How do you pronounce Iolanthe?

Girl Names
1

I’ve seen yo-lan-thee, yo-lan-thuh, ee-oh-lan-thee, eye-oh-lan-thee…

What is your first instinct if you see [name_f]Iolanthe[/name_f], and does anyone know which pronunciation is actually correct?

Thank you!

2

Upon reading it, I pronounced it ee-oh-lan-thay, but I don’t have any idea what is correct

3

Thanks addisoncar!

Anyone else?

4

It’s said [name_f]YO[/name_f]-lan-thee I think.

I like it a lot, it sounds like a mix of [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] and [name_f]Yolanda[/name_f]. It also reminds me of Yolandi from Die Antwoord haha.

5

I say eye-oh-LAN-thee. The ‘yo’ is an English ellision.

It’s a great name and [name_m]Byron[/name_m]'s daughter but the pronunciation is tough. I’m a huge fan of Greek Es and was hoping that the [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] wave would familiarize it to the non-onomastic world.

6

I say eye-oh-lan-thee; I really don’t like the [name_f]Yo[/name_f], sound in [name_f]YO[/name_f]-lan-thee, but the name’s lovely! I’m a huge fan of -anthe names. I’m not entirely sure of the correct pronunciation (sorry).

7

Thanks for the feedback! I can’t decide if I prefer yo-lan-thee or eye-oh-lan-thee pronunciation!

8

I always pronounce it eye-oh-lan-thee but I’ve no idea what’s correct!!

9

I say [name_f]Yo[/name_f]-LAN-thee.

10

Considering the Greek for [name_f]Iris[/name_f] is ‘ee-ris’, (Pronunciations for ἶρις (from Ἶρις ἦν τῶν θεῶν κῆρυξ. to Ἶρις ἦν τῶν θεῶν κῆρυξ.)) I think I’d pronounce this ‘ee-oh-lan-thee’.

[name_f]EDIT[/name_f]:: I realised if I say ‘ee-oh’ quickly it sort of blends into ‘yo’. Hmm. Perhaps that’s how the English pronunciation came about?

11

yo-LAN-thee, but it’s kind of a slurred “ee-oo” which becomes “yo”…

12

Thanks [name_u]Ren[/name_u], that really helps get to the bottom of the pronunciation!

13

English speakers: “eye-oh-LAN-thee” or “yo-LAN-thee”
Greek: “ee-oh-lan-thee”

14

eye-oh-lan-thee