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Baby names

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Original poster

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?

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Cherylene · 25/10/2016 14:09

(E)e-anth-ay

CourtJester · 25/10/2016 14:03

I originally say it as starting with a lowercase L, so pronounced is Lan-thee.

I've never seen a Ianthe, so would say Xanthe is actually easier!

TheCompanyOfCats · 24/10/2016 21:20

Yan-thee

superram · 24/10/2016 21:16

I wouldn't have known until
I met one in the past 2 years and I really like eye-an-thee

Coconutty · 24/10/2016 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MyGiddyUncle · 24/10/2016 18:46

I'd say 'Yan-thay'

NotYoda · 22/10/2016 18:13

I know it's the same as Xanthe (only because of MN) but I suspect a lot of people wouldn't

I wouldn't choose either, TBH. I have an unusual name and it's a pain to always have to spell and explain it. Don't impose that on her

Nice name, though

SunnyInMay · 22/10/2016 16:55

Never come across an Ianthe but I would have guessed at ee-anth-ee

Original poster
Elizalou01 · 22/10/2016 15:34

Thanks so much for your comments everyone

OP posts:
CordeliaFrost · 22/10/2016 15:25

I would pronounce it eye-an-thee.

Meadows76 · 22/10/2016 15:01

I didn't even pick that up as a name. I separated it to 'Ian the' and had to reread 3 times before I realised it was supposed to be together and was a name.

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.

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.

daisypond · 22/10/2016 12:29

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

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.

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.

UnicornPee · 21/10/2016 20:42

I know an ianthe and they pronounce it
yanthee

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.

passingthrough1 · 21/10/2016 20:19

I would have said Ee-an-they.

Xanthe seems less contentious

FannyWincham · 21/10/2016 20:16

eye-ann-thee

But Xanthe is awesome!

ageingrunner · 21/10/2016 20:04

Eye anthee
I prefer xanthe though

Hefezopf · 21/10/2016 20:04

I would pronounce it Yan-thee.

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.

RandomMess · 21/10/2016 19:45

I'd stick with Xanthe, just easier!

gillybeanz · 21/10/2016 19:42

Lanthee - Iolanthe without the io