Persephone

[Mearabade]

My cousin just named her baby daughter 'Persephone'

What do you think. It's a bit out there. I know she wanted a long feminine and unusual name. I think it's nice but it's a bit long.

It's a bit of a mouthful. She's already calling her by the nickname 'Seph'.

There's a little Antigone at my daughter's school - I think it's beautiful!

I have heard her referred to as aunty-gone though which isn't quite as beautiful.....

Wonder if they bought it from my own cat's kitten and kept the temp' name I gave her 😻
I think for a little girl Calliope/Kalliope is nicer.
Still Greek 🇬🇷

Antigone has a very harsh sound to it.

Wow that’s so nasty! It’s really not that strange a name! It’s an actual real name.

Those mums are obviously horrible.

It's not a strange name.

But realistically I think that some people would think it's a bit of a pretentious name.

I don't like it, but mainly because perse means arse in Finnish. Hope she doesn't visit there 😅

I know a Persephone and she is a lovely now 11 year old!

when she was born I was surprised as I’d never heard the name used but now hearing it more.

But realistically I think that some people would think it's a bit of a pretentious name.

I suppose some people might. To be honest, I thought Mylene Whatsherface was a bit of a dick for calling her son Apollo, but that's mainly because her music was so shit.

Isn't it funny how some names with similar origins have been used more frequently through the years and sound completely normal e.g Penelope or Imogen, but others seem less familiar and possibly pretentious?

🤣

Can’t stand it. I think it’s pretentious and ugly.

Stunning and secretly one of my favourite names, with cute nn choices too- but personally I think she’s pretty brave to use it (as imo she’d better hope her DD grows into an outgoing, beautiful/ethereal type woman - as personally I think there’s a definite image for an uncommon Greek Goddess name like Persephone, it’d be hard to imagine on shy, dumpy, girl next door types like me).

It's very pretty, but she might get teased at school? Distinct possibility of being called Purse by her friends.

Beautiful name. Well done your cousin.

Again, I don’t think she will. Greek mythology is very ‘in’ just now still. And if she goes to the type of school where Greek is an option or where the parents are well read / educated, then it won’t raise any eyebrows.

How is it a mouthful?

It's only one syllable more than Stephanie, Natalie, Beatrice, Miriam, Caroline, Rebecca, Eleanor, Patricia, Annabel, Isobel, and many more.

Same number of syllables as Alexandra, Olivia, Elizabeth, Penelope, Anastasia, Ophelia, Octavia, Leonora, Amelia, Isabella, Victoria, Cecelia, and hundreds more.

What makes a name "pretentious"?

I absolutely love it - I think it’s because of the Noughts and Crosses series and I always loved the nickname Sephy. I could never have used it though - we live in an area where ‘Pepsi’ and ‘Diesel’ are more ’normal’ names than Persephone.

Couldn't agree more. Percy for a girl is adorable.

Lovely name which they will grow into.

Brother named Gulliver? 😉😂

I think it's lovely, but yes does need a short version! Seph is nice

It’s quite a ‘showy’ and flamboyant name I guess. People often make snap judgements on a name… there are a few in this thread already!
As someone else said, it’s certainly a marmite name.
If you like it, fair game… but it’s not a name I would choose. I’d certainly not laugh at a child with the name… incredibly rude and mean.

I love it. It's gorgeous. I love a name with a bit of history, of gravity. My favourite is Artemis but Aphrodite, Callista and all those are wonderful too.

Does your cousin know you're seeking opinions on her newborn's name online, while declaring it a mouthful?

Queen of the Underworld