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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help me find a Greek girl's name

91 replies

echonarcissus · 19/07/2012 00:02

Hello all, I'm new to mumsnet and expecting DD2 shortly. I want her to have a Greek name like DD1 but I want one that people can pronounce in the UK (we live in the UK but are from Greece).

DD1 (age 6) is called Xanthe and no one here can pronounce it so she is always called 'Zanthe' rather thank 'Ksanthi'. I know that X is pronounced Z in the UK but am surprised that people apply that to a foreign name. Especially as the X sound exists in the English lanuage, ie 'tax' and 'box'.

So this time I want a Greek name that Britsh people can pronounce. My ideas so far are:

Thalia
Arianna

And that's as far as I have got despite wasting hours thinking about it Grin.

I have lurked here for ages and you all seem friendly, wise and honest. What do you think of the two names? Can you suggest any others?

Thanks all

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Original poster
echonarcissus · 20/07/2012 17:07

It does a bit mamakubica...hmmm...Grin

OP posts:
mamakubica · 20/07/2012 17:05

Current favourite is Echo. ...doesn't that sound like 'I have' in Greek?
oh go on call her Artemis!!

nizlopi · 20/07/2012 17:03

Eleni. I knew a greek girl by this name years ago when I was at primary school and I've always thought it was very pretty :)

Original poster
echonarcissus · 20/07/2012 17:00

Nasara- Thalia is prononced ThALLeea, in Greek anyway, rather than tahlia or Thahlia

OP posts:
Original poster
echonarcissus · 20/07/2012 16:56

Hello all

Sorry I'm so late in getting back, I haven't had a chance. WOW! So many gorgeous suggestions here, thank you all so much. I'm going to go through them all with dh tonight and let you know what I think.

Current favourite is Echo. Can't believe I didn't consider it. Also keen on Phaedra and Effie.

One of you asked why I have a problem with 'English' pronunciation of Xanthe. I don't have a problem per se as in an aggressive way, I am just slightly disappointed as the different pronunciation didn't occur to me and it just sounds odd to my Greek ear. that's all it is Smile

thanks for all lovely ideas. will keep you posted

OP posts:
bruffin · 20/07/2012 14:23

Also have Aunts
Katarina - nn Nina
Orthodoxia
Eleni
Maria

Cremolafoam · 20/07/2012 14:22

Lemoni also pretty

bruffin · 20/07/2012 14:19

I'm half greek cypriot and we all have anglacized versions of greek names

Christine- my grandmother was Christalou and i have an aunt Christalla
Andrea- aunt Andrula and uncle Andreas
Melanie- think Melanea is a greek version

Cremolafoam · 20/07/2012 14:18

Aphrodite
Class name!
Persephone and Daphne also nice

Longdistance · 20/07/2012 14:10

We had baby swim with a little baby, and mum, and her dd was Isis. Idon't know if it's Greek, but her dg had called all the dc Greek names.
Sorry, just sounds Greek, and I think it's pretty :)

ballroomblitz · 20/07/2012 14:04

Rhea?

thegreylady · 20/07/2012 13:56

Ariadne
Cassandra

Lannie33 · 20/07/2012 02:11

Zoe?

forevergreek · 19/07/2012 21:14

I thought Thalia was pronounced ' tah lee a'

Ophelia
Saris
Delilah
Daria
Alina

JennerOSity · 19/07/2012 20:46

Came back to see if any suggestions were liked I'm sure OP is just busy but I wanted to see as there have been so many cool suggestions OP must like one!

MrsHerculePoirot · 19/07/2012 20:28

Eleni
Andrea
Alexia
Helene

TaperJeanGirl · 19/07/2012 20:25

Euphemia, with nn Effie, or just Effie, I have one and shes great Grin

racingheart · 19/07/2012 19:32

Androula?
Nousha?
Kristina?

These are names of Greek girls from my childhood. Might be out of fashion now.

VerityClinch · 19/07/2012 19:25

Or Aliki (Greek version of Alice, I think?)

VerityClinch · 19/07/2012 19:23

Antigone and Phaedra don't have the best historical connotations, do they?

Evgenia? "Jenny" for short/anglicised?

BikeRunSki · 19/07/2012 19:20

Zoe
Helen/a
Eleni
Constantina (Tina )

These are all the Anglo-greek girls I have known.

Bearcrumble · 19/07/2012 19:15

What about Delphi?

EvilTwins · 19/07/2012 18:57

I teach a lovely Greek girl called Elisavet. Everyone calls her Lizzy of course...

nasara · 19/07/2012 18:54

Others have already suggested Thalia - can I begin cheeky and ask how you would pronounce that, Echonarcissis?

Another suggestion: Cassia

klaritaf · 19/07/2012 17:59

Antigone (Tiggy for short)
Zoe
Phoebe
Pandora
Leila

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