Xanthippe

Is this a usable name?
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] was on our list with our daughters but now I feel like it fits with our sons name (Casper) but not really with the girls (Seraph1na and P0meline).
Then I found [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f]. I like it but is it completely unusable? Is it pronounceable?
How do you pronounce it?
What nicknames would you use?

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I really like [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f]! I would say ZAN-tip-ee or ZAN-thi-pee. I think it’s easy enough for people to learn to pronounce it, and it sounds pretty with your other names.

[name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f] is bright and interesting. I do prefer [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] (and I think it goes with P and S) but [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f] could work.

I’d pronounce it zan-thip-ee

[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f], [name_f]Zippy[/name_f], Xana, as nicknames maybe?

I actually like [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] with your daughters’ names! It’s sweet and a bit offbeat like them, the only real difference is being shorter which doesn’t really seem like an issue to me.

That said, yes, I think [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f] is usable! I’d be quite surprised to hear it on a non-Greek baby considering that it’s extremely rare even in Greece, but I believe it does work! I can’t help you on the pronunciation (since I’m Greek and I’d just pronounce it the Greek way) but [name_u]Xan[/name_u], [name_u]Sunny[/name_u], Xaxa (like Zaza) and Tippy could be cute nicknames.

Zan-thip? I like it, but it’s kinda out there.

I think [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] is fine with the others! I say Ks-an-thip-ee or Zan-thip-ee

Maybe Zani for a nickname?

I’d instinctively say ZAN-thih-pay, but I think it fits well with your daughters’ names!

That being said, I think [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] goes just as well, and from what I know [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f] has a bit of a negative connotation due to her connection as being Socrates’s wife. Here’s an excerpt from wikipedia:

ā€œthe term ā€œXanthippeā€ has now come to mean any nagging scolding person, especially a shrewish wifeā€

I wouldn’t let that turn you off of the name, but just know that the most famous one does not have the best connotations :frowning:

It’s worth remembering that [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f] is used to refer to the archetypal shrewish woman. [name_f]My[/name_f] instinct would be to pronounce it ZAN-thi-pee, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was zan-THIP-ee. The Unbreakable [name_f]Kimmy[/name_f] Schmidt had a bad-tempered teenager called [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f] - she was nicknamed [name_u]Xan[/name_u] (Zan). I think [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f] works with [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] and [name_f]Pomeline[/name_f], but not with [name_m]Casper[/name_m].

I’m not sure. I’m usually the first one to say that almost any name is usable, but it’s heavily associated with the stereotype. Personally I’d say no, that’s too much as first name. It could make a nice middle name, maybe.

I pronounce it xan-TEE-peh, but I think in [name_f]English[/name_f] most people would probably go with zan-TIP-pee.

[name_u]Xan[/name_u] or [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] would be my go-to nickname

I’d assume Zan-thip-ee but without really knowing. I would use Xanthe, Zanna, Zippy, Tippy or Pop/Pippy/Pippa as nicknames. I like it and it’s usable in principle but it’s seems much heavier on a child given the stereotype above, but also just the difficulty with pronunciation, than Pomeline and Seraphina (so it may not be equitable within a family and a similar context). I wouldn’t use it, if it were me.

If it helps, I think a name like Araminta, Andromeda, Ambrosia, Theodosia, Amaryllis, Cornelia, Olympia or Hermione (and others I’m sure) would work if you want something lengthier than Xanthe- with some of the same letters and sounds. :sparkles:

I think [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] goes well with your children’s names. I wasn’t aware of the stereotype associated with [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f], and I don’t know how known the association is so I’d choose not to comment. On it’s own, though, [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f] seems nice with S, P & C.

BTN tells me Xanthia/Xanthea is a possible variant, although I am not sure how legit it is, but you might want to look into/consider it? Other options include Ianthe/Iolanthe, [name_f]Evanthe[/name_f], Clianthe/tha, Myrianthe, Arianthe.

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I think [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f] is very interesting, bold, magical choice that looks brave and full of drama. I think for I would pronounce her [name_u]Zan[/name_u] tip ee which is a very fun zingy name to say. I feel the name is useable and personally I haven’t heard of the stereotype. However I prefer [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] I think she’s sweet, feels more intuitive pronunciation wise and has a more ā€˜approachable’ magical feel. I actually think [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] works wonders with your kiddos names.

Suggesting [name_f]Ambrosia[/name_f], [name_f]Melisandre[/name_f], [name_f]Delphinia[/name_f], [name_f]Iolanthe[/name_f], [name_f]Mariska[/name_f] or [name_f]Florentina[/name_f].

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When first reading the name I felt really overwhelmed and completely unsure how to pronounce it. I’ve heard [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] before, but even that took me a few times to try to pronounce it the right way. So I think you would definitely get some confusion on the spelling and pronunciation.

[name_f]My[/name_f] closest guess would be zan-thee-ee-pee-pee? I feel like that’s not right, but that’s how it sounds when I read it?