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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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Penthesileia · 18/09/2009 23:49

Ok, fair enough, BitOfFun! True - Helen did seem to love Paris, after all!

BitOfFundango · 18/09/2009 23:47

Hmm, I prefer ravished myself...

mumsydoodle · 18/09/2009 23:46

went to school with one and she seemed perfectly nice

Penthesileia · 18/09/2009 23:45

Sorry cory - am echoing you!

Penthesileia · 18/09/2009 23:44

I like Greek names, but - frankly - it's quite hard to find a Greek mythological name for girls which isn't that of a rape victim.

I know Helen was raped, but it is much more "normalised" and less immediately associated with Greek myth; whereas Persephone would be immediately associated with Greek myth, IYSWIM.

Persephone was raped by Hades and stolen from her mother. Not totally happy associations, in my mind.

Monty100 · 18/09/2009 23:41

Aw, don't. Why would you?

Georgimama · 18/09/2009 23:34

Absolutely. Never seen it on a baby name thread on MN. Not once have I seen "shall I call my DD Helen?" Just shows, no taste out there.

serant · 18/09/2009 23:32

no, very ponceee

BitOfFundango · 18/09/2009 23:29

it screams class, doesn't it, Georgimama?

madlentileater · 18/09/2009 23:28

isn't there a llama called persephone on the archers?
I think you should check out the greek myth before you commit. Not a well-omened name I would say.

Georgimama · 18/09/2009 23:26

Helen is a great, underused name. But then I am biased.

Roxy25 · 18/09/2009 23:10

Hmm I really like it, considering it myself.

BitOfFundango · 18/09/2009 23:09

Helen is indeed a fabulous name, and much under-used

Can you be sure you will privately educate? Because you couldn't release Persephone into the wild you know...

Spacehoppa · 18/09/2009 22:58

PS Penelope gets shortened to 'ploppy'. always.

Spacehoppa · 18/09/2009 22:58

I'm sorry but poor girl will never get a date with a name like that.

In her entire life.

Nike=trainers
Athena=old card shop (tennis girl)
Juno=large moon
Venus=brand of razor ?
Demeter=what gas man reads

NO NO NO NO No

Ahh Helen.
..the face that launched a thousand ships. Or Paris though that was a boys name

but "tempus mutamur" etc or whatever as they do in any case. As it were.

twirlymum · 18/09/2009 22:54

Think of the small child trying to learn how to spell it too.

BitOfFundango · 18/09/2009 22:40

Too much.

Penelope?

LaurieFairyCake · 18/09/2009 22:38

It is extremely high on the ponceometer.

really, REALLY high.

Georgimama · 18/09/2009 22:36

per - seph - on - ee

fruitstick · 18/09/2009 22:33

When we first moved into our house in Chiswick we went out to our local thai restaurant where a couple were their with baby Persephone.

It struck the fear of God into us!

It's a lovely name but very very poncey.

navyeyelasH · 18/09/2009 22:30

MamaLazarou, my first language is welsh maybe the way I am reading it is wrong. How would you pronounce it?

cece · 18/09/2009 22:28

I love it but would never be brave enough to use it...

Georgimama · 18/09/2009 22:26

It's poncetastic and has really sad connetations.

MamaLazarou · 18/09/2009 22:23

It doesn't sound the slightest bit like pheremone!

navyeyelasH · 18/09/2009 22:22

sounds like pheremone (SP?)