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Baby names

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

Perdita?

108 replies

Orphlids · 13/10/2019 18:27

I’m looking for a posh, educated person to tell me the correct pronunciation of the name Perdita. Is it PER-dit-ah, as they say in Disney’s 101 Damations, or is it Per-DEET-ah? I prefer the latter, but I admit I have no idea which is correct. How does it tend to be pronounced in performances of Winter’s Tale?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MrsDimmond · 14/10/2019 09:27

Ironic
Grin

DriftingLeaves · 14/10/2019 09:16

In your case it's a become avdisagreement. But do feel free to have the last word.

MrsDimmond · 14/10/2019 08:53

Not sure why you keep banging on. Same reason you have. It's a discussion Grin

EspressoX10 · 14/10/2019 08:16

Consider that your DD might travel/work/live abroad during her lifetime and that name will sound ridiculous in very many countries (all of South America, Spain, Portugal, Italy etc.)

20viona · 14/10/2019 08:09

Per deet a

Not a name I'd choose. I know one and she goes by perdy.

DriftingLeaves · 14/10/2019 08:07

@MrsDimmond Your logic is totally illogical. Unusual names attract teasing, in my experience. Your experience is different but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Not sure why you keep banging on. We are both speaking from different experiences.

smemorata · 14/10/2019 07:57

I would be more worried that they would find out it means "a discharge/secretion" tbh!!

MrsDimmond · 14/10/2019 07:54

DriftingLeaves
Your logic would explain why a bully might choose to call their victim Perdita in order to 'subtly' abuse them, not why a girl named Perdita would attract teasing.

DriftingLeaves · 14/10/2019 07:42

Female dog = bitch

Dalmations have spots - great if she gets acne.

It really doesn't take much imagination to see what teenage girls can do with the name of a spotty bitch from Disney.

MrsDimmond · 14/10/2019 07:32

101 dalmations? Seriously?

There are possibilities for teasing for virtually every name. William for example has the very obvious willy reference.

We're not talking possibilities like Michael Hunt are we?

DriftingLeaves · 14/10/2019 07:27

I do. 101 Dalmations. You've led a very sheltered teaching life if you can't imagine the possibilities there.

MrsDimmond · 14/10/2019 07:22

Well funnily enough I am actually a former teacher and still don't get why this name would prompt "teasing"

DriftingLeaves · 14/10/2019 07:18

Maybe they aren't former teachers who've had to deal with it?

MrsDimmond · 14/10/2019 07:13

DriftingLeaves the thread doesn't bear you out. Some people don't like the name but teasing isn't a reason being given

TitianaTitsling · 14/10/2019 07:07

@FelicityBeedle 'X' is a very cool and exciting middle initial! Would also go with Dream? (Ah Sir TP forever missed.)

DriftingLeaves · 14/10/2019 07:01

Poor kid.

Don't you dare moan to her teachers when she gets teased. You've been warned and it will be your fault.

CravingCheese · 14/10/2019 06:57

I personally really don't like the name tbh...

Do you like Petra, Paula, Patience, Penelope, Prudence or Pauline?

CravingCheese · 14/10/2019 06:44

Per-di-tuh. Like perditus but with a different ending...

But I'm not English and I haven't had Latin in quite a few years.

nopenotplaying · 14/10/2019 00:12

@MMmomDD you put that much better than me Grin very odd and very touchy

Poignet · 13/10/2019 23:48

It’s The Winter’s Tale for me. I quite like it, although I might have to suppress the urge to cry ‘Exit, pursued by a bear’ from time to time.

alexdgr8 · 13/10/2019 23:48

emphasis definitely on the first syllable, but a most dismal name I think. you know it means lost, that's probably why jilly cooper named that character, she a lost girl, a fallen woman. not good connotations.
Portia is much better.
or cordelia.

Onceuponatimethen · 13/10/2019 23:48

Araminta is a lovely name too

Onceuponatimethen · 13/10/2019 23:46

I actually knew a perdita as a kid - nickname Purdie which was quite cute

Wizzbangpop · 13/10/2019 23:38

I quite like it but it's the 101 Dalmatians connection. And that's not some obscure novel / film either. Kids in the playground will know th at movie.

What about Petra or Philippa,

MMmomDD · 13/10/2019 23:33

You do seem very touchy OP....
I don’t know what class or social group you are.
But your question implies that you think this name somehow indicates posh and educated. And of course this leads to the assumption that that’s what you want your child to be perceived as.
But it doesn’t work this way. 🤷🏻‍♀️
All I was saying.

And of course - you saying you like the name that you don’t know how to properly pronounce - is a little weird too.