I’ve long relegated [name]Calliope[/name] to guilty pleasure territory, but lately I’ve been wondering why. It’s a beautiful name and has a great history and meaning, so what what if it’s also something that makes carnival music? What do you think? Can [name]Calliope[/name] break free from the hurdy- gurdy connotation? Also, what middle names would you pair with it?
I think no, it should remain a guilty pleasure. It will be constantly pronounced cally-oap; if pronounced correctly the last syllable is ‘pee,’ and I think the carnival association to just too much. It’s a nice mythological namesake but just not practicable.
However a handful of baby Calliopes are born every year, so others obviously disagree. 
I have to admit that I had to look up the pronunciation of the name… Might be something to keep in mind as many people might mispronounce her name and she will be correcting them her whole life.
In theory, I think Calliope is feminine and different.
I never heard about the carnival thing, but I’m a bit of an oddball so I kind of like it, now that I know. Also, once you tell people how to say it, it won’t be an issue. I’d say go for it!
I love [name]Calliope[/name]!!
[name]Calliope[/name] Linnae
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Elaine[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Rose[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Wren[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Eden[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Quinn[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Jade[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Elise[/name]
Wow. I never would have guessed that it was pronounced that way. It doesn’t feel so far off from [name]Penelope[/name] though. And it has a usable nickname. I saw someone on Facebook with this name the other day.
I knew a Greek-American girl in college named [name]Calliope[/name], but she went by [name]Callie[/name]. I think it’s beautiful and useable. Ethnic names are going more mainstream, and I think the Greek [name]Calliope[/name] falls into that category. Good luck!
It makes me think of Cantaloupe melon for some completely unjustified reason. I agree it is lovely and I like many Greek names but what is the carnival connection? I am English and live in Australia so that is not a cultural link for me, is it a US thing?
I love it, and I think it’s close enough to [name]Penelope[/name] that people will understand how to pronounce it, and if they don’t, you correct them! And generally, you will introduce her aloud before anyone ever sees her name in written form, so I can’t imagine it coming up much. At the doctor, maybe? If you worry about teachers, just tell them about it on the first day of kindergarden.
I made the mistake of pronouncing it kuh-[name]LEE[/name]-uh-pee when I was first introduced to the character in secondary school, so do be wary of that, I suppose.
Full disclosure, I had the name on my list from the beginning, but ended up nixing it. It’s a lovely name that sounds gorgeous and spunky to me, but you do have to be brave to take the plunge (and apparently, I’m not).
Names that have a similar feeling to me: Euphrasie (French variation on Euphrasia. I generally pronounce this, yoo FRAY see), [name]Ariadne[/name] (I’m sure we’re all tired of hearing this suggestion, but it’s one of the most easily workable Greek girl names), Euryleia, Chrysanthe, Alcibie (one of the few Greek women names that I’ve run across in my studies who has an “ie” ending, so makes it work nicely when romanised), [name]Cybele[/name] (sih-buh-lee), Godelieve (a bit much, but has definitely POW factor).
I associate it with the book Middlesex. I seem to remember the protagonist (who was transgender) disliking her name, going by [name]Callie[/name]…
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Iris[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Iona[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Zora[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Willow[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] [name]Fern[/name]?
I think it is perfectly usable! It’s not any different from trying to pronounce [name]Penelope[/name] and people seem to do just fine with that.
[name]Calliope[/name] is first of all the muse to me. I might be over the average fascinated and in love with the muses though. I’m thinking of Middlesex as well. [name]Calliope[/name] on [name]Grey[/name]'s Anatomy also goes pretty exclusively by [name]Callie[/name]. The only one who calls her by her full name is her wife. [name]Every[/name] time [name]Arizona[/name] says [name]Calliope[/name] it sounds so cute and sweet and pretty and musical. I think it’s definitely useable.
Definitely useable! As has been pointed out already, people seem to cope fine with [name]Penelope[/name] - and [name]Calliope[/name] is also a million times nicer than [name]Penelope[/name], in my opinion.
A close friend of mine was brave enough to use [name]Calypso[/name]; everyone was kind of stunned at first, and now we all love it.
There was a [name]Calliope[/name] in an English class in college (it obviously stood out to me, I’ve been out of college for 20 years!). I thought it was different but pretty then and names have come along way since the '90s. I think it’s fine for you to use it if you love it. She may have to correct her name now and then, but more common names have that same problem.
Go for it!
SO very true. My name is pretty darned common and I am often called [name]Casey[/name], [name]Cassidy[/name], [name]Cathy[/name]…anything but [name]Cassie[/name]. My own grandfather called me [name]Katie[/name] lol.
I actually think it’s usable. It would definitely get an eyebrow raise if I was introduced to one, but I think it’s very refreshing and [name]Callie[/name] makes it much more approachable.
It does have the hurdy-gurdy feel to me, but honestly so does [name]Susannah[/name] and some others so. I think it’s a bit more reachable than [name]Calypso[/name].
It would definitely take brave parents and preferably in a modern, young area, but I do think it can work.
I love [name]Calliope[/name] (and the nn [name]Callie[/name]!). So yes, I believe it can break free…
I love [name]Calliope[/name]. And I love that it’s such a musical name as well. I think it’s totally usable, especially with such common nickname avaliable.
If you’re okay with it being shortened to [name]Callie[/name] (because it inevitably will be), I think it’s highly usable. A nickname would solve the pronunciation fear, as well.
I think it’s usable. I’m actually surprised that so many people think there would be a pronunciation issue. I thought calliope was a fairly well-known word. Anyway, I think the name itself is pretty and the nickname [name]Callie[/name] gives you a more mainstream name option in case down the road you find that [name]Calliope[/name] is a bit too much for day to day life.