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Baby names

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

Original poster

What do you think of Persephone?

116 replies

woodysquirrel · 18/09/2009 21:13

What do you think of Persephone as a girl's name? It's listed on Mumsnet's Baby Name Finder.
Please could you help with this. I'm guessing this is very unusual, am I wrong? How popular is this and what do you think of the name? We're shortening to Sephy or Persy.
Middle names will be Constance Jane.

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LynetteScavo · 20/09/2009 12:04

I thought it was a boys name.

How popular is it? --Ot very.

What do I think of it? I don't like it.

Constance is nice.

bigstripeytiger · 20/09/2009 12:01

I think it is a lovely name. It was a name I considered. I would have shortened it to Sephy or Seph.

SamMitchell · 20/09/2009 11:53

Poncephone

AtheneNoctua · 20/09/2009 01:05

Yes, Demeter was her mother. Demeter was the goddess of agriculture and she neglected her duties when Persephone was kidnapped and take to the underworld because she was searching for Persephone. Demeter appeled to Zeus to see that she was set free. Zeus said she could go free so long as she had not eaten anthing. But, she had eate pomegranate seeds. So she was banishe to the underworl for sic months of the year. It's not really a happy story. This story is actually near and dear to me (sorority links) but I wouldn't name my child after such a dark story.

And I don't think the name is the least bit posh. It is ancient greek. Is that posh?

Horton · 19/09/2009 20:57

I absolutely love it.

Clary · 19/09/2009 19:34

There was a Demeter at my DCs' school a couple of years ago.

That was her mum, no?

I think Persephone very unusual and some would struggle to pronunce/spell it.

(georgimama and BitofFun, I know 2 Helens under 9. DH calls one of them "DD's 40yo pal Helen" as there are a lot my age, but I like it )

BitOfFun · 19/09/2009 19:28

You sound very nice- if the ponceyness doesn't worry you, I'd be tempted to say go for it then...

(Helen would be a good middle name? )

Original poster
woodysquirrel · 19/09/2009 17:41

How do you pronounce Proserpine? I haven't ever heard of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
woodysquirrel · 19/09/2009 17:40

Staggered to receive so many replies, thanks.

I don't know if it being poncey bothers me, while may not be considering private education she won't be going to a school in a bad area,(will that really matter?)
I thought it might become the new Penelope

I'm keeping it on our shortlist just in case

any more opinions welcome

OP posts:
Heated · 19/09/2009 14:29

I like Persephone, it's very melodic, but always on someone else's child In fact I do know of a Persephone and Calliope. There is a new brother with a name in keeping but have forgotten what it is.

I do like Hermoine, Helena, Callista & Stephanie.

serenity · 19/09/2009 14:17

I love it, and we semiseriously considered it for DD, but we are Cypriot so can trump the 'poncetastic' card with the 'it's cultural innit?' card

If you like it, use it. Pshaw to everyone else.

pinkthechaffinch · 19/09/2009 13:21

What about Proserpine, the Roman version?

VanillaIce · 19/09/2009 13:15

Everyone you know will snigger behind your back and judge you for being an all-time ponce.

You asked!

hambler · 19/09/2009 00:23

fine if she works for BT
otherwise , are you kidding?

Penthesileia · 19/09/2009 00:19

You? Smutty? Never!

Sorry, OP. Totally derailed your thread. Very bad form. Apologies.

BitOfFundango · 19/09/2009 00:12

Well, I feel gratified at absorbing a little bit of Culcha, so thank you very much Pent

Do come to me if you ever need a smutty riposte- tis my usual area of expertise

Penthesileia · 19/09/2009 00:06

Ahhh, well - you see. There is much debate in bearded academic circles about whether the Greeks and Romans meant rape in the sense we understand for the various terms (and there are a lot in Greek and Latin) for rape/abduction/violence, etc.

That there was a lot of sexual violence against women probably goes without saying.

BitOfFundango · 19/09/2009 00:00

ROFL at golden showers- ah, I feel very grown up punning in such exhalted terms

BitOfFundango · 18/09/2009 23:58

Aha- after googling, I find that rape -raptio- means abduction rather than the modern meaning of sexual violation. So there you go- I have learned something new!

Penthesileia · 18/09/2009 23:55

I don't know - apparently some people like golden showers...

picklemumma · 18/09/2009 23:55

Didn't mean last comment! Was comment about ponceometer! Things moved on while I was typing!

BitOfFundango · 18/09/2009 23:54

Beats being rained on like Danae

picklemumma · 18/09/2009 23:54

Agree strongly with last comment, though obviously a matter of personal taste. But maybe not that fair on a child to have to spell their name to everyone? She'd definitely be Per-Seph-Own-Knee in a Terry Pratchett book, or maybe Per-Stephanie?Maybe review what attracts you to it and how you'd like it if it was your own name? Good luck, though!

Penthesileia · 18/09/2009 23:52

Although there is a lesser known myth which says that Helen was raped/abducted as a child by Theseus, I think.

SuiGeneris · 18/09/2009 23:51

Beautiful name- that will make you a MIL to be feared in future!

When is she going to be born? Should be a name for a Spring baby.

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