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Baby names

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

Xanthe/Ianthe/Evanthe

58 replies

Frankiefarr · 27/11/2021 13:22

Thoughts?

Xanthe - Zanthee

Ianthe - Ee-anthee

Evanthe - e-vanthee

OP posts:
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Frankiefarr · 27/11/2021 22:52

I am quite torn as I do like the Eye-anthee pronunciation

OP posts:
DeadoftheMoon · 27/11/2021 22:50

Xanthe, definitely. If i remember rightly, Xanthe plays the xylophone.

Ikeameatballs · 27/11/2021 22:39

I love Ianthe but I’m familiar with the eye-anthe pronunciation rathe4 than ee-anthe.

Frankiefarr · 27/11/2021 22:34

@Acqndalous

It's odd isn't it, that nobody has a problem pronouncing Ian correctly, but struggle with Ianthe. I like them all OP so I'm no help, but I went to school with a Xanthe and she was lovely.
That’s a really good point I hadn’t thought of. Why are we all okay saying ee-an not I-an
OP posts:
TatianaBis · 27/11/2021 21:57

I think I prefer Xanthe.

Although there are other Greek names I much prefer.

MintyGreenDream · 27/11/2021 17:25

Xanthe reminds me of a slimming pill

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 27/11/2021 17:24

I adore romantic, poetic Ianthe - so many lovely literary links and a nice meaning. But I agree that half the time you may get "Eye- an-thee" - I much prefer your pronunciation too but both are technically "correct"/used, so you/she would have to be willing to put up with that.

Xanthe is probably the "safer" option as it seems much better known (and is still pretty imo and my second choice). I don't dislike Evanthe but personally it's my least favourite of the three as I like Evan and Evander for boys - plus there are so many Eva's, Evelyn's etc about already that it doesn't stand out as much.

GetTheFlockOutOfHere · 27/11/2021 16:46

Not a fan of any of them tbh.

Acqndalous · 27/11/2021 16:44

It's odd isn't it, that nobody has a problem pronouncing Ian correctly, but struggle with Ianthe.
I like them all OP so I'm no help, but I went to school with a Xanthe and she was lovely.

IVflytrap · 27/11/2021 16:39

OP doesn't mean Iolanthe (although it is another nice Greek name). All three names they have listed are legitimate names in their own right.

OP, I think it's quite likely you'll get the eye-anthee pronunciation for Ianthe on occasion, so if that will bother you, it might be worth going with one of the other two. FWIW, I don't think eye-anthee is wrong, I think it's a variation, as it's in line with the English pronunciation of other Greek names borrowed into English like Iolanthe(!), Iris, Irene, and Sophia (originally pronounced suh-fye-uh here). But I do agree that ee-anthee is much nicer. I imagine you would end up having to correct the pronunciation of all the names at some point, though. Even Xanthe will probably get "Xanth" on occasion.

Frankiefarr · 27/11/2021 16:27

@MrsFin

Do you mean Iolanthe?
No think that name was a theatrical invention.

Ianthe is a Greek name quite popular with poets

OP posts:
Carrotte · 27/11/2021 16:09

Xanthe is the only one I like

MrsFin · 27/11/2021 16:07

Do you mean Iolanthe?

ButtonSister · 27/11/2021 16:07

The only Ianthe I know is an Eye Anthee

Luredbyapomegranate · 27/11/2021 16:06

The last one

I like Ianthe, but it’s more usual to pronounce it with an eye than an ee sound at the front here, so that will be annoying.

Xanthe I just find wet

foxgoosefinch · 27/11/2021 16:05

I like Xanthe and know a toddler one, but don’t like Evanthe I’m afraid - too close to Evadne which I really don’t like and find very old-fashioned. Are you Greek and looking for a name that works in both countries?

TuftyMarmoset · 27/11/2021 16:01

I thought the final syllable was uh rather than ee Blush I think a lot of people would struggle with the pronunciation. I actually think with the ee at the end they sound quite ugly, especially Ianthe.

Frankiefarr · 27/11/2021 15:58

@campion

You haven't got a hope of people pronouncing Ianthe correctly. I think they'll just go with a hard 'I' sound, especially if they know Iolanthe.

I'm already having to cope with a DH getting annoyed about the 'wrong' pronunciation of Omicron, according to him anyway.

Haha yes as I understand it the emphasis should not me on the first syllable :)
OP posts:
campion · 27/11/2021 15:24

You haven't got a hope of people pronouncing Ianthe correctly. I think they'll just go with a hard 'I' sound, especially if they know Iolanthe.

I'm already having to cope with a DH getting annoyed about the 'wrong' pronunciation of Omicron, according to him anyway.

ProfessorInkling · 27/11/2021 15:11

I have a Xanthe. I love it. Good job really 😆

Frankiefarr · 27/11/2021 15:05

Hi yes girls not boys names. I think the medical connotation is probably a bit niche. I tried out Xanthe when I went to a coffee shop (the old Starbucks thing) and oddly got complemented on ‘my name ‘ by the staff and someone in the queue next to me. It’s just that I am mainly torn between Xanthe and Ianthe the latter one I know some people pronounce as Eye-anthe which is wrong but anglicised I suppose. But then people used or pronounce my name wrongly all the time

OP posts:
Chix2 · 27/11/2021 15:04

Xanthe

IVflytrap · 27/11/2021 14:57

@SunflowerIris Xavier and Xander are both boy's names, and it sounds like OP is looking for girls names.

IVflytrap · 27/11/2021 14:54

Evanthe is my favourite, followed by Ianthe. Both nice flower names. All three of them are lovely though. Smile I think Xanthe (which means yellow) sounds a bit stronger and "spikier" somehow, while the other two are softer sounding.

To the pp, Evanthe is definitely a name. All three are Greek.

SunflowerIris · 27/11/2021 14:13

I’m so sorry to say this because I know that name choices are deeply personal, but I am just sharing my thoughts as requested.

Xanthe just makes me think of ugly Xanthelasma (anyone in healthcare with a basic level of knowledge will know what this is and will think of it too) and I don’t think that the other names will make your child’s life any easier either. If you really like ‘x’ names then maybe something like Xavier or Xander would be better?