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Baby names

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

Original poster

Calypso or Calliope

109 replies

namehelp · 04/02/2009 00:10

DH and I cant agree on a name at all. Mainly because he likes very popular names and I like unusual. Neither of us like nicknames but realize this isn't something we cant control so it's important to us that we also like the shortened version of a name although we probably wont use it.

We really like Callie for a shortened name and we both really like Calypso. I really like Calliope too, DH undecided on it.

So any opinions on Calypso or Calliope?

Any other suggestions?

We have dont have a boys name either so any help on that would be greatly appreciated.

DH says he likes common popular names yet keeps suggestion Apollo? I thinking thats a step too far.

I like all sorts of boys name my favorite is Octavio.

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LuLuBai · 04/02/2009 17:07

People will mostly shorten it to what you shorten it to. I have a long Italian name with several possible abbreviations. Some people go for the most obvious one, but once I've told them what I am usually known as only the most extremely dense-headed continue to get it wrong.

So namehelp are you sorted then? Calypso at number 1 on the girls' list? Do we need to keep working on boys' names?

Peachy · 04/02/2009 16:20

Me too nametaken but mroe importantly, so does he LOL

alexpolismum · 04/02/2009 16:19

You're probably right, it was the easiest option. But yes, all my schoolmates called me by my preferred nickname (although sometimes I admit they shortened it still further, like people say Debs instead of Debbie for Deborah. And no, my name is not Deborah).

Original poster
namehelp · 04/02/2009 16:18

mmm Really like Stirling for a boy!

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Peachy · 04/02/2009 16:15

Did kids really do that at school? My maiden anme was Godfrey and I hated it but was called Godders (as I have a one syllable unshortenable first name).

Probably just varies on the kids you meet? And probably as you say if there's a shortening readi;y available- Samuel is called Sam, maybe they go with easiest option?

I quite like Lypsy anyhow.

alexpolismum · 04/02/2009 16:12

I disagree that Calypso will be Callie at home, Lypsy elsewhere. If she introduces herself to people as Callie, then they will probably call her that. I have a long first name with several possible nicknames, but my friends have always called me what I call myself, which happens to be the nickname favoured by my mother.

Peachy · 04/02/2009 16:10

Not as a rule, no. He's 8 and that ahsn't happened yet.

Original poster
namehelp · 04/02/2009 16:08

Peachy I love Stirling, seems like a good professional name too me.
Do people shorten it?

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alexpolismum · 04/02/2009 16:07

The only boy's name from ancient Greek that I like is Leonidas (King of Sparta, fought the Persians with his 300 at Thermopylae). If I have dc3 and it is a boy... (please let it happen!)

Original poster
namehelp · 04/02/2009 16:06

LoL that might be a bit of a problem.

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Peachy · 04/02/2009 16:05

Calypso will be Callie to you and Lypsy to her friends

both of which are fine i think, and Callie is a good professional' name iyswim (every name should either be one, or be able to be shortened to one, though ds2- Stirling- might have to use his middle name Max to get that effect. hey ho)

alexpolismum · 04/02/2009 16:03

unfortunately the only relevant book I know is in Greek!

Original poster
namehelp · 04/02/2009 16:02

Peachy I dont really mind if people dislike it, if you love a name you love a name.
When others have given there opinions against a name and I've found myself agreeing so its helped me gauge how much I like a name.

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alexpolismum · 04/02/2009 16:01

I was just looking for a site, actually! I used to have one bookmarked, but I lost it when we had a virus on the PC some months back. I'm just trying to remember what it was called.

Anyway, the one already linked to does have a good list of names, it's just the meanings that are not accurate. If I find the site, I'll post a link.

Original poster
namehelp · 04/02/2009 15:58

Peachy really ollie? I was thinking if it was shortened it would possibly be polo.

Anyway I have won the battle over Apollo, there will be NO Apollo.

Looking very likely if a girl it will be Calypso.

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Peachy · 04/02/2009 15:58

'and does anyone ever bat an eyelid at Allegra which is a musical term?)'

TBH where I come from you'd be known as Bristish Leyland for ever- either that or by the ahyfever remedy connotation. Who wants people behind them sniffing fr ever more?

But I used a name everyone hates and don't care less so OP, why should you?

Original poster
namehelp · 04/02/2009 15:55

Alex could you recommend a site or even a book?

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Peachy · 04/02/2009 15:54

calliope will be called callipers

apollo will b called Ollie- not half as abd but he who says it cant be shortened is always deluded! Iff theyca nts horten it theyc hange it to something terrible IMO

Calypso is OK, not fab (untintentional lolly pun there)

alexpolismum · 04/02/2009 15:50

My dd really does have a name from Greek mythology, but then, I live in Greece and can get away with it easily. If it helps to know, it's not a name I've ever heard in the UK, but it has gone down really well with relatives there.

I couldn't use the name Calliope, as it's my MIL's name and I associate it with her. However, there's nothing wrong with it as a name!

I've just had a look at that Behind the Name Greek Mythology site that somebody put a link to, and to be honest, I'm not impressed. Some of the meanings are wrong (including my dd's name!) and some easy meanings are down as "Meaning unknown". And before anyone asks me how I can be sure, I am a fluent Greek speaker and some of the meanings are obvious to me.

Original poster
namehelp · 04/02/2009 15:43

June2009 a very good point a company or celebrity or soap person can use any name and your very ordinary common name can then have unpleasant connotations.
I know a little Cosmo he so sweet and really suites his name.

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Original poster
namehelp · 04/02/2009 15:39

Lulu I love Sholto but the one I know personally is very dear to me and I think his mother would be quite unimpressed if I also used the name.

annasmami and lulu they're the exact reasons why we would like an unusual name.

To those that are giving made up product names, yes Calypso is used by an ice-lolly company but it is a real name it has been around a long long time before the lolly and will be around a long time afterwards.

I'm fine with people if we give our child an unusual name then we will have to put up with it in real life.

We will also give our child an ordinary middle name to balance it out.

Anyone got any BOY names?
We aren't using Apollo I'm just not that taken on it.

OP posts:
LuLuBai · 04/02/2009 14:35

The whole point of a name is to identify one person from another. So why not choose something out of the ordinary?

LuLuBai · 04/02/2009 14:34

Not just boring annasmami - extremely confusing!

annasmami · 04/02/2009 14:31

And just as not everyone is going to like your hairstyle or your style of kitchen, not everyone is going to like your choice of names!

How boring the world would be if we ALL liked and chose the same names....

LuLuBai · 04/02/2009 14:30

Oh if you are Scottish how about adding Sholto to the boys list?

Wouldn't worry too much about the Mary Wesley character, although I do think she always has good names for her characters.

And yes, Calypso is also a type of music, but so what. It's OK to name your daughter after a flower or a bird so why not music (and does anyone ever bat an eyelid at Allegra which is a musical term?)

Many, many moons ago I had twin cats called Calico and Cleopatra. I've always loved the sound of 'Calico' althogh I realise that calling your kid after a type of fabric might not appeal to many people.