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Baby names

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

Original poster

Calliope

40 replies

Picklesocks · 27/07/2026 08:21

Hello, a good friend of mine has just had a baby and named it Calliope (Callie for short). I’ve only ever met one other Calliope, and they pronounced it Ca-LIE-oh-pee, whereas my friend is pronouncing it Cally-OH-pee.

Is this one of those where both are right and it’s just preference? I didn’t want to question whether my friend was pronouncing her own baby’s name right 😂

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MinnieCoops · 27/07/2026 17:32

My Greek friend’s dd is the way your mate says

Firebird83 · 27/07/2026 17:30

The way she is pronouncing it is closer to the original Greek pronunciation.

Gardenisablooming · 27/07/2026 09:42

Just call her Callie..save her having to explain how to pronounce it every day.

Scaryspicer · 27/07/2026 08:59

@MyDarlingRose happy to be corrected- was just giving my experience.

Zippedydoobaah · 27/07/2026 08:57

In Greece it's pronounced like your friend.

MyDarlingRose · 27/07/2026 08:56

Scaryspicer · 27/07/2026 08:42

Yeah she’s saying it wrong (in my opinion!) I’ve only ever heard it as Cal-LIE- oh- pee with emphasis on the lie syllable. Similar to Penelope

Except she’s not because she’s saying it the Greek way…

Culpeper · 27/07/2026 08:55

I’d say she’s pronouncing it wrong. But if it’s going to be called Callie, it hardly matters.

MyDarlingRose · 27/07/2026 08:54

I’ve only ever heard the second one.

changedusernameforthis1 · 27/07/2026 08:54

Both are correct depending on where you're from. I only know one Calliope and her name is pronounced CA-LIE-OH-PEE.
She's just turned 4 and goes by Callie by those who know her.

Enko · 27/07/2026 08:51

I googled as unlike the other posters the Calliope I knew was pronounced like your friend does it and this is what I found.

kahl-ee-OH-pee in its ancient form and kahl-YO-pee in Modern Greek.

So I guess neither are wrong.

MaeshoweDragon · 27/07/2026 08:48

My friends mum is Ca-LIE-oh-peh, not pee.

But all her friends call her Cally-Oop for a joke (they are in Yorkshire).

HoppityBun · 27/07/2026 08:46

In Greek, and it’s a Greek name, the spelling is Καλλιόπη. So the emphasis is clearly on the ó.

AgnesMcDoo · 27/07/2026 08:42

Cah-LIE-oh-pee

Scaryspicer · 27/07/2026 08:42

Yeah she’s saying it wrong (in my opinion!) I’ve only ever heard it as Cal-LIE- oh- pee with emphasis on the lie syllable. Similar to Penelope

user1492757084 · 27/07/2026 08:39

She is saying her own baby's name incorrectly.
Do you say Hermione as Hermy - own?
Do you say Penelope as Pe - nell - lowp?

Calliope is Cah - LIE - oh - pee.

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