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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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BrienneofTarthILoveYou · 09/06/2019 19:55

I love it - either Percy or Seff or Seffie are all lovely nicknames and Persephone itself is such a beautiful name.

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 09/06/2019 19:29

I love it. I wanted it for DD but wasn't brave enough so she has it as a middle name.
I didn't know the mythology before I decided I loved the name.

DesMartinsPetCat · 09/06/2019 19:14

Love it.

The only Persephone I know is a cat, shortened to Seffie.

SnowdropFox · 09/06/2019 19:10

I think it's very pretty. The only one I know is in her mid 30s and goes by Sephi which I think is a good nn.

Smidge001 · 09/06/2019 19:07

I love it but my DH thought it pretentious.
He also threatened to call her percy-phone. But he is ignorant of all Greek mythology!

For the person asking, its got 4 syllables and is pronounced in a similar way to other Greek names - eg penelope, hermione etc... Ie you pronounce the 'e' at the end.

per-SEF-oh-nee..

YoungAmerican · 09/06/2019 19:07

Death, underworld, pretentious

Moondancer73 · 09/06/2019 19:07

It's always been top of my list if I had a girl. Go for it

Quintella · 09/06/2019 19:06

purr-seff-uh-nee

OkPedro · 09/06/2019 19:03

I have no idea how to pronounce it?

yikesanotherbooboo · 09/06/2019 19:00

The one I know is known as Sephy.
I like it.

Aragog · 09/06/2019 18:57

I really like it and like the nn Sephy

RainbowMum11 · 09/06/2019 18:55

I know one, tends to go by Persie. It's a lovely, if slightly unusual, name - nothing wrong with it at all though.

Quintella · 09/06/2019 18:54

I might think it was a little pretentious but I wouldn't think it in a waspish way, more an amused way. Then I'd get over myself. I'd be lying if I said I knew what fate befell mythological Persephone but I'm assuming it's dark. Oh the Greeks Grin

But if it's the name you love you should absolutely go for it.

I much prefer Seph of Sephy as a nickname than Percy. Percy is awful.

dreichuplands · 09/06/2019 18:52

I love this name, if we had had a second dd this would have been her name. But it is a wee bit pretentious, not that I care.

Biancadelrioisback · 09/06/2019 18:50

Oh fab! I'll be watching out for that.
In the book she shortens it to Sephy so I would probably do the same. If I could get DH onboard id have a Persephone

ReganSomerset · 09/06/2019 18:49

The mythology would definitely put me off. Trapped for eternity in an abusive relationship- who wants that for their daughter?

Newmum102 · 09/06/2019 18:48

Yeah I’m pretty sure it’s due to be on the BBC in the Autumn

Teddybear45 · 09/06/2019 18:47

If you want to name her after the goddess, Cora is a better name as it’s a bit more useable in RL. Persephone will definitely be shortened to something you don’t like.

Penny4Thoughts · 09/06/2019 18:47

I don’t dislike it but I only recently discovered I was saying it wrong so it’s likely others as ignorant as me will do the same.

It has lots of nickname potential which is nice for the child as they get older. Seph / Sephie / Penny / Fi etc

LesserBohemian · 09/06/2019 18:46

I think it’s a beautiful name. I wouldn’t be put off by people thinking it’s “pretentious”. The mythological reference is wonderful - it’s interesting.

I have a less common name and although I used a funkier version when I was a teenager, I’ve reverted back now and I love it.

I never know what causes people to judge a name as pretentious, as if anyone who chooses anything other than the usual well-used names thinks they are something special and above their station. It’s just a bloody name!

Go for it if you like it.

Biancadelrioisback · 09/06/2019 18:43

@Newmum102 has it?!??!!!

Newmum102 · 09/06/2019 18:41

I love the name but like PP I loved Naughts & Crosses when younger. It’s also a name that you may start hearing more often as the book has been made into a tv series.

Honeybee85 · 09/06/2019 18:41

Love it.
Was considering to name my baby Athena before I found out it’s a boy Grin. I also love Calliope and Ariadne.

WhiskersPete · 09/06/2019 18:38

Love persephone but vetoed by DP for DD.

TheoriginalLEM · 09/06/2019 18:34

I love the sound of it and i love the shortening to percy (id spell it perci because im pretentious) however i really don't like the way it looks written down.

Saying that if i were to ever have a little girl again (i wont cos im old!) She would be called Persephone.

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