Full disclosure: I’m not considering this name, but was thinking about it today and just wanted to see what other berries think about it/thinking maybe we should get it added to the database.
A lot of Greek goddess names, and old Greek names in general, have started to see a revival in usability, if not popularity. Athena, Persephone, Artemis, Calliope, Greek names like Penelope, Phoebe, Ione, Bronte, Ariadne, Agnes, Hermione, you get the idea.
It isn’t in the database here on Nameberry, but Mnemosyne (neh-moss-eh-nee or neh-mozz-eh-nee) is the name of the Greek goddess of memory.
I think a few reasons why this hasn’t taken off are the silent M, the spelling not seeming very phonetic to the average english speaker, and the relation between the name and words derived from it (like Mnemonic.)
All that being said, I do find it to be a pretty name and wonder if it’s possible to pull off in the current naming climate?
So I wanna see my fellow berries weigh in, is Mnemosyne usable?
Is it purely a guilty pleasure name? A bold middle? Something you’d consider using as a first name?
It reminds me of the greek word ‘mnemosyno/μνημόσυνο’ (though it is pronounced differently), which means memorial/funeral, so iam not a fan. I can only see it as a gp.
I tend to have a rather bold naming style, and don’t tend to shy away from names that others might find “out-there.” I bring this same approach to the advice I give: If you love it, go right ahead and use it. Mnemosyne is absolutely gorgeous: [name_f]Melodic[/name_f], mythological, and distinctive. I would love to meet a young woman with this name, and would definitely consider using it as a first or middle. If both [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] are popular, then why not this name? People are going for a wider, bolder variety of names today, and this fits right in with that trend. It also makes a perfect sister to [name_m]Archimedes[/name_m].
I love the feedback so far. I had a feeling this is a name that would get quite a mix of opinions and with only a few replies that has already been the case.
Another question for folks: nickname Ideas for Mnemosyne? So far I’ve thought of [name_m]Nemo[/name_m] and Mossy.
I think the sound is very pretty, but I do worry it will get mispronounced and misspelled constantly. However, I like the origin quite a bit and agree that plenty of other mythological names are usable. I think it might make a better middle name than first, but wouldn’t consider it unusable.
For other nicknames, I would suggest [name_m]Moe[/name_m], [name_f]Sen[/name_f]/[name_f]Senna[/name_f], Nenny, [name_m]Nim[/name_m], [name_f]Em[/name_f], or [name_f]Emmy[/name_f].
That’s exactly why I think the name hasn’t picked up traction the same way other Greek mythology names have. The light bulb kinda goes on after the pronunciation gets explained, but up until that point there’s any number of guesses.
Opening with a silent letter at the beginning or ending in a tricky -yne most of us can work around individually, but both together is a struggle.
Unfortunately, the comments listed already in this post are valid in that pronunciation and spelling are vastly unfamiliar to most - unfortunate because it’s such a lovely name! Personally, I’ve always loved [name_m]Nim[/name_m] as a nickname, so that’s be my favourite option though [name_m]Nemo[/name_m] is sweet too.
I think it could work well (though probably better as a middle) especially for you with your little [name_m]Archimedes[/name_m].
Visually, it looked like “mayonnaise” to me at first. They’re not super similar but at first glance that’s what I saw.
The sound is pretty but the spelling is just too much and too confusing. I think it’s too over the top and would cause more trouble than a name might be worth.
Unless you’re in Greece, I’d avoid this one. As nice as the meaning is, it just seems too difficult to pronounce if you’re just looking at the spelling, & too difficult to figure out the spelling from hearing the name said out loud. At least for me, a lot of Greek names are reasonably easy to figure out how to say, but not this one…I can see people coming up w/"[name_f]Em[/name_f]-NEE-moh-sign."
Did I ghost wrote this was my first reaction when I saw the title lmao - I love Mnemosyne and I was thinking of using it as a character name actually! I love the idea of fem! Malfoy but I never can find the right name and Mnemosyne was one of the names I considered for her, I think Mnemosyne is only usable as a bold middle name.
Well it’s one of those names that will always gets mispronounced and you’d always have to explain it, but there are many other names out there who are being used all the time that also have to do that. If you love it then I think it’s worth it.
It is a beautiful name
By the way I’m not from a English speaking country, so I might not be the right person to evaluate wether it’s usable or not
I do really like it but it’s definitely one that people would have trouble with. Some people have trouble with my children’s names but they are fairly straightforward, so most seem to get it right first time. I think too many people would have trouble with Mnemosyne, though. I’d reserve it for the middle spot, personally.
Feels like the general consensus is that it can work as a bold middle name! I’d say that’s usable enough to get it added to the database. I feel like there is a thread in one of the forums for that but I can never find it?
Agree! If we start recommending it for a middle name, eventually people will become familiar with it. I think all names should be added to Nameberry. Usability shouldn’t be a consideration.
I had no idea how to prounce the name. It does sound pretty, though.
By the way, I love [name_m]Archimedes[/name_m]. I enjoy reading your replies. They are always so thoughtful and insightful.
That is a fair point, plenty of names that most people wouldn’t consider usable are in the database so that isn’t any real reason not to add names that haven’t found there way here yet. Maybe I should just start a new thread in the name talk forum for that purpose? I think one already exists but I haven’t been able to dog it up. And thank you! We really love our son’s name and are happy we stuck with it despite family comments while I was pregnant. (Eveyone is cool with the name now and doesn’t that just figure?)
I’m a grandparent and wasn’t fond of my third grandchild’s name, [name_m]Archer[/name_m]. (I never told his parents that) Once I saw his little face, though, I loved him and his name. I just didn’t want people to call him [name_m]Archie[/name_m]. Once a name is associated with someone you love, I think the name appeal grows significantly.
