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Baby names

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

Original poster

Calliope

64 replies

chitter87 · 15/05/2022 19:58

What are people's thoughts on Calliope (Ka/Kuh-Lie-Oh-Pea) with a nickname of Callie?

We love "different" and toying with this currently 😊

OP posts:
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Linnet · 19/05/2022 00:04

I love the name Calliope, it’s what I wanted to name dd1 but wasn’t brave enough so went with something different.

Snippit · 18/05/2022 23:55

My daughters middle name is Clarice, she loves it and wishes it was her first name. We don’t know anyone with that name, only Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs 🤓

Luredbyapomegranate · 18/05/2022 23:51

keziah81 · 15/05/2022 20:00

I do love this name and it's so elegant- we did consider it too- but couldn't get over the 'pee' at the end Blush

I like it, and the pee at the end is no different to Penelope, so take no notice of that

liveforsummer · 18/05/2022 02:17

I prefer Callista or Callia. You can also use the Greek spelling of Kalista/Kalia. The name means 'beautiful one' in greek and I'm surprised it's not more popular. Apparently it's an extremely dated/ old lady name. Was on my shortlist out of 2 final names for both dc but was convinced out of using it for that reason and still want to use it now although no more dc for me 😆

Classica · 18/05/2022 02:05

leg braces

DurdleSnore · 17/05/2022 22:08

MySleevesMayBeGreen · 15/05/2022 20:06

Love it and also Callisto.

Me too!

comealongponds · 17/05/2022 19:02

Love it, my immediate association was the greys anatomy character but I really like her so it’s not a bad one

midsomermurderess · 17/05/2022 17:07

I have no reference at all to Greys Anatomy fwiw.

midsomermurderess · 17/05/2022 17:06

I like it, not Callie though, and it’s a waste of a great name.

Mama1980 · 17/05/2022 15:11

I love it but it does scream Greys Anatomy to me. Her character was a bisexual surgeon, the actress who played her is famously non binary and pretty awesome so it's not a bad association.

Theoldwoman · 17/05/2022 13:47

MayMi · 15/05/2022 20:33

At a quick glance, I thought this said 'Cellotape' 🤷🏼‍♀️ sorry

Ha ha, best reply ever!

myuterusistryingtokillme · 16/05/2022 19:29

I love it, but then I loved the character on Greys Anatomy!

Original poster
chitter87 · 16/05/2022 19:28

Thanks for all the input, really appreciate it. Taking on board the mispronunciation/spelling, however I've spent my life spelling my name out for people and don't mind it, and honestly with our surname our kids will have to get used to that anyway 🤣

I'm going to look into the Grey's reference as that seems to have come up quite a bit, but at the moment we still love it.

OP posts:
Happenchance · 16/05/2022 17:40

I hate it. It makes me think of a melon.

If I were you, I would try introducing myself as Calliope (to someone I don't know) and see how it feels.

mrsfeatherbottom · 16/05/2022 17:35

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 16/05/2022 02:12

Never watched Grey's Anatomy, however, my first thought was an Orthopaedic condition.

Which is funny because the Grey's character is a kick ass orthopaedic surgeon!

Irishfarmer · 16/05/2022 15:37

I really like it! My name is less 'complicated' but gets mixed up a LOT it doesn't bother me.

ProperVexed · 16/05/2022 12:10

Absolutely lovely....and I would have used it but I had boys.

MagicMixUps · 16/05/2022 12:02

Personally not a fan and have known 3 beings with the name my whole life, two cats and a dog so for me it's always been associated with pet names.

But who cares what others think if you love it.

Ilovedthe70s · 16/05/2022 11:08

I just think of Thomas the Tank Engine episode where the old calliope gets repaired by Victor at the steam works .

SirenSays · 16/05/2022 10:54

I like it, as long as your surname fits and she doesn't end up a Callie O'Malley

toastofthetown · 16/05/2022 10:49

I like it. It’s not at the top of my list, but I’d like to meet a little one.

Alvinne · 16/05/2022 10:30

I think its an ok name. The main character in Geoffrey Eugenides book Middlesex is called Calliope

Synchrony · 16/05/2022 10:23

notreadyforthisgelatinousbooty · 16/05/2022 09:31

To be honest, I find it quite pretentious. I also think it would get mispronounced a lot.
I'm not sure myself how to say it - I've read that Americans say kuh-LIE-uh-pee with the "lie" sound, but actual Greeks say it more like kah-lee-OH-pee, so I wouldn't know which one to use.

I've also heard this re Greek vs American. I've spent years assuming it was only ever pronounced as kah lee oh pee and the American way annoys me so I don't think I could get over that. But it's a perfectly usable name in my opinion. And Callie is fine.

Doubleraspberry · 16/05/2022 10:13

GeminiTwin · 15/05/2022 20:49

I have a guy friend called Calliope.

Pronounced cah lee ope

Gets called Callie and sometimes cayley for short.

I think it's a great name

A man called Calliope? That is challenging.

I like the name, OP.

cottagegardenflower · 16/05/2022 10:08

I don't like it. Sounds too complicated and she be forever asked to spell it out. Callie is nice though

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