Iolanthe

[justabunchofbunting]

Iolanthe. Means Violet in Greek. Also the name of a fairy who falls in love with a mortal in a Victorian opera. Pronounced eye-oh-lan-thee.

We had previously settled on Isolde but were worried that she would be called Izzy which is okay, but seeing as how Isabella and Isabel were some of the most popular girls names last year she would probably be one of many Izzys in her year.
I love the story of Isolde and think its a beautiful name.
We were thinking that even though Iolanthe is less personal to us, it is similar but has better potential for shortening. Could use Io or Lana or Thea.

Were thinking of perhaps using both names, as middle and first......... but do people think thats too over the top as they are similar to each other and both quite a mouthful?

what are peoples thoughts?

Thanks

No.

And you can't decide what nn people will use. DN's name is Deborah. People have called her Debbie all her life. She hates it.

My money would be on Io.

I love Iolanthe and Isolde. But yes, you can't dictate nicknames, they just happen. I've spent 25 years being called a nickname that just happened!

Very nice. I like both but Iolanthe just pips it. She will constantly have to spell it out though but it's a small price to pay for such a pretty name.

I don't like them together. I wouldn't use Isolde/Iseult at all because of tragic connotations but I am very superstitious and you may be more sensible

I love Iolanthe though would have to resist singing it as the only time I've heard it is in G&S.

Although it's long I don't think it's difficult to spell even for a small child, because -th- is the only digraph and that's learned very early.

Io is another Greek figure that is not so delicate and feminine. I'm sure she was turned into a cow!

Haha yes Io is not a delicate character but I suppose thats good because if my daughter decides she doesnt want to be named after a fairy she has the option of calling herself that instead!
And Lana if she doesnt like how unusual the names are.

Might use Iolanthe as the first name then....

My husband and I both have Greek names with odd spellings so it would be kind of traditional. My son doesnt however.

Good to know Iolanthe isnt too out there. I was expecting some backlash!!
To be fair though I think childrens names are quite different from what they used to be. Think it might be more unusual to find a baby called Jane or Sarah now days than it would to find an Io.
Was in the park yesterday and met an Astrid and an Ophelia!! Wouldnt have had that when I was young.

I think Iolanthe is awful, honestly.

It "looks" unattractive and sounds it too.

Isolde is better by a smidgen, but there are much better Greek names.

Isolde is German not Greek.

well its from the old English name Iseult but im not too keen on that version. Or sometimes its spelt with a Y.
I like the look and sound of the German version best.

Go for it.

I love the name Io which is a name in its own right - she was a mortal loved by Zeus. So I’d use Io as a diminutive.

I love Iseult too (not so keen on the German spelling Isolde).

Xpost

Always been disappointed by those two names. I think they look beautiful but are both really awkward to say and pronunciation will always be an issue. I want to like them more but they're not as nice as they look.

I like them both a lot but I wouldn't use them as a first name and middle name - I think that'd be too much. I like Io, particularly. They're both very linked to a specific story, though, and Iolanthe is really only ever associated with the Gilbert and Sullivan to me. Are you pronouncing Isolde - ee-zoll-duh?

yes ee-zoll-duh
I think Isolde is a more well known story? Im not sure that many people would make the Gilbert and Sullivan association would they?

Its a shame because I like the story of Isolde very much and so does my husband. It has some personal meaning to us as its also mentioned in a song which was playing the first time we met.

I think Iolanthe and Io are better names however but im not actually a fan of the Gilbert and Sullivan so I was hoping that maybe not many people would make that association?

Its a hard choice might have to resort to just picking one of them from a hat!

I’ve never heard of the name outside the G&S context so I do think most people will link it to that. And now I’ve got the music stuck in my head.

I don’t think many people will think G&S (I really can’t stand them) I just think of the Greek.

Few people in the UK will pronounce Isolde with the German ending - it will just be I zold.

A little pretentious

I think it’s too much, quite honestly. Isolde is better, Izzy notwithstanding.

How about Ianthe? Could still be shortened to Io.

Ianthe to me just sounds like Xanthe. I love the sound Iola....
I love both these names but I think they might be too much as middle and first name together... but then part of me thinks that no one ever says all their names anyway. Ive hardly ever said my middle name in my life!
I just wonder if I should use Iolanthe as the first name considering it has loads of different shortenings so could be rendered quite normal if she did indeed find it too unusual.

Someone somewhere is always going to hate whatever name I choose so we may as well choose something we love.
I dont think iolanthe is too out there as a first name, some people on here seem to like it... and mumsnet is very harsh on names in general so it cant be that crazy a name!

beverlystyle thats nice to hear! I know its not to everyones tastes but I think some people and hopefully my daughter would think it was lovely.
I think I would regret it if I didnt use it.
My own mum is always telling me how she regrets not calling me a certain name and keeps ringing me up and suggesting the most outrageous names for DD!

Which way round do you think it should be? Isolde Iolanthe or Iolanthe Isolde?

I knew a woman's called Iolanthe many years ago. I think she was perhaps part Greek. She'd be in her 70s now.
Beautiful name - unusual but a "real name". Although it's long written down, I don't think it's too long to say each time. I never knew her to shorten it or have a NN.

I wouldn’t use the two together personally - they’re from completely different mythologies and I don’t think they go together sound wise either - they have similar but conflicting vowel sounds.

If you went for Iolanthe I’d have a plainer middle name, maybe even one syllable.

Just makes me start singing Gilbert & Sullivan

I agree with Tatiana, I think you should use Iolanthe but with a different middle name.