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Baby names

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

Original poster

Xanthe/Ianthe/Evanthe

58 replies

Frankiefarr · 27/11/2021 13:22

Thoughts?

Xanthe - Zanthee

Ianthe - Ee-anthee

Evanthe - e-vanthee

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FayCarew · 06/02/2024 14:32

@Frankiefarr , Why are we all okay saying ee-an not I-an
Probably because we heard it said before we saw it written.
Iain seemed to get said as Yain until corrected.

Xanthe - Zanthee - ok but not keen on the th sound.
Ianthe - Ee-anthee - I'd say Eye-anthy
Evanthe - e-vanthee - looks made up even though it isn't.

Nicebloomers · 06/02/2024 11:41

Ianthe is lovely

miniaturepixieonacid · 06/02/2024 09:43

I love Xanthe. I'm not familiar with the other two but also really like them - prever Evanthe to Ianthe.

Ellmau · 06/02/2024 00:43

Oops, just seen it's a zombie.

Ellmau · 06/02/2024 00:42

Xanthe. I like it the best but more importantly it's the one which will be pronounced correctly most often.

lachance · 05/02/2024 23:54

What did you go for in the end OP?

squishyegg · 02/12/2021 01:44

I know a Ianthe and it's pronounced Yan-ta

AntiHop · 02/12/2021 01:30

What Evadne?

JamMakingWannaBe · 02/12/2021 01:26

Xanthe was on my list. Vetoed by DH.

Elspethelf · 02/12/2021 01:15

I love Xanthe, but I think because I like the nn Xan

Anystarinthesky · 30/11/2021 20:02

I like Ianthe.

welshweasel · 30/11/2021 19:09

I like Xanthe, not so keen on the others.

How about Isolde?

sunnyandshare · 30/11/2021 19:07

I like Xanthe the most but would be worried about her being called Zanfee. I remember a thread where a poster was horrified that her son Theodore got called Fear Door and so many people said that was the right way to say it 😅

notacooldad · 30/11/2021 18:52

I live Xanthe.
It's my friends teenage daughter's name. It's a bit different ( in our area) without being too 'out there'
The others aren't bad names either tbh.

ElevenOG · 30/11/2021 18:49

Ianthe is a clear favourite for me and the definite choice if I ever have a daughter.

I pronounce it ee-an-thee.

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 29/11/2021 19:03

My 20yr old DD is Xanthe - she's had a few odd pronunciations over the years but I've only ever had people say it's a lovely name. I'm of Greek heritage. I love all 3 names.

Original poster
Frankiefarr · 28/11/2021 12:29

@PinkMochi

Xanthe reminds me of xanthan gum. Ianthe is too similar to Ian so your Dd might have to deal with those comments. However, I think it’s pronounced eye-an-thee, not ee-an-thee.
Proper pronunciation is definitely closer to ee-anthee
OP posts:
Original poster
Frankiefarr · 28/11/2021 12:28

@Lucienandjean

Have you considered Anthea?
Makes me think of Anthea Turner and that puts me right off
OP posts:
TuftyMarmoset · 28/11/2021 10:02

@MintyGreenDream

Xanthe reminds me of a slimming pill
Or Xanax!
NotMaryWhitehouse · 28/11/2021 09:51

@EnidFrighten

All a bit Wankthe for me

Reminds of the spoilt kid called Xanthippe in Kimmy Schmidt

😁 I'm afraid I always think that too and am surprised more people don't say it on these threads. I think somebody actually was considering Xanthippe on one thread......
PinkMochi · 28/11/2021 06:10

Xanthe reminds me of xanthan gum. Ianthe is too similar to Ian so your Dd might have to deal with those comments. However, I think it’s pronounced eye-an-thee, not ee-an-thee.

AwkwardPaws27 · 27/11/2021 23:27

I love Xanthe!

KristinAmandaThomas · 27/11/2021 23:03

Xanthe for me. Lovely.

Ianthe in 2nd (would have said eye-anthe 1st go until corrected) also a nice name.

Evanthe I wouldn’t automatically pronounce the thee sound at the end - so phonetically it would probably become similar to eleventh minus the el iyswim. Which isn’t very pretty on the ear.

Lucienandjean · 27/11/2021 23:00

Have you considered Anthea?

katem1990 · 27/11/2021 23:00

I like Xanthe, not keen on the others.