Persephone / Antigone

[WittgensteinsBunny]

DH likes Persephone (Percy) and Antigone (Tiggy).

I don't know much about Greek mythology but Wikipedia tells me Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus. And some other unpleasant stuff. But I'm no expert, anyone? This makes me not so sure. Plus there's the Wooly & Tig theme tune to contend with! Although I like the name, I can't imagine using Persephone as it feels pretentious to me. Is it? I do like Percy though.

We already have a dd - Elodie; and we have boys names. Just need help with some alternative girls names:

I like:
Asta
Astrid
Freya
Beatrix

What does everyone else think?

dd2 has a friend called Persephone and everyone calls her sepphy which I think is v v nice.

I teach an Antigone, known as Anti. I like Tiggy better though, very cool nickname!

Thanks! I must admit, I do love Tiggy. It's just the story behind the name I'm struggling with.

Sepphy is nice too, though.

I would never call a child Antigone- she might read the play one day and it's not a character you would like to be named after.

Only call a girl Percy if you would call a boy Amy.

Tiggy's nice, though. Could Thalia be shortened to Tiggy?

Calliope nn poppy is mine

Ah, do not expect nice/pleasant tales from Greek mythology! There is violence in all of them! Personally, that hasn't stopped me from choosing a rare Ancient Greek name for my little girl too. I love the link to the past and to a civilisation which helped to give birth to our own - and which grappled with difficult questions about what it meant to be human and gave us such fascinating stories and characters!

So go for it! Persephone and Antigone are classic and beautiful names. Also, on a day-to-day basis they will very likely be shortened by friends and family (eg Sephy/Sephie/Percy, Tiggy) to help them become more little person appropriate.

Alternatively, astrid and Beatrix are lovely and are a bit more unusual nowadays (I think) than Freya.

Good choice names all round. (And I love Elodie!)

I actually think Persephone is gorgeous, and not pretentious at all. I can't believe that Penelope (which I hate) is so much more popular.

Antigone, not so much. It sounds sort of...negative? Like antipathy or antagonistic.

Not Antigone. Too many negative connotations. Besides, most people probably won't know how to pronounce it and will read it as Auntie-gonn.

Persephone (Per-SEFF-o-nee) is nice, though still has the potential for mispronunciation (Percy-phone). I've never met a Persephone. I'd use Seffy/Sephy as a nickname.

How would you feel yelling "Persephone!!!!!" across the park? I think I might feel a bit of a tit.........

Sorry I don't like either of those names, too different and not spelled like you say them. Why not just call her Tiggy?

hak this is my point! We live in an area where it would be totally acceptable. BUT I don't know how comfortable I feel. Hmm. And you're all absolutely right to point out the horrid story behind Antigone. On another note, I do hate the idea of a child having to correct everyone as to the pronounciation / spelling of their name. DHs family had to be corrected over Elodie, which we thought was fairly self explanatory (apparantly not, they were like E-loud-y is very unusual and then oh El-o-dee, actually very pretty!!)

Maybe to back to my list...

If you like Tiggy why not name her BC Tiggy? I know a BC Bertie, Kitty...

Could be a nn for Teagan or Tegwen.

Thisbe is another nice name. Yes, it sounds a little like Frisbee but its a beautiful name. She's a nice character with a tragic end but no more so than Juliet and the two are basically the same character

Lots of very popular names don't have nice meanings - Amelia for example. You will get over it if you love the name.

Probably missing the bleeding obvious but what does bc mean?

Persephone is a beautiful name, I don't actually like the inevitable shortened versions though. Her story isn't all bad, she is invoked to find true or new love, to enhance beauty and for a quiet painless death.
Not too keen on Antigone really. Tiggy's nice though.

""Thisbe is another nice name. Yes, it sounds a little like Frisbee but its a beautiful name."

This has to be one of my favourite Mumsnet lines ever

I'm trying to think of names that could be shortened to Tiggy. Thalia, Tessa, Agatha- all a bit of a stretch.....

Just noticed Astrid on your list. That shortens to Tiggy with a bit if imagination.

'BC' obviously means 'before Christ'. So, 'Before Christ Tiggy' or 'Before Christ Bertie'.

Just kidding, I'm guessing it means 'birth certificate' (i.e. not just as a nickname)

Just remembered, I know an Elodie with a sister called Anise.

If you wanted to keep the Greek theme have you considered Thea / Theia.

Titan goddess daughter to the earth and sky and mother of the sun, moon and dawn.

thanks koala

Tegan is nice: Elodie & Tegan. Plus it's welsh and there is welsh blood on DHs side and it means "pretty and fair" and could be Tiggy.

I'm not sure about Thisbe. Can you imagine the This be... xx jokes she would endure!!

How about Anais?

I'd be careful with Greek names. Greeks don't often use names from mythology. They like to stick to religious names although I love Eloutheria (freedom).

Anthea?

I don't think you should pick a nickname that you like and try to work backwards. I think it will sound a bit stilted.

I'd go with your name choices OP (not your husband's) if you have so many concerns around his ideas.

Persephone is gorgeous

I love the name Persephone, and I think it's usable as it sounds similar to Stephanie. I can see why you think it's pretentious though and if you're going to feel like a tit calling it out then you're best to avoid it. Antigone is too over the top to me and it's not the prettiest sounding name either.

I like Astrid, Beatrix and Freya off your list. Elodie and Astrid I think sound really good together.