Iolanthe

[AndFanjoWasHisNameO]

What do you think? And how would you pronounce it? AND does it go nicely with Elodie? Thank youuuu

Eye-oh-LAN-thy. Goes nicely with Elodie I think, though it's a very different type of name.

Very pretty and does go nicely with Elodie.

See now that is how I would say it but researching googling it, I've seen quite a few Yo-lan-th type pronounciations

I think the fact you have to google it to find out how to say it tells you it's not a good choice.

Only my opinion of course

I used to live on a street named this and nobody was ever able to say it.
But I like it.

No, that was just an incidental finding I would pronounce it with an audible 'I'
We're already used to no one being able to pronounce or spell Elodie already so one more won 't matter....

As someone who has found it royally annoying throughout her life, that no-one can read/say or spell her name correctly - it does matter. Every time I have to give my details it is a pain.

Personally, I chose names for my own DDs that were, while not very common, straightforward.

I appreciate that this view is my own (and have been shot down on here before for expressing it), but there it is.

It's the title of a Gilbert & sullivan operetta. That's the only reason I know how to say it - we did it at school!

I think it's lovely. I'd pronounce it with the I, but then, what would you use for short?

I don't know re: shortenings, maybe The (Thay) or whatever the kids choose-probably Lolly as Elodie is currently Lelly for some reason .
I do take on board comments about spellings etc. I grew up with a then uncommon name that people couldn't spell but it became more popular and now it's everywhere! Am all ears for any alternatives though please?!

eye-o-lan-thee is the English pronunciation, but I think the original Greek would be with the 'yo' at the start.

It's Reggie Perrin's middle name (after the G & S, I think).

I say it eye-oh-lan-thee

I used to be obsessed with the show when I was little - lots of dancing around with friends singing 'we are dainty little fairies, ever singing, ever dancing' (SAD children!)

For that reason I probably wouldn't use it, although it is pretty.

I know it well from Gilbert & Sullivan too. She's a fairy. It's pretty but I'm the same with 2kids in that I've had to spell my name out my whole life and it really is annoying (even now, family friends and some in-laws cannot get my name right on birthday and xmas cards after years of knowing them).

However, I always said I'd give my DCs normal names but when it came to it we gave DS a really unusual name (shortens easily though). That's because at the time of choosing for DS, I realised that there are so many different names out there now that actually even 'normal' names are often spelt out by their owners to avoid mistakes and it really is increasingly usual to have to do it.

Er, so I guess overall I'd say go for it if you like it - as long as you acquaint yourself well with the G&S operetta first!

Like it very much, would also pronounce it eye-oh-lan-thee, thinks it goes well with Elodie (they are both of Greek origin) and would shorten it to Iola or Lola.

I would have thought it was pronouced Yo-Lan-thee.

I'm with squoosh on the pronounciation.

The Greek name IO is YO not eye-oh. So that's why I think it's pronounced Yo-lan-thee.

Xanthe is in a similar vein, and possibly easier to say/spell.

I like Iolanthe and Elodie lots though :)

Ooh am loving Xanthe already, thank you

I'd pronounce the "I" but I know an Iolo pronounced "yo-lo" so can see either might work.

I like it. What about Jasmine if you're still lolling at options?

I am not a fan of vowel heavy names or ones with unclear pronunciation. But I'm sure folk will get used to them.

I would say Yo-lanth, I live in Wales where the Io sound is pronounced Yo. Although I have no idea how it's supposed to be said, I'm just saying how I would read it if I was calling out that name on a register etc.

Ianthe is also similar (Greek mythology) and pronounced eye-ann-th-ee, emphasis on the 'ann'. Iolanthe, Xanthe and Ianthe are all lovely, very classical.

Re spelling out names I don't think many names can escape it; e.g. my friends Katy, Clare and Vicky constantly have to spell their names out too, in case they are mistaken for Katie, Claire or Vicki!

Poncetastic.

I love it. I also love Persephone but it would always be pronounced wrong...

I love it and would pronounce it eye-oh-LAN-thay.