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Baby names

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

Original poster

Iolanthe

53 replies

justabunchofbunting · 20/04/2018 09:41

Iolanthe. Means Violet in Greek. Also the name of a fairy who falls in love with a mortal in a Victorian opera. Pronounced eye-oh-lan-thee.

We had previously settled on Isolde but were worried that she would be called Izzy which is okay, but seeing as how Isabella and Isabel were some of the most popular girls names last year she would probably be one of many Izzys in her year.
I love the story of Isolde and think its a beautiful name.
We were thinking that even though Iolanthe is less personal to us, it is similar but has better potential for shortening. Could use Io or Lana or Thea.

Were thinking of perhaps using both names, as middle and first......... but do people think thats too over the top as they are similar to each other and both quite a mouthful?

what are peoples thoughts?

Thanks

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TatianaLarina · 20/04/2018 14:11

Comic opera not proper opera.

SilverHairedCat · 20/04/2018 13:59

Iolanthe is beautiful, but I know the opera.

As for the nicknames, no you don't get to dictate. My mums friend named her daughter Victoria then spent the next 20+ years kicking off that everyone called her Vicky, not Toria and refusing to acknowledge anyone who addressed her that way.

Vicky finally told her mum to stick it when she was 24.

daisypond · 20/04/2018 13:51

If Isolde is more personal to you, I think you should go with that, but not with Iolanthe as a middle name. It sounds like that is the name you really want, you're just put off by Izzy as a short form. If you want to shorten Isolde, you could have forms like Zolda/Iso, etc, you're not stuck with Izzy.

Strax · 20/04/2018 13:35

I agree with Tatiana, I think you should use Iolanthe but with a different middle name.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 20/04/2018 13:11

Just makes me start singing Gilbert & Sullivan

TatianaLarina · 20/04/2018 13:06

I wouldn’t use the two together personally - they’re from completely different mythologies and I don’t think they go together sound wise either - they have similar but conflicting vowel sounds.

If you went for Iolanthe I’d have a plainer middle name, maybe even one syllable.

thiskitten · 20/04/2018 12:37

I knew a woman's called Iolanthe many years ago. I think she was perhaps part Greek. She'd be in her 70s now.
Beautiful name - unusual but a "real name". Although it's long written down, I don't think it's too long to say each time. I never knew her to shorten it or have a NN.

Original poster
justabunchofbunting · 20/04/2018 12:36

beverlystyle thats nice to hear! I know its not to everyones tastes but I think some people and hopefully my daughter would think it was lovely.
I think I would regret it if I didnt use it.
My own mum is always telling me how she regrets not calling me a certain name and keeps ringing me up and suggesting the most outrageous names for DD!

Which way round do you think it should be? Isolde Iolanthe or Iolanthe Isolde?

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BeverlyStyleMama · 20/04/2018 12:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
justabunchofbunting · 20/04/2018 12:27

Ianthe to me just sounds like Xanthe. I love the sound Iola....
I love both these names but I think they might be too much as middle and first name together... but then part of me thinks that no one ever says all their names anyway. Ive hardly ever said my middle name in my life!
I just wonder if I should use Iolanthe as the first name considering it has loads of different shortenings so could be rendered quite normal if she did indeed find it too unusual.

Someone somewhere is always going to hate whatever name I choose so we may as well choose something we love.
I dont think iolanthe is too out there as a first name, some people on here seem to like it... and mumsnet is very harsh on names in general so it cant be that crazy a name!

OP posts:
Naberes · 20/04/2018 12:19

I think it’s too much, quite honestly. Isolde is better, Izzy notwithstanding.

How about Ianthe? Could still be shortened to Io.

Backhometothenorth · 20/04/2018 11:57

A little pretentious

TatianaLarina · 20/04/2018 11:24

I don’t think many people will think G&S (I really can’t stand them) I just think of the Greek.

Few people in the UK will pronounce Isolde with the German ending - it will just be I zold.

LadyCoulter · 20/04/2018 11:23

I’ve never heard of the name outside the G&S context so I do think most people will link it to that. And now I’ve got the music stuck in my head.

Original poster
justabunchofbunting · 20/04/2018 11:19

yes ee-zoll-duh
I think Isolde is a more well known story? Im not sure that many people would make the Gilbert and Sullivan association would they?

Its a shame because I like the story of Isolde very much and so does my husband. It has some personal meaning to us as its also mentioned in a song which was playing the first time we met.

I think Iolanthe and Io are better names however but im not actually a fan of the Gilbert and Sullivan so I was hoping that maybe not many people would make that association?

Its a hard choice might have to resort to just picking one of them from a hat!

OP posts:
daisypond · 20/04/2018 11:02

I like them both a lot but I wouldn't use them as a first name and middle name - I think that'd be too much. I like Io, particularly. They're both very linked to a specific story, though, and Iolanthe is really only ever associated with the Gilbert and Sullivan to me. Are you pronouncing Isolde - ee-zoll-duh?

Cosmoa · 20/04/2018 10:56

Always been disappointed by those two names. I think they look beautiful but are both really awkward to say and pronunciation will always be an issue. I want to like them more but they're not as nice as they look.

TatianaLarina · 20/04/2018 10:46

Xpost

TatianaLarina · 20/04/2018 10:44

Go for it.

I love the name Io which is a name in its own right - she was a mortal loved by Zeus. So I’d use Io as a diminutive.

I love Iseult too (not so keen on the German spelling Isolde).

Original poster
justabunchofbunting · 20/04/2018 10:44

well its from the old English name Iseult but im not too keen on that version. Or sometimes its spelt with a Y.
I like the look and sound of the German version best.

OP posts:
Original poster
justabunchofbunting · 20/04/2018 10:42

Isolde is German not Greek.

OP posts:
RedDwarves · 20/04/2018 10:40

I think Iolanthe is awful, honestly.

It "looks" unattractive and sounds it too.

Isolde is better by a smidgen, but there are much better Greek names.

Original poster
justabunchofbunting · 20/04/2018 09:54

Haha yes Io is not a delicate character but I suppose thats good because if my daughter decides she doesnt want to be named after a fairy she has the option of calling herself that instead!
And Lana if she doesnt like how unusual the names are.

Might use Iolanthe as the first name then....

My husband and I both have Greek names with odd spellings so it would be kind of traditional. My son doesnt however.

Good to know Iolanthe isnt too out there. I was expecting some backlash!!
To be fair though I think childrens names are quite different from what they used to be. Think it might be more unusual to find a baby called Jane or Sarah now days than it would to find an Io.
Was in the park yesterday and met an Astrid and an Ophelia!! Wouldnt have had that when I was young.

OP posts:
Madmarchpear · 20/04/2018 09:47

Io is another Greek figure that is not so delicate and feminine. I'm sure she was turned into a cow!

MrsHathaway · 20/04/2018 09:47

I don't like them together. I wouldn't use Isolde/Iseult at all because of tragic connotations but I am very superstitious and you may be more sensible Grin

I love Iolanthe though would have to resist singing it as the only time I've heard it is in G&S.

Although it's long I don't think it's difficult to spell even for a small child, because -th- is the only digraph and that's learned very early.