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Baby names

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Original poster

Antigone?

80 replies

bonnibaby · 07/07/2008 16:34

Just come across this for a girl-just out of interest what do you think?
Pronounced An-tig-oh-nee.

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rowingboat · 28/07/2008 22:55

I love this name - it's on my list as well.
I worked in Greece for a while, teaching English and there were a few Antigones. They pronounced it 'andi-gonni' fwiw. Tiggy or Andy for short I imagine, both sweet for a girl IMO.
I love Persephone being shortened to Percy. Not that's on my list as well, just so I could call my daughter Percy, or son, but that would have to be Percival or Perseus I suppose. Hmm!

Squarah · 11/07/2008 08:57

I know a gorgeous baby girl recently christened Antigone but always intended to be Tiggy - mother studied classics. Tiggy very cute for small baby and nice associated hedgehog memorabilia! But agree might get some difficulties in pronunciation/ teasing but what name doesn't at some point - depends what's important to you I think!

BlueChampagne · 10/07/2008 12:30

On the abbreviation front, in Modern Greek it's pronounced And-y-goh-nee, with the stress on the third syllable. So she could be Andie like Andie MacDowell.

vanloadtovenice · 09/07/2008 20:51

I went to school with one, but she was always Tiggie, which I rather liked!

nooka · 09/07/2008 13:19

I disagree, I found her really annoying! But I was 15, so maybe if I read or saw the play again now I would feel differently.

BlueChampagne · 09/07/2008 12:20

I have a Greek friend called Antigone, but, and this is probably just me, but I don't think I call a child after a tragic hero/heroine.

Pruners · 09/07/2008 11:25

Message withdrawn

tryingtoleave · 09/07/2008 11:06

Actually, the more I think of it she is a pretty awesome character. She's a rebel, she's brave, she's feminist (she's told that it's none of a woman's business but she goes ahead anyway). And I remember her saying something like 'it's my nature to act in love not hate'. Jean Anouilh did an adaption of the play which portrayed Antigone as a resistance member in WWII. I still wouldn't use the name, just because I don't like names that stand out too much (and anyone who remembered my adolescent obsession with greek tragedy would laugh at me). But if that's what you're looking for it's not such a bad background.

lulu25 · 09/07/2008 09:55

terrible history to be saddled with

if you like tiggy i've met a couple of antonias who go by that name

tryingtoleave · 09/07/2008 09:52

I love the play and the character, but I think the name would be too much of a burden (in many ways) for a girl. Antigone was the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta (that's the incestuous relationship). Her brothers killed each other fighting to take control of Thebes. Her uncle Creon became king and and decreed that the brother who died attacking Thebes would not be buried but left exposed. Antigone believed that this meant that his soul would not find rest. Her punishment was to be buried alive in a cave. Creon relents and goes to free her but finds she has already killed herself.

You do come across greek women called Antigone though.

chisigirl · 08/07/2008 09:28

in French, it is pronounced "Aunty Gone". well, not exactly but that's a rough approximation.

OomphreyCushion · 07/07/2008 21:19

I know a Persephone, known as Sephie.

Quattrocento · 07/07/2008 21:10

I know a Persephone - plain silly - it is already being shortened to Percy

Yes think of what it will be shortened to - Tiggy - nice!!

VictorianSqualor · 07/07/2008 21:08

I know if there had been a kid at school called antigone when I was there I would have said 'anti-gone? what's that? arrived?'
Don't do it.

Not against greek names at all btw my cousin is called Phaedra.

lucyellensmum · 07/07/2008 20:58

my first reaction was "are you mad?" my second was, well, ok, but the other kids are going to take the piss Anty gone - WTF? Then i read your post and thought, hmmm, im still not convinced. Then tried to think about what it would be shortened too - Anti ? Nah, nee nee? hope not, then i thought, Tiggy, tiger or tigger - bloody lovely . If you can get it to sit well with you and you enjoy the sound go for it. There are lots of strange names around these days so she wont be the sore thumb thats for sure. The back story to it would put me off, it would be like calling a girl Sappho - just to sad

Quicksilver · 07/07/2008 20:56

I was telling my mum about my problems with sciatica when I was pg with ds and my brother over heard and said
'Sciatica - that's a nice name'

Tiggy is nice.

LuLuBai · 07/07/2008 20:53

Still like the name Jocasta. Would never use it but I like it.

Quattrocento · 07/07/2008 20:51

Lovely

Don't worry about the story behind the name. All those greek mythical/dramatic heroines had bad things happen. Iphigenia, Daphne etc etc

I mean at least the name has a history. Unlike Kylie.

frogs · 07/07/2008 20:51

Salome, perhaps?

frogs · 07/07/2008 20:50

I was being tongue-in-cheek about Jocasta, actually.

ruty · 07/07/2008 20:48

she has a happy back story actually - rescued by God Dionysus after being abandoned by Theseus.

ruty · 07/07/2008 20:46

Ariadne is a lovely name. Knew a Greek girl of that name at university. Don't think it has a horrible back story.

hanaflowerisnothana · 07/07/2008 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

llareggub · 07/07/2008 20:43

Ha ha!

I got told off during sixth form for pronouncing Antigone the correct way. The utterly stupid student teacher in my crap comp insisted that I pronounce it Aunty-gone.

controlfreakyagain · 07/07/2008 20:42

salmonella?

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