Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Xanthe, Eve or Anya??

82 replies

minkersmum · 21/09/2008 23:52

What is the nicest of the 3??

Liking them all but reservations are

Eve too normal a name, not unusual enough for my liking.

Xanthe maybe touching on pretentious?

Anya too harsh/strong sounding.

My daughter lkely to be very tall, over 6ft, which one would suit best??

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Tortington · 22/09/2008 16:04

minkersmum"i asked opinions on a couple of names..."
yes, YES you did - and i gave one, just not the one you wanted
"... was just laughing at your suggestion that pretty names should be avoided incase your child turns out fat and ugly.. your words not mine."

no not exactly, i didn't think the names pretty to begin with as i made clear in my first post. I think they are ugly names. On a pretty kid thats ok, but people don't always have pretty kids and its not somethng that we consider as mothers.

"...whether you're fat and ugly has bugger all to do with it!..."

i agree, which is why your comments refering to me as such were underhanded and not needed

."..Personally i only get involved in name threads if i have something useful to contribute!! But then we're all 'different'!"

ahhh you only wanted people agreeing with you and then if they don't you insult them

i see. got it

mumof2222222222222222boys · 22/09/2008 15:32

We were going to call our baby Xanthe...despite being absolutely certain we'd never have a blonde child (and that is what it means). Any way the child did arrive blond, but he was a boy...so we don't have a Xanthe. It was still top of the list for baby 2...but he was a he too. Ah well, if we ever have a girl surprise...

ditheringdora · 22/09/2008 15:23

I think of Eve as small and dark, after the character in Circle of Friends, I love the name.
I also like Nan btw but can foresee all kinds of confusion with this.

TheNaughtiestGirlKeepsaSecret · 22/09/2008 15:20

PS, does a Xanthe have to tall? I think she has to be medium-heighted but with Olive skin

TheNaughtiestGirlKeepsaSecret · 22/09/2008 15:19

I love that list. I love Anya and I love Eve. I think Evie is v. pop right now, and Anna and Anya more 'steady', less succeptible to peaks and troughs of popularity, so I think I'd pick Anya.

Xanthe is nice but I prefer Xenia. I know a Xenia. She's about 65! ZENee-ah. That's how she says it anyway, I don't know if mner xenia is zeenee-ah or zenee-ah.

wotulookinat · 22/09/2008 13:05

Edie is a nice name! I like it!

Original poster
minkersmum · 22/09/2008 13:03

whatulookinat yes did watch wifeswap which is how we got to Xanthe, we had liked Iolanthe but thought to much of a tongue twister so when i heard Xanthe i thought it was similar but easier on the tongue!! Off it now anyway!! prefering something short.

When my mum mentioned Xanthe to my dad he said... 'oh for f* sake'.... kind of puts ya off!!!

Its just hard to find one that dp and i both love, we seem to have different taste at the mo.... last time so much easier!

Thanks for your opinion

OP posts:
Original poster
minkersmum · 22/09/2008 12:59

horseStories its funny how different names make us think of a particular type of person. For me most flower names make me think small and girlie, but Eve to me paints a picture of someone tall and elegant. I can also see where you're coming from and someone elf like would also suit Eve IMO!

We have gone off Xanthe based on the fact that its so different to our other kids names. Like short and sweet so keen for a name with around 4 letters, Erin , Nora, Anya, Edie, Evie/Eve, Nell etc etc all on original list. Thanks for ur suggestion tho!

OP posts:
Janni · 22/09/2008 12:56

Anya, then Eve.

Not keen on Xanthe/Zanthe but if I had to pick I'd go for Xanthe as the more usual spelling.

wotulookinat · 22/09/2008 12:51

I love the name Anya - it is at the top of my list for a daughter.
Eve is very pretty but I am not sure I would use it. I can't give a good reason why not though!
Xanthe, although a nice sounding name, seems a bit pretentious to me. Did you wantch WifeSwap last night? The daughter on that was called Xanthe, and the mum was very wacky!

HorseStories · 22/09/2008 12:51

How about Annika? Or some variation on that spelling? Or Orla?

From your list I like Eve the most and Xanthe the least. Anya is a nice name too. Eve sounds like it belongs to an elfin child though so may not be so good for a tall woman.

Original poster
minkersmum · 22/09/2008 12:45

i asked opinions on a couple of names, was just laughing at your suggestion that pretty names should be avoided incase your child turns out fat and ugly.. your words not mine.

whether you're fat and ugly has bugger all to do with it!

Personally i only get involved in name threads if i have something useful to contribute!! But then we're all 'different'!

OP posts:
fanjolina · 22/09/2008 12:45

What about Alathea?

Tortington · 22/09/2008 12:13

oh ffs - minkersmum - why fecking ask then if you are going to unerhandedly call me fat and ugly

silly girl

singyswife · 22/09/2008 12:12

What about Lilly it goes lovely with your other dd's name. Lilly Joan, beautiful!!! I like Anya too.

MadBadandDangeroustoKnow · 22/09/2008 12:12

Persephone?
Ariadne?
Helena?
Diana?
Demeter?

MadamAnt · 22/09/2008 12:08

Xanthe if she's likely to be blonde and Anya if she's likely to be dark.

Original poster
minkersmum · 22/09/2008 12:05

lol at custardo

dd2 already born just has no name yet.

already have two kids, both tall and slim and pleasant.

do you think you should err on the side of caution and go with a fat ugly name just incase??

OP posts:
Original poster
minkersmum · 22/09/2008 11:47

Don't live in glasgow now and doesn't matter to me what area as we move around alot. Gone off Xanthe now anyway... fickle!!

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 22/09/2008 11:47

Eve. It's lovely.

Tortington · 22/09/2008 11:46

no not really. still its my opinion.

am thinking what if you get a fat or ugly kid - it happens.

even mums of ugly kids know they are ugly = but still love them.

names like xanthe ( sounds phrmacutical) or anya ( anyanka buffy anyone?) ould make the child stand out more.

there - is that any more helpful?

midnightexpress · 22/09/2008 11:44

I know one of each and they're all quite pretty (the names I mean), but I do think Xanthe is a tad pretentious. Which is fine if you live in London, but not so much if you live in Glasgow. i don't know any Xanthes up here....

Original poster
minkersmum · 22/09/2008 11:40

thats helpful custardo

OP posts:
Tortington · 22/09/2008 11:38

neither - both horrible

dinkymum · 22/09/2008 11:38

Eve or Anya!