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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ancient Greek/Mythology Names

75 replies

Suprima · 17/01/2022 20:12

I love Hermione but I really don’t want to use it due to the Harry Potter connotation. I am of the superfan HP peak generation and don’t want be asked ‘ohhh like Granger?’ …however a lovely namesake it is. I also was immediately put off when JK said she decided on Hermione because she believed her parents would want to show off how clever they are with the Greek/Shakespeare name. Grin

Anything similarly melodic and of the same vibe that you could recommend? Can’t use Persephone or Penelope.

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ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 17/01/2022 23:09

Ariadne - v clever, solved the labyrinth, didn't die, despite being abandoned by Theseus, took up with Dionysus for wine and parties.

Laquila · 17/01/2022 23:19

Artemis

Thetis? Mother of Achilles, I think. Can't remember exactly what happened to her other than she was a sea nymph, and in Greek mythological terms that's a walk in the park. Disclaimer: I can't remember what happened to her other than that, so might not have ended well.

WhippetyStourie · 18/01/2022 01:37

Antigone

OrangeAndYellowAndBlue · 18/01/2022 06:35

I think Irish mythology tends to go better for women. Niamh, Méabh, Áine, Brigid, etc.

Greek mythology definitely a tricky one! Eurydice is a lovely name but a sad story.

How about Berenice. Not a myth but a queen, I think. Or Roxanna.

coraka · 18/01/2022 06:45

Aletheia
Zoe
Gaia

SunshineOnKeith · 18/01/2022 07:55

Circe
Cosima
Calliope

Whatisgoingonhere · 18/01/2022 08:08

Harmonia? Sort of similar to Hermione

CoronaKidd · 18/01/2022 08:18

Rhea

CamomileTeabag · 18/01/2022 08:21

@CoronaKidd

Rhea
That's a kind of flightless bird, like an emu, isn't it?!
CamomileTeabag · 18/01/2022 08:24

Hebe. Goddess of Youth.
Pronounced Hee-bee.

Lovely name, deceptively simple. Many will know it because it's also the name of a pretty and well-used garden shrub.

I guess some people would bring up the heebie-jeebies though.

LiterallyKnowsBest · 18/01/2022 08:35

[quote DaisyWaldron]I like Boccaccio's On Famous Women as a good source of girls' names. DD has one of the less usual ones, but there are plenty to choose from, each with an interesting story.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Mulieribus_Claris[/quote]
I am quite ridiculously trying to guess your chosen name from the list.

And it’s just gorgeous to see ‘Joan’ amongst all those tear-down-the-earth-and-heavens names. I love it all over again, now.

Thank you for reminding me of this fabulous work.

Star
MyAnacondaMight · 18/01/2022 08:41

Olympia.

Queenoftheashes · 18/01/2022 08:42

Ismene?

HelebethH · 18/01/2022 08:45

Zoe the godess of life

SandyPanda · 18/01/2022 08:49

Not Greek but Cassiopeia is nice

draramallama · 18/01/2022 09:01

Eris is a great child's name. Grin

Oenone

APurpleSquirrel · 18/01/2022 09:13

Hecate? Pronounced hec-a-tee or hec-at nn Cat or Kate?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hecate

flippertyop · 18/01/2022 13:04

I love Hecate - can't get over the dog sacrifices though

OrangeAndYellowAndBlue · 18/01/2022 21:10

@DaisyWaldron Elissa, the alternative name for Dido, is a nice one.

I too am trying to guess what you used though. Niobe? Lucretia? Possibilities are endless.

Ellmau · 18/01/2022 23:25

Hermia
Hero
Calliope
Callisto
Phoebe
Cressida
Artemis
Cassandra
Melissa
Nerissa
Electra
Xanthe

irishfarmer · 19/01/2022 16:37

I read the seven sisters books recently enough, they were all named after the 7 sisters stars:

Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Taygete, Asterope, Celaeno and Merope

I also like Calliope DH has ruled it out for us though.

Original poster
Suprima · 19/01/2022 16:55

Lovely suggestions. Thank you so much everyone.

OP posts:
FindingAFish · 19/01/2022 17:02

@Juno231

Selene? Goddess of the moon
That's beautiful.

Sophia, Penelope (Penny), Phoebe, Iris, Cleo, Chloe
www.pampers.co.uk/pregnancy/baby-names/article/mythological-baby-names

BiscuitLover3678 · 19/01/2022 17:16

@irishfarmer

I read the seven sisters books recently enough, they were all named after the 7 sisters stars:

Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Taygete, Asterope, Celaeno and Merope

I also like Calliope DH has ruled it out for us though.

Do you have thepronounciations for these please.?
Snowiscold · 19/01/2022 21:16

There are lots of names with the same syllable pattern and stress - in the English pronunciation, not the Greek - as Hermione. Any of these any good?
Elizabeth
Cecilia
Olivia
Amelia
Victoria

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