Persephone

[Vivadita]

Is it a bit pretentious? Would the Greek mythology put you off?

Expecting DD2 soon and DH likes Persephone but Im worried it’s got negative connotations. DD1 is Eleanor

Meh, surely one can only judge if you're pretentious if they know you. You might be a leading lecturer at a prestigious university teaching Greek Mythology, having traced your lineage back to ancient Greece in your teens. Would Persephone still be pretentious?

Or is it only pretentious if you've found it in a baby name book and had to have Google pronounce it for you?

I think it's lovely, DH vetoed because with our regional accent it sounds less beautiful but I do know one whose about 5 now, think she's a Sephy

I like it too but as it's so long it's very highly unlikely she will ever be called it.

So in reality you're naming her an abbreviation of it, either Percy or Sephy. If you prefer one you need to take control and call her it from the start, and she would then need to introduce herself as such, but accept the other will likely slip in Ie if you like sephy there is a huge chance kids will call her Percy anyway.

I think this is the reason it's not a popular name, not because it's not a lovely name it is, but because it's so long she's unlikely to ever be called the full version.

similar to Penelope

Off topic, Persephone was the name of a boat in the Canadian show "The Beachcombers". I loved that show.

The name is lovely but, as previous pp's have said, be prepared for it to be mispronounced a lot.

I like it, but wouldn't use it.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! It’s definitely still in the running but I’m loving the suggestions of Artemis and Athena so thank you for those!

I love Persephone- beautiful and classy! A really interesting and memorable name.

What on earth does 'pretentious' even mean? Pretending to be interested in Greek literature? Pretending you are Greek?
What if you simply love the name?

I absolutely LOVE it and would seriously consider it if I were having a daughter.

I hate Percy though so that puts me off. Sephy is great though.

Love it! She might be Sephy though.

I like it and like 'Seph' as a shortening. I'm not familiar with the myth though.

I like it

Pretentious.

I love it but I don't think DP would ever go for it!

Mmmm largely positive responses here! DH will be pleased

In Noughts and Crosses Persephone goes by Sephy, which is quite nice and sounds more like a “normal” name if you know what I mean. So you could name her Persephone and shorten it to Sephy??

DH vetoed it for us but I secretly love it

I absolutely love it. I'd have called my DD Persephone but my own name is Stephanie and we felt it sounded too similar.

I love it! Along with Seraphina and Penelope. All 3 vetoed by DP, doesn’t matter anyway because we ended up having 2 boys

Oh dear. Yes, very pretentious.

I think Eleanor and Persephone sound really good together! I have a slightly kooky similar name and love that my mum was brave enough to go for it .

What's the point of naming your child Persephone but only using Sephy?

Just go for Sephy.

Nicknames are organic and are formed over time, not planned ahead.

OP I think it's lovely. Definitely not pretentious compared to some of the rubbish that always gets trotted out (esp on the boys name threads). If you like it use it.

What's the point of naming your child Persephone but only using Sephy?

Just go for Sephy

Nicknames are organic and are formed over time, not planned ahead

I don’t like Sephy, it was other posters who were suggesting it in their responses. Actually one of the things putting me off the name is the fact I know it’ll be shortened

I like it, i know of one who is now 16 she has never been called anything but her full name

I know quite a few Persephone and I love it. Not pretentious at all (at least not in the country I live in).

They either get called Seph or Persey...