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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help! doubts about my baby girl's unusual name

79 replies

katie789 · 18/03/2009 13:03

For nine months my DH and I studied baby name books, only to still be discussing the shortlist post-delivery in the labour room!

We decided on Ianthe (taking the 'ee-ann-thee' pronounciation, after guidance from a Greek friend), which had always been my DH's favourite. I have loved having an unusual name myself, and also loved the mythological meaning to the name.
We thought we could use Thea for short.

Now she's five weeks old (and already registered too), and I'm really worried whether I've made the right decision, mostly because DH was the driving force behind the name. My family hated it to start with, but are sweetly using it now and learning to love the name; friends have been kind about it, but perhaps just being nice?

Already getting a clutch of blank looks when I tell people (doctor's receptionists, HV, midwifes, etc) the name. She's got two middle names (one slightly unusual, one well-known), but I wouldn't prefer them as first names.

I feel awkward using it at the moment, but I couldn't say why. And all I can think about during these long sleep-deprived nights is whether we made the right choice.
I suppose I'm looking for reassurance really - will I grow to love the name on her?

I see it crop up as a suggestion on this board a lot, but does anyone else really see it as a good choice?

PS. Sorry for rambling post - my brain is addled!

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Tommy · 18/03/2009 13:13

everyone wil get used to it anyway - it will become her name and part of her.

(gorgeous I think)

DiamondHead · 18/03/2009 13:10

Doesn't matter what everyone else thinks about it, it is you that has to feel comfortable with it.

I think also, you can get blank looks with an unusual name because people aren't yet sure what they think. It's always easier to have an opinion on a name when you know someone who uses it. We all have very immediate opinions for more common names.

If you want to change her name, it's very easy to do in the first 12 months. Why not give it a few more weeks and then see how you feel.

Hassled · 18/03/2009 13:07

The name looks lovely written down. I think the blank looks may be more to do with the pronunciation - "Ee-an-thee" may be authentic, but your average English speaker would go for "I - an - the". At least that's how I would say it.

So is it a problem of pronunciation rather than the name itself? Could you bear to change the pronunciation?

wastingmyeducation · 18/03/2009 13:07

It's lovely, and different without being daft.

It's just new baby nerves making you worry, promise!