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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby sister name to go best with Iris

103 replies

Neednameadviceplease · 19/01/2021 05:45

Options are

  1. Athena
  2. Phoebe
  3. Daphne

I like the fact that Iris is known but not overly popular. I am keen to hit the same mark and pick the one that is classy and ethereal, just as Iris is.

Pros/cons for each.

Phoebe - I feel it hits the same sort of timeless mark but is very popular so perhaps not
Athena - less popular but maybe slightly try-hard in a way that Iris is not.
Daphne - not popular and more timeless but not as “pretty” as the others?

Essentially want the one that hits the closest “tone” to Iris as I feel I really got it right with her name. OH really keen on Athena so if that fits the bill then ideal! V grateful for advice.

OP posts:
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AliceMcK · 19/01/2021 22:20

Pheobe too popular
Daphne nice
Athena lovely, I love its meaning and use to work with a very successful and amazing lady called Athena, always liked the name ever since.

Also like Ada, that would go nice with Iris

ParisJeTAime · 19/01/2021 22:11

When I hear Athena, as I said up thread, I think "isn't that the one who sprang from her father's hair and had no mother". Then I think posters!

I don't know if I think elegant or try hard either. For sure I wouldn't naturally pair it with Iris, BUT, how much does that matter to you? I don't think my dcs' names necessarily go together. It's fine.

daisypond · 19/01/2021 22:00

Delphine doesn’t go, though. It’s not Greek, it’s a French name meaning dolphin.

Nogardenersworld · 19/01/2021 21:58

@Porridgeoat

Delphine
Yes this goes great! And it’s pretty. Daphne otherwise, I suspect it may be about to become a lot more popular though
Ellmau · 19/01/2021 21:57

Both Phoebe and Daphne are nice and work with the sibling names.

yogamatted · 19/01/2021 21:42

Daphne goes really well with Iris.
Don't like Theo with Athena

Nohomemadecandles · 19/01/2021 21:20

@Neednameadviceplease

I wouldn’t mind going for try hard if it also spoke to an elegance - what do you think when you hear Athena?
Posters!
Sausagedog1 · 19/01/2021 21:06

It's ethereal and classy to my ears.
It is more elegant than Daphne. Daphne is more vintage and cool, a bit of a throw back name.
Athena is quite unusual in Britain, it isn't really associated with any class or era I don't think.

theory101 · 19/01/2021 21:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

theory101 · 19/01/2021 21:03

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ILoveShula · 19/01/2021 20:53

Athenia is nice

daisypond · 19/01/2021 20:49

The problem with Athena is that it isn’t ethereal, nor, to British ears, particularly classy. The poster chain might have something to do with that, but otherwise it too unusual to be called classy.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 19/01/2021 20:41

Athena is gorgeous and surely not "try hard" with Greek heritage, but if you want names like Iris that are more well used internationally than Athena:

Another option could be Lara (nymph in Greek mythology, but also Russian shortening of Larissa) - Lara is well used internationally with an a classy elegant feel that works with Iris.

I also second pp suggestion of the sophisticated sounding Thalia (muse in Greek mythology) - like Iris it's well used outside Greece (in part thanks to the similar Hebrew Talia/or as a shortening of Natalia).

Happenchance · 19/01/2021 20:38

I struggle to say Athena and Theo together, especially in quick succession, which I'm sure you will have to do with your kid's names on a daily basis. There's also a risk that the A in Athena will get dropped by people (especially kids) so they will become Thena and Theo (and Iris of course Grin).

I've not read the full thread but have you considered Evangeline?

chipshopElvis · 19/01/2021 20:37

Athena says strong, warrior goddess to me.

PeggyMoo · 19/01/2021 20:25

Athena.

It is not matchy matchy but goes nicely. Also being Greek they will be able to pull it off.

I am a bit Hmm when people name their babies something left field - like giving them an Irish name when no connection to Ireland (but that’s just me, I’m sure lots of people will diagree)

Cleverpolly3 · 19/01/2021 20:21

Also like

Iris and Ruth
Iris and Eugenie
Iris and Constance
Iris and Genevieve
Iris and Diana

Cleverpolly3 · 19/01/2021 20:19

@Neednameadviceplease

I wouldn’t mind going for try hard if it also spoke to an elegance - what do you think when you hear Athena?
Iris and Athena don’t sound like a sib-set at all. Daphne does go well but not Phoebe

Is Theo your name if it’s a boy?

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 19/01/2021 20:18

Of the 3 choices, definitely Athena - it has a more ethereal, elegant vibe (if that's what you want) than either Daphne or Phoebe which have a quirky, cute feel to me.

Athena is much more unusual in the UK than Iris (although it's still a well known name). If you wanted something to "match" perfectly with Iris I would go with something like Cora or maybe Sybil (both pretty and Greek origin but with the retro/vintage vibe that Iris also has in the UK).

dancemom · 19/01/2021 20:14

Love Athena and think it goes with your other names without being matchy

Ewentheawakesheep · 19/01/2021 20:13

I think Athena goes best

Original poster
Neednameadviceplease · 19/01/2021 20:10

I wouldn’t mind going for try hard if it also spoke to an elegance - what do you think when you hear Athena?

OP posts:
daisypond · 19/01/2021 19:45

Helen/ Helena /Elena - can’t get more Greek than that.

digbygreen · 19/01/2021 19:35

Daphne

daisypond · 19/01/2021 19:31

Io / Violet? I’m not keen on Violet but the Greek form of Io is good.