Navsika

[GiannaK]

Totally unpronounceable in England? How does it sound to English ears? I'm only familiar with hearing Greek speakers say it.

It is spelled Nausika but said as in the subject,
like Nav-si-KA.

It was the name of a girl from Greek mythology who loved the sea (appropriate as DH grew up next to the sea, and the rest of his family still live there)

Actually, I love it, but is the worth the constant 'Navsi what?!' for poor DC who will grow up in England.

Views on this welcomed!

Other likely option is Anastasia.

[tammytoby]

I think Navsika is fairly straightforward to pronounce in English. I've not heard it before but it would make a memorable name for your dd!

[PurplePidjin]

I assumed it was pronounced Nav-seeker. A u instead of the v would make me think nausea and would lead to dc constantly correcting people. You also run the fisk of ignorant, rude people assuming it's made up!

Shame really, now I've read your explanation i quite like it!

[goralka]

white armed Nausica?
sorry I am sure it is lovely in Greek but in English you will never get the stress on the correct syllable and you have the word 'sick' in there and 'nausea' too.
what about some other Greek name like Artemis or Xanthe?

[GiannaK]

Oh no, nausea! I didn't think of that.

Thank you, I do like the idea of giving a name for a reason if you see wha I mean!

[LadyMargolotta]

I know a Nausika and it is pronounced 'now-sika'.

[GiannaK]

Artemis, I wish I liked as it is the name of someone special and DH likes it. For some reason though, I have a strong preference for names ending 'a' or 'ia'

[goralka]

well Anastasia is a great name and quite international...

[alexpolismum]

GiannaK I know your dh is Greek, so just remind him of that film with Aliki Vougouklaki saying "Navsikaaaa, Navsikaaaa"!

And if you use Anastasia, be firm with her Greek relatives on the issue of using Tasoula as a nickname.

There are loads of names ending in ia or a. Here are some Greek options: Pelaghia, (this has your sea connection) Panoraia (lovely meaning) Zoumboulia (all right, I don't actually like this one!), Evgenia

[alexpolismum]

or browse through the letters on here and look for inspiration!

[GiannaK]

Thank you alexpolismum!

Not home yet and on my phone so will do all of those things when back!

There's nooo way we'd have Tasoula as I nickname. It is actually what his mother is known as, and much as I love her, I can't disassociate or see it as a nickname for a little girl (like other -oula nicknames!) I do like Natasa though, despite some of our Greek friends thinking it sounds a little bit Russian. It doesn't to me.

Thank you for your suggestions :)

[aufaniae]

Nausika is lovely and not hard to pronounce once you've heard it :)

Anastasia is great too ... but isn't that the main character in 50 shades?! People may think she's a "50 shades baby"! (But perhaps that doesn't matter and people will forget about that -pile of tripe book in a few years anyway).

[GiannaK]

Let's hope so, aufaniae! I haven't read it and refuse to on the basis of my ruining the name Anastasia should we use it! I can claim ignorance if anyone mentions it!

Glad for some positive reinforcement of Navsika/Nausika though - really hadn't thought of the nausea thing before posting here

[Yika]

I think navsika sounds lovely.

[toofattorun]

I think most English people will pronounce the name wrong, ie NAFFsika.

I like the name Nafsika (my spelling!).

I also love the name Anastasia and Atalanta.

If I had a girl I would call her either Eleni, Sofia or Christina.

[BlueChampagne]

Agree about nausea connection - sorry!
How about Athena or Olga?

[GiannaK]

Ohh another vote for the nausea thing! I can't believe I hadn't seen it. It hasn't really put me off though, as I have totally different imagery in my mind with this name and I keep coming back to it.

I quite like Athena/Athina but can't imagine using it - one of those names. I don't like Olga, (sorry to any Olgas out there!)

Of the above, I do like Eleni and Christina but fear the popularity factor in Greece... Soo the search continues!

The name Rafaella/Rafailla (latter would probably be most acceptable Greek spelling) came to me yesterday and I also love that at the mo. DH does too. Any opinions on that one?
Have noted that the Anglofied Greek version of that one does contain the word FAIL though!! Nausea and fail, oh god! Why do I still love both of them?! :)

[Narked]

It's the nausea thing but the 'sika' part that would worry me.

[Narked]

It's not the ^

[alexpolismum]

GiannaK it is Rafailia in Greek. (Rafa-ill-EEE-a) But they tend to get called Rafaella. My koumbara's daughter is called Rafailia, known as Rafaella. I like it a lot. You don't need to use the "official" Greek version with "fail" in it at all

And yes, there are far too many lots of Elenis and Christinas in Greece.

[GiannaK]

Thanks alexpolismum - I like it a lot too! Haven't met anyone who have called their DC it yet, but have heard of a couple of friends of friends so it seems to be gaining popularity for some reason. Still, it isn't the same as the other names we mentioned, is it?! Adding it to list!

I need to start a boys list next!

[GiannaK]

Ps ah ok I see what you are getting at on closer inspection - am in a hurry, at work and on my phone so hadn't noticed the details. Yes, Rafailia as opposed to Rafailla, sorry. I guess using the 'Rafaella' form is a bit like using Giorgos instead of Giorgios etc.

[kiwigirl42]

I thought sat nav when I saw it.

[alexpolismum]

yes, it's exactly like that. And I've no idea about in the UK, but it does seem to be gaining in popularity over here, I've heard of quite a few Rafaellas. Not that this should matter, of course. My dd is Ariadne and she is the only one I know!

I don't know what your taste in boys names is like, of course, but it took me 3 seconds to choose a boys name that worked well in both languages that I liked! There are actually loads, don't worry!

[GiannaK]

Ariadne is a beautiful name :) it is actually the name of a good friend of mine, so I wouldn't use it myself but she is also the only one I know.

Kiwigirl that is hilarious about sat nav. I guess with others' nausea associations it is all coming down to travel sickness.
Navsika is still on my list though.

Unhelpfully, a friend of mine days she thinks Rafaella sounds 'promiscuous' - whattt?