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Baby names

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

Original poster

Middle name for Persephone...?

93 replies

Spuddybean · 04/08/2012 15:57

Any ideas? Our surname is a double barrel along the lines of Watson-Ingram (but more unusual)

We were thinking of Imogen? But maybe something shorter would be better.

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GrasshopperNchipmunk · 05/08/2012 23:10

I think Persephone is a beautiful name spuddy! I agree that people can be very rude sometimes, and I also agree that it is the adults that often have issues with names, and not children!

My name is v uncommon, and is from Greek mythology too. I love it. Everyone knows its me as they don't know any others, and I get lots of compliments and interest in the story behind it. Sure, I always have to spell it for people, and in a busy pub I have to repeat it about 100x to people I meet, but I don't care. I couldn't imagine having a name that is 10 a penny.

Both my children have unusual names too, but they are old names and both have great histories and meaning behind them. Its nice to be abit different, after all we can't all be called Eve/ Isabelle/ Olivia/ Scarlett etc etc etc Wink

LondonNadiy · 05/08/2012 20:09

Persephone is GORGEOUS (I want it! Stupid DP hates), don't think its pretentious or weird. Kids will make a nickname out of anything, and it probably won't even reference her name.

Persephone Rose,
Persephone Helena,
Persephone Juno (but mixing mythologies might be bad taste?),
Persephone Hebe,
Persephone Esther,
Persephone Summer (too much maybe? Cute reference to the myth?)

tiddlypool · 05/08/2012 10:45

Blush Sorry, spuddy, Persephone is a lovely name.

emdelafield · 05/08/2012 09:44

It's a beautiful name and not at all pretentious .

I agree that single syllable middle name would sound best.

My first thought was Jane but also like Rose and Eve.

Good luck!

Original poster
Spuddybean · 05/08/2012 09:39

Just thinking - Wasn't there a character on Upstairs Downstairs called Persephone? I thought it was more common than people are saying.

I suppose when you grow up with these names/stories it is no different to Katherine or Elizabeth or the like.

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Original poster
Spuddybean · 05/08/2012 09:33

What has made me smile is after reading others choices of baby names i see tiddlypool is asking about Enzo or Maximus which to my ears sound much more pretentious! So it just shows that it is all perception.

I have grown up with people asking me to 'explain' my name and when i do they always say how interesting it is and how nice it is to have a myth attached to it. I never use the full thing - as i doubt my little girl (if i have one) would. It's just nice to have the options. She could be Percy, Sephy, Posey etc or i would be quite happy with Eve if she wanted to use her middle name.

I don't agree with those who say about nicknames of purse and phone as my name was never turned into a stupid nick name. I found children just took the abbreviation at face value and weren't particularly interested in the long name.

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Passmethecrisps · 05/08/2012 09:24

spuddy the name is lovely and you don't need to justify yourself.

Children don't question names - adults do. There doesn't seem to be a way of getting it right. If you pick a name which is in the top ten you have no imagination. If you pick modern or contemporary many you are 'chavvy' and classical names make you pretentious.

baskingseals · 05/08/2012 09:23

spuddy totally agree about rude and unpleasant people. remember it says more about them than it ever could about you.
i also love the story. the love of Ceres for Persephone is inspiring.

have you thought about a nature type middle name?

Original poster
Spuddybean · 05/08/2012 09:17

How totally rude and unpleasant some people are. I have a 'classical' name which is unusual, but the shortening is taken at face value. I studied classics subjects at uni and fell in love with the story and always wanted this name for a girl.

The nn will be Posey btw.

It is pronounced Per-seph-ony (like a per in front of stephanie - only without the T)

There are also lots of names i don't like on here i would never call someone a chav or something if they just asked an opinion. So why is it okay to call me pretentious?

For the record if it's a boy he will be Lysander. That pretentious enough for you?

Perhaps people would like to consider others feelings before they post nasty things.

OP posts:
Passmethecrisps · 05/08/2012 09:16

I had only heard of this name days ago. There are two possible ways of pronouncing it - one which sounds daft and one which sounds lovely. It's not that difficult.

I think a short middle-name. I quite liked Jane or Rose.

And surely it is no more okay to judge a name for being pretentious as it is to claim that 'you will never get a lawyer called x'

evilgiraffe · 05/08/2012 09:10

MacMac, it's per-seff-oh-knee. Pretty name, but I wouldn't expect most adults (never mind children) to pronounce it correctly first time, it really is quite unusual.

VolAuVent · 05/08/2012 09:09

MacMac it's Per-SEF-on-ee.

Slainte · 05/08/2012 08:56

Brilliant puffpants Grin

MacMac123 · 05/08/2012 08:45

How do you pronounce Persephone
Is it Purse E phone?

VolAuVent · 05/08/2012 08:45

I think that even though everyone will know her name is Persephone, someone will spot the nickname possibility of Percy Phone, so yes she will be called Percy Phone.

mellen · 05/08/2012 08:13

I dont think that she will be called percy phone at school - the teachers will pronounce the name correctly, and the children will hear what she and the teachers call her, so will know how it is.

baskingseals · 05/08/2012 08:02

i would go for something about nature, as Persephone brought back the summer.
what about Sky?

imustbepatient · 05/08/2012 07:52

Uncalled for tiddlypool. We all have our own tastes and ideas. So boring if everyone thought the same.

EcoLady · 05/08/2012 01:13

She'll be called Percy Phone at school. Pretty name but just too unusual these days.

tiddlypool · 05/08/2012 00:49

Persephone Pretentious Parents would be apt.

austenozzy · 04/08/2012 22:31

Shazza or Stace would go beautifully.

DumSpiroSpero · 04/08/2012 22:28

I know a fabulous 4 year old Evelyn. In the 2.5+ years she has been coming into my place of work, I have never seen her without a smile on her face.

There really couldn't be a better advert for the name Smile.

Rainbowsurf · 04/08/2012 21:46

I love Evelyn

LemonLovesLilac · 04/08/2012 21:30

Persephone Juno
Persephone Beatrix
Persephone Celeste

Beautiful name!!

mamij · 04/08/2012 21:01

Puffpants that's a good one Smile

I vote for Eve too. Although I love Evelyn.