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Baby names

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

Original poster

Persephone, Beatrix or.....?

143 replies

TheCag · 09/08/2018 10:59

We’ve just found out dc3 is a girl and obviously all I can think about now is names.

We have two boys called Rufus and Felix, I don’t mind names not ‘matching’ but it gives you an idea of what we like. I prefer names that aren’t too popular. If dc3 had been another boy I’d have been pushing for the name Magnus.

I like Beatrix and Diana, dh likes Persephone, Jemima and Penelope. We’ve got a few months to go but I don’t feel like anything is really clicking for me yet so very open to suggestions. (Also I may still be in shock that it’s a girl!)

OP posts:
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middleagedalready · 09/08/2018 20:35

I really wanted to call dd Persephone, nn Percy. I was persuaded into another name by dh, if we had ever had another dd I would have insisted. But dd aged 10 is horrified by the idea and grateful for her name.

CheesePleaseLoueese · 09/08/2018 20:34

Agree with #haribosmarties!

CheesePleaseLoueese · 09/08/2018 20:34

OP - hats off to you. You have two gorgeous boys names already AND I love all three of your suggested girls names!

Just follow your gut feel when naming your child - whether that has name familial meaning, cultural meaning, poetic resonance, or you just like the sound of it! Isn't that - in the end - what all of the parents on this thread end up doing.... Even the ones who are critical of others' choices!

For what it's worth, I am pregnant and also considering Penelope as a girl's name.... Even if you plump for a more unusual or atypical Greek name, it seems to be the case that Greek spellings are becoming more conventional/ widely known (thanks to Chloe, Phoebe, Hermione, etc.) so I don't quite follow the logic from up-thread (that this should prevent you from picking the name.)

Even if your DD still has to spell out an unusual first name then simply ask yourself, in practice, how regularly will she have to do that that? My name is fairly unusual in real life. I get asked to spell it (and most) once or twice or month by strangers. My circle of acquaintance know it. No issues.

BlueUggs · 09/08/2018 20:33

Serephina.

haribosmarties · 09/08/2018 20:32

cucumbers posts are a bit odd. Literally every other person in my family has a Greek based name (My sister is Alexandra, my DH is Leander, my cousin is Diana etc) and we are neither Greek nor 'posh'. Its really NOT unusual to have a classical Greek name in the UK theres a very long standing tradition of it in fact.

Toadsrevisited · 09/08/2018 20:31

They were on my lists! Then had two boys. Also liked Genevieve, Iris, Hermione

TheNumberfaker · 09/08/2018 20:30

I like Minerva.

PineappleLava · 09/08/2018 20:29

Persephone nn Percy is truly fabulous. I’m with your DH!!

haribosmarties · 09/08/2018 20:26

I love Persephone! Like Diana too
How about
Artemis
Ariadne
Athena
Iolanthe
Juno
Aurora

Tabitha
Verity
Felicity
Constance
Madeleine

TatianaLarina · 09/08/2018 20:22

No worries OP, sorry if I was a bit harsh.

SandysMam · 09/08/2018 20:18

Hermione

PennyGH · 09/08/2018 20:16

I love Persephone! But then I love longer names that have cool nicknames - like Percy/Persy or Sephie for Persephone, Posy for Josephine and Teddy for Theodora. I also adore Philippa.

Original poster
TheCag · 09/08/2018 20:16

Thanks Tatiana, I appreciate all your posts. Felt a bit attacked for a minute there!

OP posts:
TatianaLarina · 09/08/2018 20:12

Xpost, sorry OP as you were.

TatianaLarina · 09/08/2018 20:12

Phillistine simply means anti-culture. But don’t let that get in the way of your class obsession.

Original poster
TheCag · 09/08/2018 20:10

Alright @captaincucumber I’d be grateful if you could leave the thread. I’m looking for polite and constructive discussion and ideas which you are clearly not providing.

Go lurk on AIBU if you must.

OP posts:
CaptainCucumber · 09/08/2018 20:07

Deary me.

Calling someone a phillistine implies that you think you are of a higher class than them. Similar to calling them a pleb. Are you by chance in possession of a little Polonius?

TatianaLarina · 09/08/2018 20:05

Self-evidently, Diana, Penelope and Phoebe are way more mainstream than Persephone. So, indeed, are Harriet and Charlotte. Persephone is right up there with Annunziata, Araminta, Boudicca and Calliope

So as long as something mainstream and conservative then it’s ok.

Because it’s very important to follow the crowd.

TatianaLarina · 09/08/2018 20:02

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missmouse101 · 09/08/2018 19:56

Romilly, Rosalind, Linnet, Emerald?

angelichosts · 09/08/2018 19:56

Rufus, Felix and Stella

MikeUniformMike · 09/08/2018 19:53

I like the welsh spelling for Gaynor - Gaenor.
It's a welsh name from Guinevere or Gwenhwyfar.

AnyaMoondial · 09/08/2018 19:45

I suggest Agatha. Amazing name.

MerryMarigold · 09/08/2018 19:45

Frances
Constance (as per pp)
Sylvia (I think that's Roman, not googled)
But Diana is my favourite of all

Bibesia · 09/08/2018 19:43

Self-evidently, Diana, Penelope and Phoebe are way more mainstream than Persephone. So, indeed, are Harriet and Charlotte. Persephone is right up there with Annunziata, Araminta, Boudicca and Calliope.