Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

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?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
AGruffaloCrumble · 21/10/2016 19:36

Ee-anthay here too.

RiverTam · 21/10/2016 19:34

Ee-anthay

I think Xanthe is far easier, there's only one way to prounce, isn't there? Zanthay.

OdinsLoveChild · 21/10/2016 19:34

I would pronounce it eye-ann-thee in an australian accent due to the trauma of bella bloody ballerina 2 hours a day for 2 1/2 years Smile Unusual name though I do like Xanthe more.

OlafLovesAnna · 21/10/2016 19:33

I have a Xanthe- people don't seem to have any problem with it. If they're reading it and aren't sure they usually say it hesitantly but get it correct.

Most people compliment the name choice or remark that it's unusual and ask why we chose it.

The only problem is when she says her name to strangers (she is 3) they mishear it as Sophie but I expect this will pass when her speech is clearer.

I wouldn't be certain how to pronounce Ianthe but would probably have guessed at Eye-anthe.

Hamsolo · 21/10/2016 19:32

I'd go Yanthee on a blind read, like Ianto.

TheHiphopopotamus · 21/10/2016 19:30

I knew a Xanthe and she pronounced it Zan-thee.

I would pronounce Ianthe as Eye-an-thee.

NauticalDisaster · 21/10/2016 19:30

Eye-Anne-the (soft 'th' with long e sound, do not like the word thee, more like saying the word see with a lisp)

HardcoreLadyType · 21/10/2016 19:28

Eye-ANTH-ee.

But I could be wrong.

VanessaBet · 21/10/2016 19:28

I know how to pronounce Xanthe, but I've never been sure about Ianthe! In my head I say Yan-thee for some reason, sure that's probably wrong though - suppose I should google it! (I've never met one in RL)

dancemom · 21/10/2016 19:27

Xanthe - zan-thee

Ianthe - eye-ann-thee

Chinlo · 21/10/2016 19:27

Like Ian but with a "th" on the end.