my experience nicknames evolve. My DS for example has several nicknames which are more to do with him as a character and an individual rather than being derivatives of his actual name. They just came up spontaneously.

[DolomitesDonkey]

Are they poncey? Do you live on a scheme in Easterhouse or leafy Surrey?

Give up giving nicknames, they're not yours to give outside the house.

[steppemum]

There are so many names out there now, that I think teasing is rare, unless there is an obvious current tv chararcter with the name

They are lovely and unusual. But be aware that you may spend a lot of time pronouncing and spelling some of them which gets a bit tiring! (especially Calliope)

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

I'm northern and teach in a Yorkshire high school - I don't think the names sound poncey or silly. I see more and more unusual names coming up every year and have never known anyone bullied for their name. I would, however, be careful with names from classical myths eg Calliope, Salome, Persephone, Sabine as on the whole, they have negative connotations and come from stories involving rape, abduction, incest, murder, bestiality etc (not specifically the names you have picked but names from Greek/Roman myths generally). Salome is a biblical story but again, very grim! That said, I think the names you have chosen sound very pretty and I imagine a little girl with any of them to be lovely. Good luck with the exciting times ahead!

[mumofthemonsters808]

Agree with Macha, in the North these names are unknown.Personally I dislike all of them but each to their own.

[juneau]

Indigo as a girl's name? Not sure about that. India - yes.

I think it really depends what community you belong to - as others have said. If you mix with a wealthier, slightly Bohemian crowd, go for it. Those names will not be out of place at all. If you don't then I think you'll get a few raised eyebrows. My DS1 has a very plain vanilla name, but he's always known by his nickname, which isn't plain vanilla, and I get a few raised eyebrows. I couldn't give a sh*t, but how thick-skinned are you? Is it going to bother you?

[juneau]

Oh, and what jellyandcake says about the meaning/significance of names. Do your research - some classical and/or biblical names have very unpleasant associations - not ones you'd want to saddle a little girl with.

[Startailoforangeandgold]

First 4, without the Bloom or June, definitely 1 middle name only.

I was going to say 4,1,3,2, but Raffie's sweet.

I don't like Salome, I can't spell the last one or pronounce the other bottom one, sorry.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I love some of those, though they are quite fancy. Persephone Joy is my favourite. Joy is quite a simple little name, so if she wants to use her middle name when she's older, that would work well, too.

I would love you to call her 'indigo' simply because then you would literally have an 'indigo child' (name some people use for children who're badly behaved, or something?).

'Calliope Saoirse' doesn't work for me as a combination (unless, I guess, you're part of a Greek/Irish couple?), because the names sound so different.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Oh, and 'Iris' and 'Marina' are gorgeous names.

[Bumpstart]

I live in the north and my dd has children with 3 of the names on your list in her class.

I don't think people can make generalisations about 'the north' like that.

Raphaella and indigo are my faves out of your list.

[purplehouse]

Don't give more than one middle name. It's embarrassing, one of my friends was teased loads for this.

All your choices are quite strange if I am being blunt, personally I would call her Iris and choose another middle name.

[Machadaynu]

Bumpstart do you live in Cheshire (North North London?) :)

[Bumpstart]

Ha ha no. Ok, it's the middle names we have in dd class... Allegra, willow and iris.

[MothershipG]

I really like Lilith but couldn't bring myself to use it for DD because of the the demony/witchy connotations - in hind sight it would have suited her....

You can't be prescriptive about NNs, so make sure that you like all of them eg if you choose Persephone and end up with a Percy.

I told every one my DS would be know as the second half of his name for short but somehow it didn't really suit him and he's always been the whole thing or first half.

[Firawla]

Raphaela is lovely, go for that one!! I think all are fine though not particularly way too weird - just more on the unusual side, which is okay