Perdita?

[Orphlids]

I’m looking for a posh, educated person to tell me the correct pronunciation of the name Perdita. Is it PER-dit-ah, as they say in Disney’s 101 Damations, or is it Per-DEET-ah? I prefer the latter, but I admit I have no idea which is correct. How does it tend to be pronounced in performances of Winter’s Tale?

I thought it was deet in 101 Dalmatians?

I also think "the lost one".

Purdy for short.

@june2007 - that makes me think of rednecks in the US saying “pretty”. Dita could be another way of shortening it.

I know a Perdita, Lovely person, in her 30's now. Most people call her per or perdy, I don't get the sense her name is an issue at all.

I also think "the lost one"

It's a shame so many lovely names have awful meanings. My absolute favourite was Mallory, but who wants to name their child 'unlucky'?

MMMomDD, wow, you should have mentioned earlier that you are a parent and have hung out with other humans - now I realise you’re a real authority on all matters! How much more worldly than me you must be.

Forgot to say. I love it.

My dd has a Shakespearean middle name.

Educated... alongside a lot of ‘we’ll-bred’ types.

Purr-ditta every time.

But Purr-DEE-ta is a common pronunciation, in both senses

Per-ditta is the correct pronunciation.

And in defence of St Jilly of Cooper, Perdita McLeod didn't lose her virginity until she was 19 - with Red Alderton.

Asking this question kind of means you're not posh! You perceive it to be a posh name perhaps?

If you like a name just use it because you do not because you think it will show your child to be something else!

Always check the meaning of a name though.

Perdita X Nitt springs to mind

@ControversialFerret I would say I’d re-read, but that sounds exhausting!

@nopenotplaying, are you trying to insult me by suggesting that I’m what, common? Working class? My asking this question is no indication of my class, and I’m not sure why you think that’s relevant. I like the name. I want to be certain of the correct pronunciation.

Frith

Perdita is Italian for lost!

The emphasis is on the fist syllable. Per - dita

Purr-ditta. I love it. I had a much loved hamster called Perdita. She was ace. Really lovely name, go for it @Orphlids

As an Italian speaker if I had to , I would prefer Per-DEE-ta to get away from how it is said in Italian (PERdita). However, in Italian it is not used as a name and it means less but also discharge or leak. Sorry!

*loss

It means 'lost' in several Latin-based languages. That would put me off.

PURR-dih-ta

I would emphasise the first syllable

It is a lovely name, but it does have a sad meaning and this would put me off it. Sorry op - just being honest in case useful.

Is it the -ita ending you like or the whole sound, or the facts it’s Shakespearean?

I love Marianna, Helena, Rosalind etc

It sounds like tut should mean ‘ lost little girl” ?

'dita'
The name means 'lost', there's a Perdita in 'A Winter's Tale' who was born in a prison. Doesn't seem fair as it is such a pretty name.

Apropos of nothing, there's an actress, Perdita Weeks (her sister is Honeysuckle).
www.google.com/search?q=perdita+weeks&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB717GB727&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=xWnLr8CCf86wiM%253A%252CthaPSw6zwZ33cM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQ3Ft8dCF2lyHGhspGjmhz9fmAorg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwii_Y-j-pnlAhXLbsAKHWn7AR8Q_h0wH3oECAwQCQ#imgrc=xWnLr8CCf86wiM:

Sorry, lost in Italian, but Damn in Portuguese.

Pur-ditta. It was our matron's name at school.