What do you think about the name [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]? [name_m]How[/name_m] would you pronounce it if you didn’t know the real pronunciation (per-sef-oh-nee)?
Any initial thoughts on the character of someone named [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]?
I love the name but when I asked my friends over text I got a lot of “Doesn’t that sound like Purse-Phone?”
I’m new to Nameberry, sorry if this sounds a bit awkward.
I like the sound of the name—very pretty, with some spunk—but I associate it with the [name_f]Queen[/name_f] of the Underworld, which is a bit morbid.
Until I learned how to pronounce it, I thought it was ‘[name_m]PER[/name_m]-seh-fone’ and wondered why people liked it.
Isn’t she only queen of the underworld half the year? I like it and know the pronounciation from my school days. As I always say with pronounciation concerns, people mess up even some of the easiest names. You shouldn’t let that alone be your deciding point.
My name is Chloé. I am much older than the wave of [name_f]Chloe[/name_f]’s that happened in the U.S. Growing up, Americans had no idea how to pronounce my name because they had never heard of it. I got called CHALK once for crying out loud. Fast forward a few decades, now everyone asks if my name is [name_f]Chloe[/name_f] win a C or K (?!?). No need to spell, let alone explain the pronunciation. So things can change. You never know.
Well I’ve always known how to pronounce it! I think it’s a lovely, pretty and delicate name with a lot of fun and spunky nicknames like [name_u]Percy[/name_u], Sephie, Sone (so-nee), [name_u]Perry[/name_u], [name_f]Effie[/name_f]/[name_f]Ephie[/name_f] etc
As for the queen of the underworld connection, it’s not a negative thing if you know the actual story. First of all, in Greek mythology the gods of the underworld werent evil, they were just unlucky and got that job. Then, [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] is only the queen of the underworld because she married Hades, the god of the underworld, originally she’s the goddess of springitime and flowers and plants!
I love [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]! I think she’s beautiful and elegant in an Ancient, slightly dark way. Somehow I’ve always known the pronunciation, despite it not being particularly obvious from the spelling, but I think it’s familiar enough that it shouldn’t be a problem. I actually really like the Greek mythology connection. I think it gives some hidden/extra depth to the name. I’d imagine a [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] to be very bright and energetic, she’d be an artist or do something creative and imaginative. She’d be a lot of f7n to be around, always smiling and laughing, and fiercely passionate.
I really like it, but I umm and arr on its usability a lot. I am fully aware of its pronunciation but I believe I read it as ‘percy-phone’ when I first came across it years ago, which I know a lot of people who haven’t come across the name before have instinctively pronounced it.
I think [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] has a dark and twisty side to it, so I envision that on whoever wears it.
I absolutely love [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]! I love the sound of it, and the mythological connection (which is actually not a bad connection to have, she just gets a bad rep)
While I’ve always known how to pronounce it, I agree that there may be some pronunciation issues. but a lot of names could be pronounced wrong. If that doesnt bother you, I think the name is beautiful.
I also love the imagery it gives me. I think a [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] would be beautiful and kind. Very artistic and creative. Loves flowers and books. Strong, and fiercely protective of the people she loves.
I know the name comes with some darkness, but that doesnt always have to be a bad thing!
If I’d didn’t know the pronunciation I’d say “per-suh-phone” (phone as in the object).
To me it has always sounded like a very upper crust, prissy and pretentious name, however, you rarely come across these big, long names in my area so it would stick out like a sore thumb and evoke such an imagery.
I knew a truly awful [name_f]Persephone[/name_f], so that’s really clouded my judgement of the name. She was a horrific bully (luckily not to me), even to much younger children in the school.
I can’t remember not knowing how to pronounce [name_f]Persephone[/name_f], because I was in primary school with this girl, but I think I would go for Purse-uh-phone or Purse-uh-phoney, if I didn’t know how to pronounce it.
I think you’ve got the vaguely negative mythological connections and the complicated pronunciation, so it’s not the easiest of names to pull off. Also, Persie/[name_u]Percy[/name_u] is the natural nickname, so if you’re not a fan of that, you’d have to work hard to combat it.
I’d like to meet a lovely [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] who could change my own personal negative connotations, but I think it is a difficult name to pull off.
Hey there! It is a bit morbid, but [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] is a goddess of the spring and considered to be very beautiful - although she was kidnapped by her husband. I’m thinking the good connotations outweigh the bad ones? Maybe I’m just being optimistic.
Thanks for your help.
Very true. Thanks for your reply, I was unsure on that subject.
I like the nickname [name_u]Percy[/name_u] a lot, actually. I’ve always preferred it to [name_f]Effie[/name_f], which sounds like a grown-up nickname for an already pretty sophisticated name, whereas [name_u]Percy[/name_u] could fit all ages. You’re probably wondering what I’m on about. I did have doubts because it was such an uncommon name.
I know what you mean on the personal negative connotations - I knew a horrible boy named [name_m]Slade[/name_m] in primary school so I recoil at the mention of the name. I always feel kind of unfair after that. Thanks for your help mate!
Before I knew a [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] I used to read it as [name_u]Paris[/name_u]-phone in my head. I think it’s a very pretty name, and with a simple correction pretty easy to pronounce. The mythological connection is quite a cool one, and she’s definitely one of the more fortunate pieces of Greek mythology, so I think that actually adds to the appeal!