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Baby names

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

Original poster

Phaedra / Faedra

36 replies

Panoramarama · 05/02/2019 09:40

Hello,

Another ancient Greek name thread! Really appreciated your opinions on Ariadne. What do you think of Phaedra / Faedra? Again I'm not too fussed about which spelling but more about how is perceived in the UK. I figure she could be Faye as a nickname if a UK equivalent is needed.

Thanks! Smile

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SumAndSubstance · 06/02/2019 16:09

I couldn't get past the myth either. I would imagine the myths aren't thought about so much in Greece because the names are more common. People don't think about Helen of Troy when they hear 'Helen' because it's such a common name in English, but Phaedra is unusual so it makes you recall the story.

How are you pronouncing it to get the nickname 'Faye'? I would think most people would pronounce it Ph-eye-dra in English. This may be different from the Greek version!

daisypond · 06/02/2019 13:25

I like Danae too, but people might not pronounce it correctly. And they may think it's some sort of Game of Thrones spinoff from Daenerys.

Bouncingbelle · 06/02/2019 09:34

I really really like Danae! Much prettier than Phaedra.

Original poster
Panoramarama · 06/02/2019 08:08

Definitely prefer Ariadne, based on feedback and general usability in the UK.

Its funny how in Greece, the characters from the myths aren't really associated with the names, so people don't cringe at their use if the story is awful, I've found.

How names are pronounced differs too, so Persephone in Greek is 'percy-PHO-nee' which seems less pretty. Same for Hermione and Penelope. Athena is pretty, it's on the list (also pronounced differently in Greece Vs UK but could live with that.)

What do you think of Danae?

OP posts:
Marcipex · 06/02/2019 03:28

It's a lovely name in itself. It's a pity it's so easy to look stuff up sometimes. Her story is quite unpleasant. It's a very odd choice for a boy too.

IamSerena · 06/02/2019 03:09

The only Phaedra I've heard of is the one from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She was fired for spreading malicious lies if I remember correctly

ImAChaiseLongueGetMeOutOfHere · 06/02/2019 03:07

Penelope
Persephone
Hermione
Diana
Artemis
Athena

All a bit better known?

Bumblebeesmum · 06/02/2019 02:47

Ariadne is sweet - what was the feedback you got?

Enko · 05/02/2019 23:54

I love Phaedra as a name. I have a name no one can spell and many thinks is male (its unisex) I have still given 3 of my children a name that either is hard to spell or has a a sound where more commonly an e is used.. and the last has a C/K name

None of them care

Original poster
Panoramarama · 05/02/2019 22:33

I don't think it's awful and I wouldn't mind introducing myself with that name, but I appreciate that not everyone has the same tastes! It may not make our shortlist but I can think of far worse.

Thanks for the feedback here everyone it's really useful, good and bad.

OP posts:
Bumblebeesmum · 05/02/2019 21:16

It’s ruddy awful. You’d genuinely want to introduce yourself as this? If not why inflict it?

Sophronia · 05/02/2019 14:29

I prefer Phaedra

Bittermints · 05/02/2019 12:35

PS I'm not called Cassandra or Kassandra or anything like them, fortunately. My parents gave me a name that most of the women on both sides of my family have had as a first or second name for umpteen generations. It's not a great name but it's never troubled me.

Bittermints · 05/02/2019 12:33

I think you're right about it being a matter of personality, Kescilly, and your parents were lucky you turned out to be the right kind of person to have an unusual name. The trouble is that parents can never know this at the point of giving a child a name. I would have hated it. I'm not a super patient person at the best of times, and constantly having to say 'No, Kassandra with a K, yes I know it's usually a C, no my parents didn't name me after Only Fools and Horses, yes, I know about the character in Greek mythology and fortunately I'm nothing like her' etc etc would have driven me to despair. Grin

autumnkate · 05/02/2019 12:22

The Sarah Kane play definitely rules this one out for me I’m afraid

Kescilly · 05/02/2019 11:03

I have an unusual name that I've had to correct and pronounce and spell and explain my whole life. It honestly hasn't bothered me. I think that people sometimes overstate the problems of an unusual name, or perhaps it comes down to personality. I feel as though people remember me and my name more easily because it's unique.

Original poster
Panoramarama · 05/02/2019 10:55

Re the unusual names question above, my daughter will be half Greek, so they're not unusual names for our family. It's good to get a sense check though on how they sound to people with no connection to Greece though. Thanks everyone.

Whilst we are at it, what do you make of

Danae and Nepheli?

Worried Danae would be mistaken for Dani, which I'm not keen on at all.

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 05/02/2019 10:53

People who din’t know the story will go “Sorry-didn’t quite catch that” people who do know the story will go-in their heads “What were her parents thinking!!!!!”

Bittermints · 05/02/2019 10:48

Even without the bad associations from the myth (it's also a famous tragic play by Euripides), people will struggle pronouncing and spelling that, which would put me off. Sorry, not keen.

bilbodog · 05/02/2019 10:46

Myths aside why do people want to give such unusual names to their children who will then have to go through their entire lives having to spell out their names and correct the wrong spellings for ever? I wouldnt thank my family for that.

daisypond · 05/02/2019 10:43

Phaedra. But her story is pretty awful - it's a famous tragic play by Racine.

Kescilly · 05/02/2019 10:17

I’m American and am familiar with the name Phaedra. The medicine Ephedra didn’t even cross my mind!

peekie · 05/02/2019 10:14

I know a Phaedra and the name suits her.

It's also the name of one of Peaches Geldof's sons.

MabelStable · 05/02/2019 10:12

Do you know the myth of Phaedra and Hippolytus OP? It’s not a name I would give to my daughter.

justilou1 · 05/02/2019 10:09

I love the name because I know the Greek version. However, there is an illegal stimulant sold on the black market in the US & Sth America called Efedra, which is often referred to in American tv shows like NCIS. Wouldn’t want to travel there and have to explain your name constantly. (Especially at Customs!)