I tend to hate the letter X, but for some reason [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] is really growing on me! I actually just suggested it to my sister for her next baby, but if she doesn’t like it I’m considering adding it to my own list.
In doing some research, though, the SSA shows that [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] has never been in the top 1000, which makes me wonder how non-berries would react to that name. Would it seem bizarre and made-up to someone who doesn’t frequent name websites?
I know a little one online. Some might not the history of it or that it is legitimate, but it is completely usable in my opinion.
I wish I could say I see it as usable, but I don’t. I think the spelling and pronunciation will be a problem for a lot of people, and one of my cardinal rules is a name should be easy to spell and say, especially if it isn’t familiar or recognizable at first glance. I’m also not a huge fan of unisex names, but that’s just my style. Finally, I tend to like names that potentially have nicknames - not as a rule, but probably half of my boys names and more than half of my girls names come with an obvious possible nickname, and whether or not I would use them, I like that my children would have the option.
I think it’s extremely usable - it’s at the top of our list for a girl ([name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] [name_f]Ada[/name_f]). I think it’s mostly just not well known yet - I fully expect it to be the [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] of 30-50ish years from now.
I think that in this day and age [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] is becoming more and more usable. It’s a new name crush of mine also and although I don’t know any [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]'s personally, there’s a Dr. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] (Surname) on a relatively new TV show here in Australia (I’m pretty sure you’re in Aus, but for the other berries…) called Wanted. I also spotted a birth announcement for a Xanthippe earlier in the year.
I really like [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] and think it will grow in popularity due to [name_m]Xander[/name_m], [name_f]Xena[/name_f], [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] and Xi. If you are concerned about spelling, you could spell it more phonetically-- Zanthie or something, but I think it looks prettier as [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]. There are also some similar sounding Greek names-- [name_f]Iolanthe[/name_f], [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f], [name_f]Dianthe[/name_f]-- maybe one of those would appeal to you more if you don’t like the X.
I love this name as well but as soon as I mentioned it to a friend she said, “like Xanax??” so…that is kind of killing it for me right now, but maybe I’ll get over it. I’m sharing just in case you haven’t considered it and it might bother you.
Not useable, people would be confused on how to pronounce it and it looks ridiculous in print.
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] is definitely usable-I know a [name_f]Xanthia[/name_f], and her name suits her quite well. And nobody looks at her and goes ‘[name_f]Xanthia[/name_f]? Is that even a name?’ So yeah, its usable.
I think it is completely usable.
At first when I encountered the name on here I was like “say what?”… but now I’ve grown accustomed to it and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] seems like a totally normal name. It actually struck me as a variant of [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] for some reason, as I think it is reminiscent of it.
I may not add the name to my list, but I certainly don’t hate it and the name is totally normal now (to me).
And yes there are names that have never grown on me like [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]… I still do not see the appeal beyond a geriatric facility.
I know one. It seems usable to me. It’s no harder in print than [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] or [name_f]Chloe[/name_f] and people manage those just fine.
I quite like it. But my current favourite idea for it for my own usage is the combo [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]. Not because I’m hiding it in the middle but because I find it a really amazing pairing. [name_f]Jane[/name_f] gets a bad rap as dull. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] has a bit of sexiness to it, but isn’t at all made-up or modern. And the whole thing packs a whale of a punch for 3 syllables total.
And I should say that it’s hardly hiding it for me, as I USE middle names. 
Ok, new question:
Is the spelling Xanthi acceptable? I hate creative spellings, but Xanthi is a city in Greece, so it’s a real name of something, but i assume in Greek it’s pronounced differently than Greek name [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]…but i live in the west US so would Xanthi make more sense to pronounce here?
The more i say this name the more i like it. I can see it working really well with my other names.
I think it’s usable, but it sounds to me like a superhero/supervillain name. Have you considered [name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] or even [name_f]Iolanthe[/name_f]? Two of my favorites that don’t have that overpowering X but have that lovely Greek feel.
Edited for privacy.
amelia you have a real live person here who has the most gorgeous granddaughter named Xanthe. It is a brilliant name and so easy to say with lots of personality and cutting edge style for the name conscious and also incorporating that trendy Z sound that so many people like. It is a definite winner and our little blonde darling suits her name so go ahead use it you will not be sorry and it stands out from the crowd in the best possible way. We have no pronunciation problems her sister is named Chloe and I have never heard of anyone not knowing how to pronounce Chloe and so it will be with Xanthe.
rollo
PS I think our Xanthe now 3 y.o. was the first Xanthe on nameberry - Xanthe Paige
PS 2 Please don’t spell it as Xanthi that doesn’t look good but if you want a variant go with Xanthia which is a pretty name ie Zan thea
PS3 It is not an unisex name as stated by a previous poster it is all girl, Xanthe from Greek mythology was one of Neptunes daughters
Thanks, guys!!
I’m really loving this name the more i look at it. X usually feels like a letter that’s trying too hard, but in [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] it seems sweet.
I’m loving it in combination with [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], especially
I already told you my whole speel on the name and Xanthi. But for everyone elses benefit, I’ll post it here.
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] and Xanthi are pronounced the same. They are both written as ξάνθη . That n looking thing on the end is an ETA which is pronounced with the long EE sound. It is translated as I frequently in english and as is the case in 99% of Greek names ending in E as an E. Some examples – The E at the end of [name_f]Daphne[/name_f], [name_f]Persephone[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], [name_f]Chloe[/name_f] are all ETA. The E in [name_f]Helena[/name_f] is not which is why they are said differently.
My issue is that [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] is so similar to [name_f]Daphne[/name_f]/[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] etc that there’s no reason people can’t get the pronunciation easily. Xanthi would likely be the one that gets mispronounced as [name_m]ZAN[/name_m]-thigh (as a previous poster said).
Also, [name_m]Rollo[/name_m], [name_u]Neptune[/name_u] isn’t Greek. That’s a [name_m]Roman[/name_m] name. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] isn’t the daughter of [name_u]Neptune[/name_u] at all. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] refers to 3 different people in mythology:
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] [name_f]Terra[/name_f] is also a piece of land on [name_m]Mars[/name_m].
That was for the OP too, since she loves this name, not just because I feel a burning need to correct mythology whenever I see it misquoted as it’s my religion 
Also, Rollo, I notice you have a new avatar. It’s really nice. 
I think it’s usable, but I think you might encounter some pronunciation issues from time to time with this one. It’s a pretty name.
I maybe a minority here, but I don’t see how there would be any pronunciation issues with [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f].
It is very lovely.