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

I agree that when you are naming a child you do have to remember that most people will not be up on their classical literature, will not have a clue how to pronounce these names, will immediately look at the most obvious association and will just think they are totally pretentious (although I suppose if you are going to call your child Ptolemy you wont give a crap about people thinking you are pretentious!)

JUst out of interest how do you pronounce Antigone, because I would say Anti-gone (I only found out that Persephone wasnt pronounced Per - se -phone a couple of years ago - I was shocked!).

However, am LOVING the name Callia (I am assuming it is pronounced Cal - lee - a?)

I think it's pronounced An-ti-gon-ee. Does anyone know the correct pronunciation of Calliope (I've heard Cal-ee-o-pee and Callie-oh-pee and even Cal-eye-oh-pee).

I know a Sophus and an Erasmus. They are both awesome young men.

Octavia is beautiful!

I also like Octavian for a boy.

I like Octavia too but my Latin is too far ingrained to see it as anything other than a name you would give to your eight child. Eighth is the literal translation.
Oh and it was the ostrich on Pipkins

I love Persephone but it might be a bit too much Upstairs Downstairs what with Lady Persie.

A Felix here too ... love love love it. Rufus is great too.

marjolaine

It's call-EYE-o-pee

Hi, what about Clio for a girl (the muse of history) - I think that's Greek? I love 'Inigo' mentioned up the thread a bit, for a boy, didn't realise it was classical - I knew I really cool Spanish Inigo.

The translation of Octavia being 'eighth' is something the people around us are very unlikely to be aware of... In fact I think I'm the only one who'd actually know unless they looked it up :o

Also really like Callia, and if we were having a boy Rufus was one of my favourite names, it's lovely!

I like this thread :o

Hiya, I really think that your choice of name depends upon what social circles you and your child are in/going to be in ( a well as your surname an how well the forenames goes with that).

I can only speak for the UK (I'm in England): The middle class issue has been raised already, and if you are part of the middle class here, then the classical name choice is less of an issue (although you will always have dickheads trying to undermine you, as Sneaky demonstrated).

However, if you're considered working class (I do hate these labels I'm using) then Artemis or Philo are going to set your child up for potential future ridicule. Kids can be cruel and will pick on the slightest agent of difference.

FWIW, I think Artemis, Livia, Cosmo and Rufus are beautiful choices x Good luck!

I like Zoe - Greek - means Life and has been used for thousands of years for saints and empresses, not too popular these days but may not be unusual enough for you.

Am learning lots from this thread!

Yes I though that Antigone must be pronounced that way because of the Persephone thing - unfortunately to me it sounds too much like 'antagonise' for me.

How on earth do you actually pronounce Ptolemy? Is the 'p' silent or not? Also how do you pronounce Hebe - is it 'hee-bee' or 'he-be' (really short 'e' sound)?

We have a Quentin, which is Latin though.

Er... what's the shortened version or nickname for Clytemnestra?!

I know the name is pronounced CLYTE-erm-nestra but I still think people would take the piss and she'd get clit rather a lot

I also think that Artemis is beautiful. A friend of mine named her DD Artemis. But then her husband is half Greek so they have an 'excuse'. Also like Felix for a boy.

I like Zoe too, zozzle. There's a beautiful mosaic of the Empress Zoe in the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=empress+zoe+istanbul&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&biw=1280&bih=681&tbm=isch&tbnid=o6hElpbrQqkyfM:&imgrefurl=www.shutterstock.com/pic-34002100/stock-photo-empress-zoe-offering-a-scroll-mosaic-fom-hagia-sofia-in-istanbul-turkey.html&docid=pfePFM10nuN4dM&imgurl=image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/81922/81922,1248172015,2/stock-photo-empress-zoe-offering-a-scroll-mosaic-fom-hagia-sofia-in-istanbul-turkey-34002100.jpg&w=299&h=470&ei=ICG2T9fOM8mxhAfz_83oCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=936&vpy=278&dur=1286&hovh=282&hovw=179&tx=77&ty=153&sig=108984180873559804441&page=1&tbnh=165&tbnw=105&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0,i:91" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">picture here.

Good luck! Kids get teased for all sorts, just remember, a name that you may love as a well read adult, could make your child's everyday life a misery.

Personally I think whether or not your name choices in the OP are okay, will largely depend on where you & your DCs will socialise & where they are likely to go to School, but for the most part I think it would be a mistake.

Any name that is going to have other parents thinking what a ridiculously pompous & showy & stuck up "I'm so supper educated & well read" choice of name, will rub off on how they & their own DCs perceive both you & your DCs, so I'd think long & hard before inflicting anything TOO "classic" on them.

There are plenty of less obvious classical choices, such as Heloise or Penelope which will be better accepted at the School gates, personally I would stick to those

There are plenty of names at school already that make people think - I'd rather people were at my child's name because it's classic, than because I've made it up or it consists of initials - Shanikqua or DJ, anyone?

If I spent my life doing what is perceived as acceptable by a bunch of people I don't know at the school gates, I wouldn't be being myself.

Captain for the most part I would agree with that, I'm definitely not one to give a flying one about anyones view of me & my DD does have a more unusual name, but lots do around here, so it's no big deal at the she goes to School & calling a DC Artemis here wouldn't even raise an eyebrow, which is why I said its largely down to where you socialise etc etc -

BUT in some areas this will make them a target for bullies & whether you care on not what the School gates Mafia think of YOU, is it really fair to pass that onto your DCs by giving them a name that depending on where you are etc will likely make their School lives harder ??

(bumps fists with all the other Felix owners and operators).

I shall now also confess that my cat is called Thisbe.

Didn't Octavia not meet a sticky end? Did she not swallow hot coals when Anthony was unfaithful? For the same reasons, I wouldn't choose Cassandra, Clytaemnestra, Electra, Sophocles, or-God forbid- Jocasta.

I see no one's suggested Oedipus for a boy

I love Persephone, shortened to Percy - really cute!

I LOVE this name, I would love to call a future daughter that, I'd nickname her Arty (which is both cute when she's little and cool when she's older).

I also like Delphi (for girl or boy) but it's probably a bit too much like Delphine which I can't stand.

Atalanta is cool too. NN Tally maybe?