Artemis

[Reluctantcavedweller]

Pretentious or not?

I'd say it was probably pretentious, but it depends on the associations someone pins on it. It could be a collection of letters, an ancient Greek God (I love Greek mythology) or a parent living through their child.
I talked to a lady on the bus once with her little boy and she said there was another little boy in his class with the name Ulysses. She said they have to fulfil the name really.

I think it’s only pretentious if you secretly don’t like it, but use it anyway thinking it might impress people (god knows which people). If you love it, and thus use it, there’s no element of pretentiousness. I love it. I’d be delighted to meet an Artemis. There does seem to be a bit of confusion with a lot of people about whether it’s a boy or girl’s name though.

My daughter has a name which some people probably think is a bit pretentious. I couldn’t give a shit what they think, bloody plebs.

Artemis is fine, and definitely female. A goddess's name.

There was a spread on this name a little while ago and a Greek-speaking Mumsnetter said that there was a male version - Artemios, I think.
Behind the Name website (usually fairly reliable) also suggests male versions: Artemisios, Artemius, Artemon, plus versions from languages other than Greek. www.behindthename.com/name/artemis/related

I think it’s only pretentious if you secretly don’t like it,

Really . You think there's people who choose a name for their kids that they hate?!?

Not keen at all sorry. Marmite name. But if you love it use it!

Agree that it’s no more ‘pretentious’ than Alexander or Phoebe.
Arty is a great nn

@Poppydaisies, I’ve no idea. But there’s nowt so queer as folk, so I wouldn’t be surprised. But my point was that how could the name be pretentious if it’s chosen because the parents simply love it? What’s pretentious about that? The aspect of pretentiousness would only be in the perception of others. And just because Michelle from play group thinks you’re pretentious for naming your daughter Artemis, it doesn’t mean you are. I suppose if you’re known to be a bit of a keeping up with the Jonese type, or you’re prone to bragging and airs and graces, then this perception probably wouldn’t be uncommon.

I love it - it's on our list! But we love Greece and Greek names (Athena, Thea, Xanthe are all on the list too)

I used to know a little girl called Danae which is also a very pretty name

Love it. I'm reading the Percy Jackson series with my 8 yr old - yes, I know it's not highbrow! Artemis is a strong, stoic, compassionate and driven character if those books.

😂😂

Love it.

I’d be worried about her being called Art though!

I love it, I don't think it's pretentious at all and I'd be charmed to meet a little girl called Artemis. NNs might be difficult, don't know why but Misty comes to mind as a quirky option.

I know a little girl called Artemis, goes by Arty. She suits it so well, I think it’s a lovely name and it’s on the list for this baby.

I love it but I like mythology and don't think it's at all pretentious. I had a friend with a Calliope which is also lovely.

I think it’s only pretentious if you secretly don’t like it, but use it anyway thinking it might impress people (god knows which people). If you love it, and thus use it, there’s no element of pretentiousness.
agree totally Orphlids.
of it's all for ego then it's a stupid idea.

I like the name, but I've always viewed it as a boy's name as it was the name of a male tv show character when I was little.

I love Artemis. It's at the top of my list. I really like Art/Arty/Artie as nicknames too. I've got five months to bring my other half round to the idea 😉

I quite like it and I hate a lot of names suggested on here

It's a really nice name and so much better than the more common names like Victoria, Emma, Eva etc

I think it’s absolutely beautiful. And if we didn’t already have a long foreign surname (not Greek) it would have been right up there on my shortlist, even though I don’t normally like names with more than two syllables.

I know of a teenage one - sister is Olympia.

Love it and it was on my list but my husband wasn't as keeen, We chose a different Greek name in the end! Not at all pretentious!

Thank you for all your thoughts on this! We'll leave it near the top of the list for now...

I heard it in the park a few weeks ago and thought it sounded like a cool name for a little girl.

Go for it, OP! (You secretly know that the people who consider it pretentious are a bit on the peasanty side anyway, so you don’t need to worry about what they think anyway.)