Mumsnet Talk

What about Callia? Lovely Greek name and not much chance of mispronunciation?

I always said to Dh we would have a name and 'use' it because nn's are so frequently used. So if you want Persephone, be prepared to shout Persephone in the playground...or else what is the point in calling her that?

I picked up on the 'what a daughter of mine would probably grow up to be like' comment as well.

My ten year old is fearless, and I am cautious. We're both sociable but she's a little bit friendly with loads of people, I have always had a few close friends. She doesn't like the things I like. She's argumentitive, always challenging me, always negotiating. I never thought she would grow up to be like this!
Also, as she is mixed race (1/4) I never thought she would have fair hair and blue eyes. You just can NOT tell what your daughter will grow up to be like. And your comment reminds me that I was going to give my dd a name that meant dark. I thought about spanish names or greek names as I thought those would suit her, and I dismissed names like Greta and Kirsten.

About Salome - my DD1, who was named after Queen Salome Alexandra, has never had any problems of teasing or real issues with her name (though you should be aware there are multiple ways to pronounce it. The English way is typically Sah-loh-may, but as it originates from the Hebrew word Shalom so some pronounce it like Shalom without the h).

The only real issue we've had tend to come from adults wanting to short it (which she will have nothing to do with, she loves her name). I've only had one person mention the other more notorious Salome (my DM), and I simply told her about DD1's her real namesake and the fact that that character is never given any name to her in the Christian texts but by Josephus (who was paid by the Romans to discredit the former monarchy and an often disreputable source) and has been used happily by many for centuries regardless with it's lovely meaning.

I actually think poncey names sound better in small communities, deepest darkest northern locations.

Where I grew up in yorkshire there was an Emerald, a Cordelia, a Zinnia a Hermione and a few Annabells, plus loads more (and that was just the boys )

They sound a bit desperate in Home Counties and Fancy London.

I know a baby Indigo. Gorgeous. Wouldn't associate it with anything negative.

Just on the abbreviation/nickname thing: I don't understand why some people are saying that you can't choose what your child's name is shortened to. My DD1 (now 9) is almost always called by the shortened version of her first name - we chose what we wanted to shorten it to, and how we wanted to spell it, and that's what we introduced her to everyone as when she was born. No-one's ever tried to call her anything else (even though there are other possibilities). So I think you'd be absolutely fine to say her name is Persephone (say), "but we call her Effie". And when she gets older she can choose whether she wants to introduce herself with the full name or the abbreviation. (My DD always goes with the abbreviation.)

Saorise... meaning freedom, also Sinn Fein monthly publication which put friend of mine off.

Love Persephone (nn Percy) and Indigo. Like all others except Lilith. Go for it. I love unusual names!

Honestly? I think they're all bloody awful with the sole exception of Sabine. They are wierd, they are poncy sounding, and yes, they are ripe for teasing especially given the details of your location in later posts. But it's not us that have to decide, it's you, and if there's one thing I've learnt over the years, it's to trust my own judgement And despite the response here, few people are so breathtakingly rude as to say to your face in real life, any of what we've said here, especially if you just announce her name after she's born. You might get a few "That's... interesting"s but if you love it, that won't matter.

Love Sabine - both pronunciations. Salome is neat too, as is Perspehone. What about Antigone, in that vein.

of the list I like best :

Indigo
Raphaela
Allegra Willow
Calliope Saoirse
Persephone Joy

Persephone i think is the best, though.

Indigo is a colour in the rainbow.

there is nothing negative about it!

It's like Violet

"what a daughter of mine would probably grow up to be."

I think you need to wipe that from your mind as children are their own personalities and you might be in for a shock.

Having spent all my single life having to spell my first name, and now my married life spelling my surname, I would say please think about giving your child a name that the majority of the world can pronounce and spell.

(not to mention Dr Frasier Crane's ex... )

But Lilith Emanuella is a disaster! After she's coped with the cultural baggage of biblical Lilith she has to cope with all the suggestions of French softcore porn!

Love Salome. Love Lilith.

I'm not helping but my favourite poncey names for girls are Callista (with emphasis on 'Cal') and Phaedre.

i know you're aware of the background, but really? the rape of the sabine women? salome? a child given by her mother to be fucked in exchange for continued power? yuck. if you passed either of those two along would think you were a bit weird tbh, not your child.

Yes, you are. Just give her one long name, a sensible middle name and your surname. Raphaele is lovely -- I met a woman called this and she wore it well.

i disagree, Heebie
i like to say my name with the middle name too

Sabine Allegra June is the only one that grabs me. Some of the others, eeeooow. I dislike Saoirse tbh. And mixed in with your list it's so out of place.

They aren't my taste but they are fine & won't particularly attract teasing.

I thought you were going to suggest something like "Melon" or "Toiletta"!

I don't get chosing the 'a first name, b second name' combination unless you're into numerology or similar. It's an in-your-head daydreamy thing, a bit like practising your new signature for when you get married to the cool boy in the lower VI. The words will rarely be said together. Why not pick the name that you like best, which will be used a billion times and then a middle name that means something or goes, which will be on her passport and precious little else.

I like Persephone, but having had a cat called that, I can tell you her name will most commonly be mistaken for Stephanie. Not that that really matters.

Mmmmm... Sorry to say that I find most of the names a little contrived