Middle name for Persephone...?

[Spuddybean]

Any ideas? Our surname is a double barrel along the lines of Watson-Ingram (but more unusual)

We were thinking of Imogen? But maybe something shorter would be better.

I wouldn't put Persephone in the hard to pronounce or spell bracket at all? It follows all the normal spelling conventions and everybody's heard of it, even if they're not used to meeting modern dayy humans with the name!

Names like Caoimhe, Aoife, Ffionhuala etc are much harder imo. Or even names like Kaylee, Leyla, Kathryn, Rebekah, Madelyn or anything that uses a less common spelling.

Just asked my 11 year old (reading age 16, so higher than the average Sun reader!) and he said Purse- Phone. His second attempt was Pursy- Phone.

Love the name and have always known how it was pronounced since first reading the myth as a young'un.

Agree with the other posters who point out that lots of names need their pronunciation confirmed when speaking to someone for the first time, it's not a big deal. With Persephone you will have people who already know how it is pronounced and hence only need to confirm to those who haven't come across it before.

Plus, not sure how Percy-Phone is such a devastating nickname anyway! There are worse nicknames to be had...

It's a lovely name.

Agree Imustbe. Do people not read Greek and Roman mythology as children anymore?

I hate to break itnto you, narked raspberry, but most people never did!

I think it's lovely and I have always known how to say it - bit surprised others don't

But with a double barrelled surname is give the middle name a miss

I think everyone on here knows how to pronounce it. But unless this child is going to spend her life in a middle class and/ educated bubble, she will come across more that can't than can.

You can buy books of the stories (slightly tweaked for children). They're great for DC that don't like fluffy reads.

I know you can. That's why people in the middle class and/or educated bubble know how to say Persephone!

Greek myths are covered in a lot of primary schools!

I think the name in itself is pretty. But I think that people will make instant judgements on her background based on it, in the same way they would a Kayleigh-Mae- They shouldn't, but they will. I LOVED names like this when I was pg, but I decided not to go for something that may make her feel out of place or uncomfortable. I guess that because I like a pretentious name (which it is, though that's okay) it isn't me that's going to bear the burden of it.
I also once knew a Lysander. He was picked on constantly, and called salamander or Liz. He is now known as Ollie.

My ds knew who Persephone was but couldn't read the word. He also reacted with horror to the thought of anyone being called it!

Mine react with utter horror to some of the other names on here

Persephone Olympia Double-Barrel

If you're posh enough to carry off Persephone, don't you dare degrade it with the usual run of the mill "Lilly", "Mae" or any of the same ilk!

Persephone No-Really

I think its a stand alone name. does not need a middle name. frankly its a gobful (in a good way)

"Having a last name that makes you feel a bit exotic is not the same as having a first name that 99% of the time people will say 'sorry- dis'nt catch that' when you tell them your first name. And which nobody will e we be able to pronounce or spell."

Seeker like I said, I have that problem with my surname. But it's not a big deal. And my sister has the same with her first name but it's not had any sort of detrimental effect on her. I just don't see why the OP should reject a name she loves on the basis that some people might not be able to pronounce it first time.

"Seeker like I said, I have that problem with my surname. But it's not a big deal. And my sister has the same with her first name but it's not had any sort of detrimental effect on her. I just don't see why the OP should reject a name she loves on the basis that some people might not be able to pronounce it first time."

Because it's not he OP who's going to have th name. She has no idea whether her daughter will love having an "exotic" name or hate it. It it deeply unfair to make that decision on behalf of an human being unable to consent.

beware of Lysander. People will mark you down as a Jilly Cooper fanatic, which may not be the effect you're after at a guess.
Leander may avoid that.

I thinK Persephone is a lovely name. Whether you need a middle name with a 4 syllable first name and a double-barrelled surname is debatable.

I think more people than you would think know how to pronounce Persephone tbh. It's not that unusual. And I am far from being in a middle-class bubble.

Re Posey - I don't think you can dictate a nickname, that's my only advice. I picked a name which I didn't think would lend itself to a nickname. I learned my lesson there!

Honestly, i have been really shocked at how unpleasant people are being on here about my choice of name. You do know i am a 37 wks pregnant woman with feelings? I know i shouldn't let it get to me but i am really genuinely upset at just how incredibly hurtful and rude people are. Why is this acceptable?

To repeat - i have a long greek unusual name and have never had problems. People ask me to spell it especially over the phone, but that's not a big deal. The DS's spelling reaction of Purse Phone is almost right, so what's the problem?

For the record i did just ask of short middle names that went with Persephone - not come along and call me names and insult me. If you don't like it fine but why say nasty things? And if people make assumptions of what my daughter 'is' or is not then so what. They may be right, they may be wrong. We are rarely one thing.

I have never introduced myself as my full name. It is an official name which i can shorten and do. Why call someone Elizabeth and call her Lizzie? I also don't know anyone who uses their middle name, so why would not giving her a middle name be any different. I have my nans middle name i never use it but it's there if i want to.

Spuddy dont listen, your baby, your choice. Now move away from this screen have a cup of tea and enjoy your lasts couple of weeks brfore Lysander or Persephone arrive.

spuddy - havent read the rest of the thread. I know a 7y old Persephone and it really suits her and I really like it. She is known as Persephone and Sephy and apparently had no trouble learning to spell it. The only thing that would have put me off it if I had a girl was that my sister thought it was Percy Phone from the spelling! But so what, once corrected once, will never happen again.

I wasn't trying to upset you: I just explained the reasons I didn't give my child a similar name.