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Baby names

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

Original poster

Persephone

81 replies

Vivadita · 09/06/2019 18:26

Is it a bit pretentious? Would the Greek mythology put you off?

Expecting DD2 soon and DH likes Persephone but Im worried it’s got negative connotations. DD1 is Eleanor

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Original poster
Vivadita · 10/06/2019 13:50

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! It’s definitely still in the running but I’m loving the suggestions of Artemis and Athena so thank you for those!

OP posts:
MollyHuaCha · 10/06/2019 13:26

I like it, but wouldn't use it.

colbyandmontysmum · 10/06/2019 13:23

Off topic, Persephone was the name of a boat in the Canadian show "The Beachcombers". I loved that show.

The name is lovely but, as previous pp's have said, be prepared for it to be mispronounced a lot.

Antonin · 10/06/2019 13:18

similar to Penelope

Bluntness100 · 10/06/2019 09:00

I like it too but as it's so long it's very highly unlikely she will ever be called it.

So in reality you're naming her an abbreviation of it, either Percy or Sephy. If you prefer one you need to take control and call her it from the start, and she would then need to introduce herself as such, but accept the other will likely slip in Ie if you like sephy there is a huge chance kids will call her Percy anyway.

I think this is the reason it's not a popular name, not because it's not a lovely name it is, but because it's so long she's unlikely to ever be called the full version.

SleepingStandingUp · 10/06/2019 09:00

Meh, surely one can only judge if you're pretentious if they know you. You might be a leading lecturer at a prestigious university teaching Greek Mythology, having traced your lineage back to ancient Greece in your teens. Would Persephone still be pretentious?

Or is it only pretentious if you've found it in a baby name book and had to have Google pronounce it for you?

I think it's lovely, DH vetoed because with our regional accent it sounds less beautiful but I do know one whose about 5 now, think she's a Sephy

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 10/06/2019 08:54

((and consonants.))

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 10/06/2019 08:53

Love it, love it, love it! It's a beautiful name very graceful sounding when pronounced correctly, conveys a sense of light.

Like mythical greek names generally.

Not pretentious at all! It is just gorgeous and lovely.

(Also as a plus will help your child grasp the concept of the difference between hard and silent vowels early on. So great for developing reading skillsGrin)

Lobsterquadrille2 · 10/06/2019 08:23

It's a beautiful name but very likely to be shortened - Sephy is ok as an abbreviation. People seem ok at coping with three syllables if the person with the name insists upon it, but more than that and it's a case of chopping two off (syllables).

As for pretentious - who cares?

MrsMozartMkII · 10/06/2019 08:16

Love it.

And it goes well with Eleanor.

As for 'pretentious', bollox to that. I bet there isn't a name on this earth that someone somewhere wouldn't think is pretentious, so if you love it then go for it.

Astronica · 10/06/2019 08:11

I think it's great, and great as a sister for Eleanor. Lots of good nns too.

I've no idea what 'pretentious' means - it seems to be a British thing. Where I live (Austalia) if you like a name you can use it.

Persea · 09/06/2019 23:55

Great name!

TuppenceTwo · 09/06/2019 23:50

I think it’s very nice! But yes, a bit pretentious and one I hear on mumsnet much more than in real life. I must admit I thought it was ‘percy-phone’ when I heard the book publisher’s name. If you like it then you should go for it, though!

SoftBlocks · 09/06/2019 22:05

I like it.

QueenJulian · 09/06/2019 22:03

I love it!

Bellatrix14 · 09/06/2019 22:03

My favourite name in the world, but unfortunately I’m not able to use it!

My hypothetical daughter would have been Persie Grin

OkPedro · 09/06/2019 22:00

Thanks smidge It sounds better than it looks. Percy as a nn takes away from the full name imo. I like others suggestions of Seffi

TatianaLarina · 09/06/2019 21:49

Love mythological names in general - but it’s not my fav Greek name just because it’s such a mouthful.

Prefer Artemis, Demeter, Phoebe, Hera, Leto

IdblowJonSnow · 09/06/2019 20:35

I like it. Not sure I'd have the balls to use it. I guess it's not very different fro. Stephanie which doesn't raise any eyebrows!
One of my daughter's has a Greek name, very happy with it. Smile

Doris19 · 09/06/2019 20:33

I love it, it's on my list if DC2 is a girl and I would have Percy for nn... was worried it was a bit toooo rare so actually glad to hear a few others are thinking about it!

BackforGood · 09/06/2019 20:24

I'm in the 'pretentious' camp myself.
Certainly wouldn't be my choice.

I suspect I'm not the only one who would pronounce it wrong, which would put me off any name, tbh.

WhoWants2Know · 09/06/2019 20:09

I love it. I'm a fan of mythological names in general.

MacavityTheDentistsCat · 09/06/2019 20:05

Gorgeous. (And if it turns out to be twin girls, can you please call the other one Seraphina? Thanks.)

CornforthWhite · 09/06/2019 20:02

I 'like' the mythology and her connection to the seasons due to her mother Demeter. Obvs it's sad she was tricked to stay in the underworld but it's Greek mythology and it's fascinating!

Isbrexitoveryet · 09/06/2019 19:58

We had a junior doctor on rotation with us called Persephone, everyone called her Seffi, and she was lovely

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