Xanthe or Ianthe?

Actually I think it’s incorrect to label these names as being solely Greek. Yes, they have Greek origins and are still relatively unusual in the UK, but they’ve got a history of use here and Classical Greek mythology (and sometimes language) is traditionally a staple of Western education. Like it or lump it, there are some parts of Greek culture that are now part of our culture too. That’s true of French culture etc. as well, but I’d argue that the whole of Western society has grown out of Classical Greek society so in a way many of these names are simply a reflection of that shared heritage.

I love Xanthe and would consider using it myself.

Zanthe with a Z

Whilst this shouldn't be a consideration, please do bear in mind that people will see the 'I' as a lowercase L. I have a DC with a Welsh name beginning with I but it's always being changed to an L and 12 years on it is soooo frustrating.

Having said that, I much prefer Ianthe to Xanthe

Start a new thread Tessakate ...

What do you think of the name Lincoln? I love it but family and friends are not keen. Would like to know to what other people think of the name.

No accent. It’s not a French name so no need for a random acute accent.

should there be an accent for Xanthé ?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanth%C3%A9_Mallett

Oenone I've heard pronounced ee-NO-nee

I'm actually stealing Ianthe and adding it to my shortlist as I think it's so gorgeous

So because one person with Greek heritage doesn't like these names, we should all stop using them 🙄 I was going to name my daughter a french name, should I somehow do a poll of the French public to check that the vast majority of them 1) approve of the name and 2) think I pronounce it properly? If you don't like the names, don't use them. Simple.

OP, I think they're both gorgeous but as I said before, I prefer Ianthe. I can't believe people would struggle to pronounce this name? I know a Xanthe and she's never had an issues (mid thirties now and no problems whatsoever).

Oenone is just gorgeous.

O-when-no-knee?
Wee-nun?

How on earth do you pronounce that?!

Xanthe. I didn’t know how to pronounce Ianthe and I also read it as Lanthe

I prefer Xanthe

How is this thread more ‘lively’ than the thread suggesting the name ‘tree’ ?! You humans do confuse me

Gosh. Bit agro on here.

I wouldn't use Xanthe because I prefer the Greek pronunciation to the British. Plus it's an area in Greece so feels weird to me. Like Larissa. Ianthe is nicer I think and translates better. The problem with Greek names is that they mostly sound better in Greek so I do find it difficult to love them in English.

That said, I know my child's name will be pronounced every which way and mine is always a stumbling block for English speakers. When my child is in Greece their middle name (DH's super Anglo Saxon surname) will cause all sorts of confusion and when I'm England I'm sure people will complain about the spelling of the first name and surname. I don't mind though and I would raise my child to be caring and tolerant of others stumbling as they try to work their way around the names. It's part of being multicultural. What a dull world it would be if we were all only called names that Northern white Europeans felt comfortable with. Interestingly, when I'm not in the UK people don't struggle with my name. English not being a phonetic language is what causes most people's confusion. I see it a lot as my DH learns Greek.

I too work in a school. Most kids I've met are patient and work with adults to get the pronunciation right. But then most adults I work with ask the kids for help and want to learn how to say names properly.

As an aside. Penelope in Greek is Peen-e-lo-pi not Penny....

Oenone is just gorgeous.

I worked in a call centre and that’s how I first heard the name. Lovely elderly lady and we had a chat about her name - she did warn me not to call my child that as it’s a bit of a nightmare 😂

My DC has Greek heritage and is called Xanthe, so I'd say go for it. MIL did say it was dated in Greece, but we don't live in Greece, so meh.

Oenone is just gorgeous.

Bit too close to onanism to me.

I like both. I have known several Xanthes in my life but no Ianthes so on that basis would consider the latter to be be unusual. I yon't think either are particularly odd or difficult to spell/ pronounce though and I am usually quite rigid about saddling children with difficult names.

Alternatively Lalage is a name we don’t hear enough of these days.

Actually the parents don’t get to choose how to pronounce a name from a different heritage IMO. They make efforts to pronounce correctly or give another. It’s quite insulting to give a name from another heritage & not know how to pronounce correctly.

What about Penelope? All the Greeks I know pronounce it Penny-lope-ee and everyone else Pen-elle-o-pe

Oenone is just gorgeous.

Of your two suggestions OP I prefer Xanthe - the X is very satisfying.

Xanthe is lovely. I think the Ianthe spelling puts me off as some may misread the uppercase I for a lowercase l, iyswim

Lovely. But also lively I guess if this thread is anything to go by!