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Baby names

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

Original poster

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:
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Onceuponatimethen · 13/10/2019 23:23

Petra?

Onceuponatimethen · 13/10/2019 23:22

Penelope

Rachelover60 · 13/10/2019 23:18

How about Persephone?
Or Pandora?

MrsDimmond · 13/10/2019 21:23

Ooh thank you Saucery! I've been wracking my brains trying to think of the book. And tv adaptation I think ...

The Witch’s Daughter, by Nina Bawden

Saucery · 13/10/2019 20:51

The Witch’s Daughter, by Nina Bawden. I’ve always liked it because of that, so I don’t see a Dalmatian in my head when I hear it.

smemorata · 13/10/2019 20:41

This thread is weird. On the Fanny thread everyone is saying how awful it would be to name a Finnish baby Fanny because of the meaning in English and here nobody cares what it means and says it's pretty. GrinConfused

medicstudentmum · 13/10/2019 20:35

I think Perdita is a very pretty name Smile

MrsDimmond · 13/10/2019 20:28

I actually like the name. (But you seem a tad touchy OP Hmm)

EdWinchester · 13/10/2019 20:27

Pur-ditta. It was our matron's name at school.

ltk · 13/10/2019 20:24

Sorry, lost in Italian, but Damn in Portuguese.

Rachelover60 · 13/10/2019 20:22

'dita'
The name means 'lost', there's a Perdita in 'A Winter's Tale' who was born in a prison. Doesn't seem fair as it is such a pretty name.

Apropos of nothing, there's an actress, Perdita Weeks (her sister is Honeysuckle).
www.google.com/search?q=perdita+weeks&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB717GB727&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=xWnLr8CCf86wiM%253A%252CthaPSw6zwZ33cM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQ3Ft8dCF2lyHGhspGjmhz9fmAorg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwii_Y-j-pnlAhXLbsAKHWn7AR8Q_h0wH3oECAwQCQ#imgrc=xWnLr8CCf86wiM:

Wacawaca19 · 13/10/2019 20:21

It sounds like tut should mean ‘ lost little girl” ?

Onceuponatimethen · 13/10/2019 20:19

PURR-dih-ta

I would emphasise the first syllable

It is a lovely name, but it does have a sad meaning and this would put me off it. Sorry op - just being honest in case useful.

Is it the -ita ending you like or the whole sound, or the facts it’s Shakespearean?

I love Marianna, Helena, Rosalind etc

ltk · 13/10/2019 20:19

It means 'lost' in several Latin-based languages. That would put me off.

smemorata · 13/10/2019 20:19

*loss

smemorata · 13/10/2019 20:18

As an Italian speaker if I had to , I would prefer Per-DEE-ta to get away from how it is said in Italian (PERdita). However, in Italian it is not used as a name and it means less but also discharge or leak. Sorry!

NationMcKinley · 13/10/2019 20:18

Purr-ditta. I love it. I had a much loved hamster called Perdita. She was ace. Really lovely name, go for it @Orphlids

NonUrinatInVentum · 13/10/2019 20:17

Perdita is Italian for lost!

The emphasis is on the fist syllable. Per - dita

ControversialFerret · 13/10/2019 20:15

Frith Grin

Original poster
Orphlids · 13/10/2019 20:14

@nopenotplaying, are you trying to insult me by suggesting that I’m what, common? Working class? My asking this question is no indication of my class, and I’m not sure why you think that’s relevant. I like the name. I want to be certain of the correct pronunciation.

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 13/10/2019 20:08

@ControversialFerret I would say I’d re-read, but that sounds exhausting!

FelicityBeedle · 13/10/2019 20:06

Perdita X Nitt springs to mind

nopenotplaying · 13/10/2019 20:04

Asking this question kind of means you're not posh! You perceive it to be a posh name perhaps?

If you like a name just use it because you do not because you think it will show your child to be something else!

Always check the meaning of a name though.

ControversialFerret · 13/10/2019 20:02

Per-ditta is the correct pronunciation.

And in defence of St Jilly of Cooper, Perdita McLeod didn't lose her virginity until she was 19 - with Red Alderton.

FriedasCarLoad · 13/10/2019 19:57

Educated... alongside a lot of ‘we’ll-bred’ types.

Purr-ditta every time.

But Purr-DEE-ta is a common pronunciation, in both senses Grin