I’ve got a bit of a problem at the moment, my best friend from childhood has recently announced she’s having a baby girl, and we’ve had the same slightly eclectic taste in names for years, we’re very close and she’d like my opinion on some of the names she’s thinking of using, as the father is no longer in the picture.
Her favourite name is [name]Persephone[/name], she will only use it for a first name. I love [name]Persephone[/name] but I know that like [name]Pandora[/name] it doesn’t have the best mythology behind it, and it’s a bit weird.
I guess I’d just like some opinions so I can gauge the public opinion seeing as I’m biased.
I can see the appeal of [name]Persephone[/name], and I do think it has a lot of versatile nns ([name]Percy[/name] and Sephie are the only two I can think of atm, but I’ve heard a lot of others mentioned!), but it’s just too much name and too much Greek mythology for me! I think most people who aren’t huge name fans will think it’s really weird.
I just asked my two little sisters (both teenagers) what they would think if they met a [name]Persephone[/name]… they are interested in names, but not quite to the extent that I am (and granted, I’ve seen it enough on name boards to warm up to it a bit). My youngest sister groaned and rolled her eyes and pretended to choke, lol. And my middle sister wagged her finger at me and said, “[name]PERSEPHONE[/name]? Like, not even [name]Per[/name]-[name]Stephanie[/name]?! NEVER do that… I can think of way too many ways to make fun of a kid with that name in less than 30 seconds!” They obviously don’t have as much tact as most Berries do, haha, but I figured the info would be helpful. I’m not sure how a [name]Persephone[/name] would be made fun of, unless it’s just because it’s a weird name…
I’m with annie85. I actually know a real-life [name]Persephone[/name] (not well). She is a well-adjusted woman in her 30s…if she hates her name, she didn’t let on in any brief interaction with me. She’s a friend of a friend and my friend has never said anything negative about her name, although my friend’s, you know, a mature adult : D. I have to say, it was refreshing to meet someone with that name, and I immediately got the reference. But of course, not everyone would.
I think one thing to consider is the potential for “phoney” teasing, it looks sort of like purse-phone to the uninitiated. And of course, to the initiated, it is in fact rather tragic. There just aren’t a lot of great nickname possibilities that I see. Maybe [name]Percy[/name]?
Tell her what you think…you can discourage her from it while still being gentle and respectful if that’s what you feel you need to do.
What about…[name]Penelope[/name], [name]Phoebe[/name], [name]Sephora[/name], [name]Seraphina[/name], [name]Persis[/name]?
PS I’ve had friends consider (and use) names I don’t really care for, and when they’ve asked my opinion I try to state my case while stating what I think is positive about the name, and emphasizing that once the baby’s here I certainly will be so excited about the baby that any disagreement I have won’t matter (which is true : D). That seems to get a good response. Good luck.
Honestly? It’s probably my most least favorite name. I actually like the nn [name]Percy[/name] that was mentioned earlier. Maybe you are grieving the loss of the name more so because now you cant use it. We always want what we can’t have I’m sure when you have a daughter you wil find many more names and the perfect one will become positively clear. In the meantime you can enjoy having a little girl in your life who’s mother is close to you with a name you love.
[name]Persephone[/name] will be the name of my first daughter, so of course I love it. I think it has a beautiful sound and a cute nickname of Sephy. I know that most people only think of the bad part of her mythology, but you also have to remember that [name]Persephone[/name] is the [name]Goddess[/name] of Springtime and without her, the world would be a barren place. If she were never allowed to come back to earth, her mother, [name]Demeter[/name], would have made the earth a wasteland. [name]Persephone[/name] brings life, springtime, beauty…Hades allowing her to come back to earth is a touching moment in the story, it shows he has a heart, even though he goes about things wrong. He got the short end of the stick and learned that when he wanted something, he had to take it.
[name]Just[/name] remember, without [name]Persephone[/name], we wouldn’t have spring, we would have a wasteland. She’s a beautiful name, flowing and lovely.
I love the name [name]Persephone[/name]. As the previous poster stated, while the story behind it is tragic, the name can also be associated with the coming of [name]Spring[/name]. Another association that comes to my mind is the live-giving harvest.
I like [name]Persephone[/name], BUT I think its just too much name. Great in theory, but hard for a little girl to carry and quite formal sounding. I like the idea of it, but would never use it.
I have to agree with dantea & frustratedauthor - the associations I have with the name are positive and uplifting. Mythology behind a name makes it all the more special to me - I’m not in the camp of any name really being “too much”. Frankly, I’d rather carry a big name than be lumped in with a bunch of girls named [name]Elle[/name]/[name]Ella[/name]/[name]Belle[/name]/[name]Bella[/name]/[name]Emma[/name]/etc. However, I totally understand that some people don’t feel that way.
[name]Persephone[/name] is a great name - it rolls of the tongue. I prefer the nickname ‘Persie’.
I’m sure when you have a daughter you wil find many more names and the perfect one will become positively clear. In the meantime you can enjoy having a little girl in your life who’s mother is close to you with a name you love.