See the results of this poll: Antonia or Persephone
Respondents: 67 (This poll is closed)
- Antonia Eloise : 51 (76%)
- Persephone Eloise: 16 (24%)
This was really close for me. I like them both.
I adore the nickname [name]Annie[/name], but [name]Antonia[/name] wins it for me on the full name. It’s just that little bit more intuitive, and the way I say [name]Persephone[/name], I don’t hear the ‘annie’ bit, it’s more ‘oh-nee’. [name]Antonia[/name] [name]Eloise[/name] flows better than [name]Persephone[/name] [name]Eloise[/name] too. I guess it depends on your accent, but I think [name]Antonia[/name] [name]Persephone[/name] <Park> works fine as a combo. Yes both names are long but with a one-syllable surname I think you can get away with it. Unless you’re completely set on [name]Eloise[/name] as a middle, that is.
Oh, and about the Italian thing: The only little [name]Antonia[/name] I’ve met was an adorable little thing who was in no way Italian, and I think it would work absolutely fine on a mixed race child. I don’t foresee any confusion at all.
I voted on the poll! It’s 50/50 so far.
I really like [name]Persephone[/name] but I don’t think the nickname [name]Annie[/name] works for it. [name]Antonia[/name] is great for a mixed-race girl, it’s one of those names that’s exotic without really being tied down to one nationality. [name]Persephone[/name] is very much recognizable as greek, so I think [name]Antonia[/name] wins on that front. [name]Antonia[/name] also flows better with [name]Eloise[/name].
As tempted as I am by the initials PEP (so peppy!) [name]Antonia[/name] is too beautiful to pass up. The double vowels in both [name]Antonia[/name] and [name]Eloise[/name] give the name continuity, as does the eccentric ladylike elegance of both names. [name]Persephone[/name] is beautiful too, but a completely different animal than [name]Eloise[/name].
[name]Both[/name] names are beautiful, but I went with [name]Antonia[/name]. The nickname [name]Annie[/name] is so so cute! Congratulations on your new baby!
I love both names, but [name]Antonia[/name] is better all-around in this case. Nickname [name]Annie[/name] works great (doesn’t at all for [name]Persephone[/name] IMHO.) Flows much better with middle name [name]Eloise[/name]. No PP initials. And it has a much better meaning. Also, [name]Persephone[/name] is undeniably Greek. [name]Antonia[/name] is exotic in a global sort of way. It’s not just Italian; it’s used in Spanish, English, [name]German[/name], Polish, Swedish, Dutch, etc. I think it’s perfect!
I like [name]Persephone[/name], but I’m not buying it with the other details you shared. I just don’t see [name]Annie[/name] as a short form of [name]Persephone[/name]? Except for that partial rhyme at the end? Too much of a stretch for me.
I also don’t think anyone would blink at a mixed race girl named [name]Antonia[/name]. As the above poster said, it’s “exotic in that global sort of way,” where it feels like she could be from anywhere.
I also personally dislike alliteration, so that tips it to [name]Antonia[/name] as well. While [name]Persephone[/name] [name]Eloise[/name] P___, might have a nice flow, [name]Persephone[/name] P___ (what it will most often be) has the potential to be very cartoony. Especially with an unusual/mythological name like [name]Persephone[/name].
[name]Antonia[/name] for sure.
It sounds best with [name]Eloise[/name] and a P surname, and it really lends itself to the nickname [name]Annie[/name]. Plus, it’s gorgeous!
I wouldn’t worry about [name]Antonia[/name] causing confusion or being too Italian. It’s used in English, Spanish, [name]German[/name], Dutch, Polish, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian. It’s a very international name.
[name]Velvet[/name] - this is too funny since we have the same due date. I just sent an email to my best friend yesterday that [name]Antonia[/name] was one of my favourites (nickname [name]Annie[/name], as well) but probably not actually in my running for this baby (it just gets bumped in favour of more prevelant family names and better middle name options). I think it’s pan-European and classic, just gorgeous. I find [name]Persephone[/name] just trying to hard a bit for my personal taste but people say that about my names, any way!
[name]Antonia[/name], all the way.
I like [name]Persephone[/name] but [name]Antonia[/name] wins the poll for me! I like its meaning much better and it flows well with [name]Eloise[/name] as a mn. [name]Antonia[/name] is a multi-cultural name that would be fine for a mixed race child. It has history, it’s strong and elegant.
I adore [name]Antonia[/name]. It’s sleek, urbane, continental in the true sense (pan-national really). It has a gorgeous upper-crust vibe. Obviously with a son called [name]Antoine[/name] I could never use it, but it’s been a long-time favorite. I don’t think it rings particularly Italian and if the middle name is set in stone as [name]Eloise[/name], it sounds much better than [name]Persephone[/name] which ends with the same sound as [name]Eloise[/name] begins with.
I prefer [name]Antonia[/name].
Thank you all for your advice. It seems [name]Antonia[/name] is the clear favourite, which makes me happy because it confirms my gut instinct. It has everything I’m looking for in a name. However, with this resolved, I’m now guaranteed to have a boy. 