My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Ianthe how would you pronounce it?

36 replies

Elizalou01 · 21/10/2016 19:25

People have said Xanthe is too hard for people to get their heads round.

So DH suggested Ianthe but now it seems it can be pronounced several ways

I would say I-anthe but I've seen ee-anthe?

I'm sure none are like the Greek original

Does anyone have a Xanthe or Ianthe? Have you had any issues?

OP posts:
Report
Chinlo · 21/10/2016 19:27

Like Ian but with a "th" on the end.

Report
dancemom · 21/10/2016 19:27

Xanthe - zan-thee

Ianthe - eye-ann-thee

Report
VanessaBet · 21/10/2016 19:28

I know how to pronounce Xanthe, but I've never been sure about Ianthe! In my head I say Yan-thee for some reason, sure that's probably wrong though - suppose I should google it! (I've never met one in RL)

Report
HardcoreLadyType · 21/10/2016 19:28

Eye-ANTH-ee.

But I could be wrong.

Report
NauticalDisaster · 21/10/2016 19:30

Eye-Anne-the (soft 'th' with long e sound, do not like the word thee, more like saying the word see with a lisp)

Report
TheHiphopopotamus · 21/10/2016 19:30

I knew a Xanthe and she pronounced it Zan-thee.

I would pronounce Ianthe as Eye-an-thee.

Report
Hamsolo · 21/10/2016 19:32

I'd go Yanthee on a blind read, like Ianto.

Report
OlafLovesAnna · 21/10/2016 19:33

I have a Xanthe- people don't seem to have any problem with it. If they're reading it and aren't sure they usually say it hesitantly but get it correct.

Most people compliment the name choice or remark that it's unusual and ask why we chose it.

The only problem is when she says her name to strangers (she is 3) they mishear it as Sophie but I expect this will pass when her speech is clearer.

I wouldn't be certain how to pronounce Ianthe but would probably have guessed at Eye-anthe.

Report
OdinsLoveChild · 21/10/2016 19:34

I would pronounce it eye-ann-thee in an australian accent due to the trauma of bella bloody ballerina 2 hours a day for 2 1/2 years Smile Unusual name though I do like Xanthe more.

Report
RiverTam · 21/10/2016 19:34

Ee-anthay

I think Xanthe is far easier, there's only one way to prounce, isn't there? Zanthay.

Report
AGruffaloCrumble · 21/10/2016 19:36

Ee-anthay here too.

Report
gillybeanz · 21/10/2016 19:42

Lanthee - Iolanthe without the io

Report
RandomMess · 21/10/2016 19:45

I'd stick with Xanthe, just easier!

Report
elpth · 21/10/2016 20:02

I have an Ianthe (eye ann thee) and people always pick it up as soon as you say it. We have had a few people saying eee ann thee but as soon as they meet her they don't. When she was starting nursery I did write "pronounced eye ann thee" on the form as I knew she'd meet people who'd only read her name. She's now 3 and so big enough to tell people her name and then spell it if they look confused!
We get regular comments about what a great name it is and how much people love it. Smile
So I'd say definitely go for it! I do really like Xanthe too though.

Report
Hefezopf · 21/10/2016 20:04

I would pronounce it Yan-thee.

Report
ageingrunner · 21/10/2016 20:04

Eye anthee
I prefer xanthe though

Report
FannyWincham · 21/10/2016 20:16

eye-ann-thee

But Xanthe is awesome!

Report
passingthrough1 · 21/10/2016 20:19

I would have said Ee-an-they.

Xanthe seems less contentious

Report
Darkswan · 21/10/2016 20:23

Xanthe I'd say zan-thay

Ianthe i would say eye-an-thay

Xanthe is easier I'd say, with Ianthe I would not be at all sure I was saying it right.

Report
UnicornPee · 21/10/2016 20:42

I know an ianthe and they pronounce it
yanthee

Report
Pluto30 · 21/10/2016 21:33

Ee-ann-thee.

Xanthe is more intuitive. I'd pronounce it Zan-thee.

I don't like names that "look" like Ianthe anyway, because I always initially think it's a lower case L, not an I.

Report
AnnetteKertan · 21/10/2016 21:35

I have a Xanthe (Zanth-ee)

I posted on another thread recently but I find people do struggle with it. I have friends who call her Xanthia and Zanthay despite me saying Zanth-ee in their presence.

It is also becoming a little boring having to repeat her name when asked what she is called. That said, I like that her name isn't very common and it is of course beautiful.

I would pronounce Ianthe as eye-annth-ee.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

daisypond · 22/10/2016 12:29

Eye-anth-ee.
Zanth-ee.
I like them both.

Report
Coey2016 · 22/10/2016 12:57

I would find Xanthe easier to pronounce. I know one and she is Zan-thee, I think it's a pretty name.

I'm not sure how to pronounce Ianthe, and haven't come across it.

Report
BlackbirdSingsInTheDeadOfNight · 22/10/2016 14:59

My 10 month old puppy is a Xanthe (Zan-thee) and it surprises me how many people have never heard of it, or see it written down and have no idea how to pronounce it. I would have thought that Ianthe would be harder to spell/pronounce though.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.