I’ve been in love with [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] for a long time. SO isn’t crazy about it, sadly. I tried to convince him to name our cat [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] (before we found out cat was a boy) and he wasn’t keen on the idea. What do you think about the name? [name_m]How[/name_m] do you pronounce it? I’d only ever heard high-PAY-sha, but I’ve heard that in Greece it’s actually hi-pah-tee-a. Any insight on that? [name_m]How[/name_m] would you say it? Which pronunciation do you prefer? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you know any Hapatia’s? What would you think if you met one? Is the historical [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] too horrifying to use on a child? (She was murdered) Is the historical [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] what makes the name great? (She was a mathematician, philosopher and astronomer) What would you name [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f]'s siblings? Can you think of any nicknames for [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f]? Is [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] better as a middle name? I might be able to get SO on board with a middle name. Lots of questions. 
[name_m]Just[/name_m] curious to see if I’m alone in my love.
Personally, I would think it was pronounced high-PAY-she-ah.
It’s nms, but it’s not so out there that I would think you have to relegate it to GP or middle name only.
I’ve always heard it high-PAY-shah, too (which I prefer). I think it looks really beautiful, but I think it’s probably too out-there for me, personally. I can see her with siblings named [name_f]Thisbe[/name_f], [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Persephone[/name_f], [name_f]Daphne[/name_f], [name_u]Zephyr[/name_u], [name_m]Apollo[/name_m], [name_f]Zinnia[/name_f], [name_f]Zora[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m]–something along those lines. I see [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] more as FN potential, but I think it’d make a smashing middle, too. I think something like [name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] or [name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] would be phenomenal!
I don’t know any, for what it’s worth. I think there’s a [name_u]Berry[/name_u] who’s taken on the name [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] (maybe even changed her name legally to [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f]?), and if I’m remembering correctly, she’s had a positive response. I think it’s pretty rare, though.
Nicknames… [name_f]Patty[/name_f]? Maybe even [name_u]Pasha[/name_u], although I think that’s generally a nn for a guy. [name_f]Tia[/name_f] or [name_f]Pia[/name_f], maybe.
I’m not terribly familiar with the mathematician; was she a respectable person? Despite her death, is she someone you would want to name your child after? If so, then I think that [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] would be a lovely namesake in her honor. As for the way she died–of course it’s tragic. But it seems like a lot of people look at a person (or a name) for the negativity that stems from it–hesitating from [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]/[name_f]Cecile[/name_f]/[name_f]Cecily[/name_f] because it means “blind” (blind to what? I think of that as a positive meaning. If I’m blind to the effect evil could have on me, I chose to embrace good, and I chose to ignore evil. I choose not to be evil. And I think that’s lovely. It’s all in the perspective), and others hesitate from using [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] because of how she died? Why not focus more on the good she did with her life? Of course it was cut short, but it sounds like when she was living, she stood for something wonderful, and I think that’s commendable in and of itself.
I really like [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f]. I’ve mostly heard high-PAY-sha too, although in one old documentary they pronounced it more like hi-pay-sha (with a short I sound like in “sit.”) I’d be overjoyed to meet a [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f]; she’s such an amazing namesake! Her unfortunate demise doesn’t put me off the name at all; people name their kids after martyrs all the time. I like it in the first name spot, but she was such an awesome person that it’s a lot to live up to. I like it just as much in the mn spot. My favorite thing about [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] is the way it all but screams “my parents value intelligence and education!” but that comes with a slight ivory tower vibe that might be difficult to pull off.
Nicknames: [name_u]Pat[/name_u] seems obvious, but very dull compared to [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f]. [name_f]Attie[/name_f] or [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], maybe? I think you could also get away with [name_u]Pasha[/name_u] and maybe even [name_m]Pip[/name_m].
Sibling names: [name_m]Thaddeus[/name_m], [name_m]Cato[/name_m], [name_m]Isidore[/name_m], Copernicus, [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_f]Ginevra[/name_f], [name_f]Sophronia[/name_f], [name_f]Artemesia[/name_f]. Anything with a strong, smart, ancient vibe.
I don’t think it has the most pleasant sound, but that’s just a matter of taste. I like the idea of the namesake. She could be [name_u]Patsy[/name_u] or [name_f]Tia[/name_f] if she decided she didn’t like her full name.
I pronounce it as high-pay-sha 
Ooh, thank you! I actually feel more on board with using [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] after reading these comments.
I’m glad you all use high-pay-sha. Not really a fan of the other pronunciation I heard.
[name_u]Ash[/name_u], I love those sibling name ideas! [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m], oh I love that name. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was a favorite when I was little, and [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m] was wonderful. [name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] is so pretty. Yes, I think I’d give her a classic name to go with [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] if I ever used it. [name_f]Patty[/name_f] would be cute. My grandma is [name_f]Patricia[/name_f] (and it’s my middle name) so it would work as a (sort of) honor name, especially if we went with [name_f]Patty[/name_f] as a nn. I like [name_u]Pasha[/name_u], [name_f]Tia[/name_f] and [name_f]Pia[/name_f] a lot, too, and hadn’t thought of them, so thanks. Oh, and yes, I agree about looking at the positive of a name, I was more worried how other people would look at a [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f], and her death was… pretty bad. Loving your thoughts on [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] etc.
[name_f]Gwen[/name_f], yes, the ivory tower (pretention) is a concern, and I think it’s what turned SO off from the name. I love the name and the namesake both, so, meh. I suppose people can make any sort of assumption about a name. If they think we’re pretentious, that’s not really my problem. [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]… oh my gosh. Yes! I mean, it’s a bit of a stretch, but not completely insane. [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] is a family name I’ve always wanted to use. [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f], [name_m]Isidore[/name_m] and [name_f]Sophronia[/name_f]. I think I’d swoon if I met this sibset. Thank you!
Thanks to all who commented, it’s appreciated.
Oh, and bootsie, I love your avatar. Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my favorite Miyazaki movies.