Please help, we are s-t-u-c-k.

[aiti72]

Complicated question sorry, we are trilingual family trying to decide on a name for DD2. The only name we both agreed on was Xanthe, but didn't like the way it is pronounced with 'thee' at the end. Phonetically what we actually prefer is Shante (from Chantal), now we'd like to hear your opinions about the image of this name(as it is foreign to us). In my mind, by the look of it Xanthe, although meaning 'blond', could be dark, red or blond haired, but why do I have the feeling Shante is a dark girl? We are half nordic and don't want to hijack another identity, just like the sound of the name a lot! Chante looks like a fair-haired girl to me (I know I'm not making any sense), but for some weird reason too posh. Any opinions welcome, surname is short Spanish.

How would you pronounce Shante?
Shon - tay (like Chantal) or Shan - tay or something else? I think people would probably mispronounce/ misspell it unfortunately. Personally I wouldn't worry about how you think a Shante would look; your dd2 will grow into her name!

Interesting question!

Shante conjures up the image of a drak haired girl to me.

It's always fun to break the mold though. People think I will be a meek little thing in a hijab when they see my name. Then they meet me.....

I don't like Shante, I like Xanthe more. how about Thandi?? pronounced taaarrrndee. my cousin in South Africa is called it and I think it's lovely.

nordic, spanish and I presume english. what fun!! good luck.

Thandi is lovely, but it has the -ee- ending like Xanthe. Shante is pronounced Shantay and it's that wider end of the word that makes it pretty in our foreign ears. But for a pale little girl... just googled it up and apparently it's an "African-American male name"! My book claims it's a variation of the French Chantal.

LOL @ meek-little-thing, missorinoco.

Hmm, sea-shanty or shanty town came to my mind too unfortunately.

If you wanted a Nordic origin, there is a list here

what about Shanti - peace in Sanskrit, and has a decent takeup as a girl's name

Yes, I was about to suggest Shanti. Lovely name.

Shanti is an Indian name originally I think but means Peace.
What about Xante - pronounced Zan-tay?

Ashanti?
The girl's name Ashanti \a-shan-ti, ash(a)-nti\ is of Ghanaian origin. From the name of a powerful African empire (17th to early 20th century). Today, names associated with the empire bring to mind power and victory. The name is used as a surname by the Akan people of Ghana, and also in modern American black families as a link to the African past.

Jackstini, Xante(Zantay) would be perfect for us, but it got bashed here when I suggested it. Apparently it's a brand of cognac. Would be good to know how many of us know that, though..

I wouldn't have thought of cognac. I think Xante is a lovely name.

I wouldn't have know about the brandy either!

How about Xenia (zen-ya) if you don't lie the 'thee' ending on Xanthe?

It has a lovely meaning coming from the Greek concept of hospitality, or generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home...

And the only one I know has been blond and beautiful...

My cat's called Shanti. She isn't very peaceful though, sadly.

I like Xanthe alot. Shante I like less, it make me thinks of shanty towns or of Madonna singing "Om-Shanti". Isn't Xante a Greek island?

I've known a few girls called Shanti - it's quite a hippy chick name.

I would avoid any Chantal derivations (too reminiscent of that silly, silly Chantelle who went on Big Brother - the name is rather cheapened these days)

I prefer Xanthe. If you want something that works in Spanish and English (don't know abour Nordic) how about Marisa? DH has vetoed it so I'm happy to give it away.

Oh God we're getting nowhere with DP, the only two we agree between us are faddy Luna and misspelled Xante. DD1 is Kiara. Are we just making this too difficult?!

Oh Luna is sweet. Don't rule it out for faddiness.

Good to hear that, LuLuBai. I'm just thinking her as a middle aged lady sending her CV for a CFO position in a multinational company... Luna. Don't know, this is really really difficult.

Along the same lines I know an Alzena, usually called Zena - apparantly its a Cornish name, although I don't know what it means. I've also run into Xena.

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