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Baby names

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

Original poster

Persephone / Antigone

57 replies

WittgensteinsBunny · 03/08/2014 07:12

DH likes Persephone (Percy) and Antigone (Tiggy).

I don't know much about Greek mythology but Wikipedia tells me Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus. And some other unpleasant stuff. But I'm no expert, anyone? This makes me not so sure. Plus there's the Wooly & Tig theme tune to contend with! Although I like the name, I can't imagine using Persephone as it feels pretentious to me. Is it? I do like Percy though.

We already have a dd - Elodie; and we have boys names. Just need help with some alternative girls names:

I like:
Asta
Astrid
Freya
Beatrix

What does everyone else think?

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Oriunda · 05/08/2014 07:28

I love Persephone and if DS had been a girl that would have been the name. She is also known as the bringer of spring (ie when she returns from the underworld everything starts growing again).

I'm not the type of person who would feel ashamed of my child's name though (I certainly wouldn't have felt 'a tit' calling out for Persephone), so I think you need to decide on a name that you feel comfortable with that isn't dependent on what strangers on an internet forum think.

Booboostoo · 04/08/2014 18:02

Do you like Alkisti? That one has a happier story. Hercules had to go retrieve her from Hades as one of his feats because her husband loved her so much he couldn't live without her.

HavantGuard · 04/08/2014 16:59

'I consider it in the same camp as Evie or Lexie'

I'd never consider Elodie as anything like those.

Theonlyoneiknow · 04/08/2014 16:07

I came across a little girl called Andromeda recently, had never heard of that before!

1lov3comp5 · 04/08/2014 15:36

Thanks Qis and Special, I've heard Persephone before but not Antigone so I still need to 'force' myself not to see it as Anti-gone iykwim!!

QisforQcumber · 04/08/2014 15:35

ROFL @ "Percy Phone"

specialsubject · 04/08/2014 15:32

pronounciation:

anne-ti-gon-ee (not 'anti gone')

per-seph-on-ee (not 'percy phone')

better get t-shirts printed for whichever name you choose, there's a lot of explaining to do...

the latter, as a middle name. Not the former.

QisforQcumber · 04/08/2014 15:32

1lov Ann-Tigg-Gone-ee

TheAwfulDaughter · 04/08/2014 15:28

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TheAwfulDaughter · 04/08/2014 15:27

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1lov3comp5 · 04/08/2014 15:26

How do you pronounce Antigone? My first instinct is to say Anti-gone but that doesn't sound right at all so I'm guessing An-tig-owny??

QisforQcumber · 04/08/2014 15:17

Astrid is my favourite but I also love Antigoneand the Seamus Heaney Translation.

Thea?
Phoebe?

Sleepyhoglet · 04/08/2014 14:09

Do not go with Antigone! I suppose in her favour she was a strong woman who defied her uncle the king to bury her deceased brother because she believe that pleasing the gods was more important. There is sexual undertones of her being a bit too into her brother though. And she is the daughter of incest (her father Oedipus married his own mother, although unknowingly)

vinoandbrie · 04/08/2014 13:25

Love Persephone!

wingcommandergallic · 03/08/2014 19:58

Good choice. I think Alexa is awesome. Pretty but powerful too.

Original poster
WittgensteinsBunny · 03/08/2014 19:51

So, DH doesn't like Tegan. At all. He doesn't like Astrid (my fave either)

We've decided that we can't do Persephone as a first name.... But it's a contended for the middle name.

Surprisingly, we both came up with Alexa.

So, if it's dd2, she's potentially Alexa Persephone :)

Thanks for all the input though. Some great names suggested. Keeping some on my back up list!

OP posts:
aoife24 · 03/08/2014 19:25

Funny to see 'Teagan' in a post on Persephone and Antigone.

HermioneWeasley · 03/08/2014 19:19

I like Persephone, but agree Antigone sounds "negative" to modern ears.

How about Ariadne?

dementedma · 03/08/2014 19:14

Would go down a storm in our working class area but if it fits with your social circle then fill your boots!

Viviennemary · 03/08/2014 19:10

I don't like Persephone and Antigone even less. I really like Astrid though and Freya is nice too.

TwllBach · 03/08/2014 19:08

I adore Persephone, please use it... But I do understand what you mean about feeling pretentious. It's just so very beautiful though, soft and feminine and it reminds me of waterfalls

How about ophelia? It's got a similar feel to it?

audley · 03/08/2014 19:01

Antigone asks for agony as a nn

callipygian00 · 03/08/2014 18:52

Not a fan of Antigone - would be horrendously mispronounced!
You'd probably have the same problem with Persephone too, and I do agree that it sounds pretentious. But Sephy is lovely - I'd go with just that on the BC. I also like Astrid - my DH would never go with that though!

Alisvolatpropiis · 03/08/2014 18:32

Love both Antigone and Persephone! Unfortunately my dp does not.

I went to school (normal state school in pretty average area) with an Antigone, an Athena and a Portia. Not related to each other.

Theonlyoneiknow · 03/08/2014 17:34

What poster above said.

I love Astrid from your list. What about Aria, Cassandra (nn Cassie), Alice, Violet, Ottile, Verity

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