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Baby names

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

Original poster

Persephone

185 replies

Puddles1234 · 13/04/2014 21:29

One of the names me and my husband love for our baby if it is a girl is Persephone. However we are struggling with the middle names.

We need two or three middle names. These can be English names or Classical Greek.

I am open to suggestions.

Many Thanks

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Original poster
Puddles1234 · 15/04/2014 01:00

Thank you for the suggestions.

I do love Iris, Astrid, Artemis and Helena

Our surname is double-barrelled so we have to be mindful of that.

Of course I know the 'Story' behind Persephone. Regardless of her being Hades wife or being 'Queen of the underworld' or 'Raped by her uncle' I adore the name. We love Greek Mythological names and most of them have sad connotations anyway.

OP posts:
florascotia · 14/04/2014 14:40

I always think of it a quite a hopeful name. Yes, she's an underworld goddess but she also reappears on earth in springtime, bringing fresh life and green shoots etc.

There are famous lines in Milton's poem Paradise Lost (had to study it long ago). Conjures up a lovely image:

"...that fair field of Enna
Where Proserpine gathering flowers,
Herself a fairer flower...."

Proserpine/Proserpine = Latin version of Persephone; Dis = Hades.

Amazingly, one can even get the teeshirt: www.zazzle.co.uk/john_milton_proserpine_gathering_flowers_t_shirts-235931129534035592

mrsnec · 14/04/2014 12:32

That's a nice nn. I did look at the meaning and it said 'bringer of destruction' but I like what ploppy said above. I might stick it on my shortlist just to see what dh makes of it.

Ludways · 14/04/2014 12:26

Sorry, I do see Persephone as normal, in that it has been out if favour for a long time but has been around for thousands of years.

I know one who gets Seffy as a nn

Megrim · 14/04/2014 10:06

I think I must live in the same area as Minim?

I live in a very multicultural area (we have French and Dutch schools, and a large International school, as well as plenty of private schools catering for both locals and the ex-pat community), but I have never come across a Persephone, Minerva or (as someone was suggesting on another thread) a Hades.

florascotia · 14/04/2014 09:28

Lots of lovely Greek names: www.behindthename.com/names/usage/greek

magentasurprise · 14/04/2014 08:49

I would keep the middle names fairly simple.

Maybe:

Persephone Frances Anne
Persephone Helena Jane
Persephone Maia Rose
Persephone Julia Anne

Have you considered Penelope? They are quite similar but I personally find it much prettier than Persephone.

Ploppy16 · 14/04/2014 08:20

The myth surrounding her is a fairly modern interpretation, it's also possible that she was the original ruler of the underworld rather than Hades and wasn't his victim at all. She's involked by anyone wnanting to find true and lasting love Smile.
How about Hester as a middle name?

CeruleanStars · 14/04/2014 08:10

Astrid, Kate, Lotte, Rae

AwfulMaureen · 14/04/2014 08:04

OP do you know the story of Persephone? I personally could never name a baby after her...it's a terrible tale!

mrsnec · 14/04/2014 08:02

I'm looking at combinations of English and classical greek too. I quite like Persephone but hadn't considerd it really, those of you that know one, out of interest what do they shorten it to if they have nns at all? I think it works well with iris as a middle name from all the suggestions above.

Artandco · 14/04/2014 07:34

Mini - I don't think there is ' normal ' anymore. As everything is normal mainly due to multicultural. We are a greek/ English family with Scandinavian family/ heritage. Our names and our children's reflect this.

In the next 5 flats to ours we have English/ French family, French/ Italian, French/ Moroccan, Irish, and American/ Arabic. All their and their children's names also reflex this.

So a huge mix of names. My children would never even blink at a huge selection of names as perfectly normal. I don't think they know anyone called John/ Ann/ Kate though. So old normal isnt new normal

MinimMum · 14/04/2014 00:49

Ludways

I think that's worse, but maybe shouldn't speak my mind.
I just worry for some of the dc with the names I read on here.
Maybe they just choose normal names round here, I never here of any of the names people mention on here.

Ludways · 14/04/2014 00:45

Mini, it isn't pronounced "Perce Phone", but "Per sef oh knee"

hashtagwhatever · 14/04/2014 00:43

Persephone isis?

Alisvolatpropiis · 14/04/2014 00:39

Mini

Lovely circles you must mix in.

op I went to (state) school with an Antigone, Athena and a Portia. Not related to each other. None were bullied for their names.

Persephone is fine.

MinimMum · 14/04/2014 00:37

Please tell me your having a laugh, poor kid.
I can hear it in the playground now.

"where's my perse, where's my phone"

I don't know what goes through some peoples minds.

Freckletoes · 14/04/2014 00:29

Not wanting to sound negative-but I think the child will spend her life having Persephone incorrectly pronounced! I do think it's a lovely name but I also think the majority won't know the correct pronunciation.... "Percy-phone".....

Alisvolatpropiis · 14/04/2014 00:14

Persephone Aurelia Hâf

Mumzy · 13/04/2014 23:25

Sorry meant
To balance not to avoid to balance bl*y phone

Mumzy · 13/04/2014 23:21

Because it's such a long name I think you need shorter middle names to avoid a balance it so suggest Persephone Flora Kate with a nod to spring and a traditional feisty English girls name

Mrsfullhouse · 13/04/2014 22:55

Persephone Starling Elise.

Oh I wish I was having a girl! So much more fun than naming boys

Mrsfullhouse · 13/04/2014 22:43

If Ds2 to be had been a girl, Persephone would have been a front runner. Beautiful name.

Persephone Tallulah Blythe

Love love love the playfulness of Blythe, so joyful and spirited

soontobeslendergirl · 13/04/2014 22:09

Ahh - I thought those were your other daughters :)

Marissa would be nice too.

Original poster
Puddles1234 · 13/04/2014 22:07

No those are other names we are considering, we don't have any children this is our first.

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