Artemis?/ other Classical names

[AbieH]

So I'm kind of a Classics geek and I really want something recognizably Classical for my baby. I'm wondering if Artemis is a step too far for a girl? Other girl ideas: Dido, Persephone, Helia, Livia, Hebe, Selene?
For a boy: Cosmo, Rufus, Felix, Philo?
Tell me honestly, am I setting my kid up for a childhood of bullying and a lifetime of prejudice? DH has told me that I am completely free to choose a name and he will not interfere, which to be honest is not very helpful... Help me? What do you think of these names, and can you think of any others? Thanks xx

Cracking up at such "classics" as Antigone being suggested on the thread. Yes, it's a classic mythology etc but all non-pretentious person will pronounce it as ANTI GONE and hear it as some kind of oven cleaner or antifreeze.

Helios? You mean like that airline that had the massive plane crash?

Demeter? You mean the name that looks like demented and Dementor enough for an 8 year old to pick up on in the playground?

I think people need to get some realistic expectations and look at the most common associations before the arty farty ones.

I have an Artemis so obviously think it's lovely

No one has mentioned Artemis Fowl

Don't call her Dido. People will call her Dildo.

Artemis is the schools museum service in Leeds, just in case you venture up North!

Artemis is cool I think...
Not Dido (Dido & Aeneas = Dildo & Anus)

DD2 has Athene as a middle name, when we asked DD1 what her sister should be called she said "Owl" so this was what we came up with - plus all the associations of the name as well

Athene

Arf at Dildo and Anus

I love Artemis. We found out yesterday we're having a baby girl in October :o And found a lot of inspiration searching Shakespearian names - we particularly like Octavia, much to most people's disdain :o

TheThing you are probably right. That's how we pronounced it in the play so that's how I hear it! No doubt the audience was going "hang on..."

Thalia, Livia, Artemis, Athene (or Athena), Selene (or Selena) are all names I love :)

I am due in October and we are considering Artemis for a girl too, with the nn Missy.

Greek names:

Corinna (my favourite), Alexis, Agatha, Alexandra, Andromeda, Phyllis haha, Helen, Delia, Melissa, Pandora, Eirene(Irene), Hestia, Helena, Eugenia, Doris, Chloe, Phoebe, Sappho, Thais, Xenia, Moira, Maia, Hippolyta, Glauce

Nicholas, Leo, Philip, Alexis, Alexander, Jason, Homer, Myron, Lysander, Linus, Cyrus, Hilarion, Draco, Cosmas, Philo

If you want to get all late antiquity about it, try things like Ambrosius and Anastasia.

I think some of the names here are just way over the top, and you have to watch some of the mythical or historical associations: I certainly wouldn't use Hera, Medea, Phaedra, Antigone, Andromache or Eris .

I would love to be brave enough to use the name Calypso.

I wanted Artemis for both DDs,but DH was having none of it.I liked Damaris too,which he thought was a made up name that I'd invented.

I would beware of using an actual god's name It might be (makes placatory gesture, whispers fearfully) considered as hubris...

Mind you, i do know a couple of Athenes, and neither has been struck by lightning yet.

I have no fear of outing myself, as I know no other MNers in RL (I've really tried to find them- I mentioned Pom bears at playgroup and everything, and only got blank looks), so I am happy to tell you that DS is Felix, and no one has ever mentioned cat food to my face.

Jilly Cooper's children are called Felix and Hero.

Sorry, could I correct that, I think they're called Felix and Emily, and Hero is one of her dogs....

Has no one mentioned Calliope? A muse, no, so no sticky end? Could be shortened to Callie...

Such lovely names! I was seriously considering Clytemnestra when I was pregnant (am also a Classics geek) but eventually settled on Cassandra as DH not so keen. Then had DS and gave him a traditional but not at all classical name. What are you tempted by now you've heard some more suggestions, OP?

I know a Phaedra and an Electra. I mean seriously? Electra?

Didn't Electra fancy her dad or something?

Something like that anyway. Not a fan.

Oh, please don't call your daughters after tragic heroines! It makes me so nervous for them! Of course, that means no Juliets either, now I come to think about it. But clytemnestra? Blimey - it's a lovely sounding name but my mind does skip straight to the murder-reveal scene and her fantastic speech!

My name is latin (Marina) and I love it now but hated it as a child. It is very frustrating always having to introduce yourself three times, explain and spell your name, correct people (no, not Maria. No, not Mariana. No, not Maureen (FFS!)). I do think you should carefully consider how people on Corrie would pronounce your children's name (Anti-gone. Purser-phone. Cly..... that sounds like an STD). Please! For the sake of all of us with daft names! :)

Dorothea, Pallas (boy), Philomel, Daphnis (boy).

Here you go OP. Knock yourself out. You're welcome.

Of those mentioned here, I think my favourites are Olympia, Iris (ticks the box of the granny name trend too), Alexander (if you ever visit Greece with a baby called this people will go mad and love you), Athena, Penelope, Cassandra, Corinna, Alexis. I think Artemis is OK, but the goddess was a nasty piece of work.

Alethea, Oenone, Phylis, Phoebe?

I've always loved the name Ismene.

Ooh, I know an actual Greek person called Ismene! It's a lovely name!