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Baby names

Athena, Adelaide or Xanthe?

36 replies

Disastronaut · 26/10/2013 19:44

These are our final short list for newborn DD1. Do people think Xanthe is a bit pretentious/Islington-y? Is Athena always going to be a poster shop?

She'll have a double-barrelled surname, half of which is 'foreign'.

Honest opinions welcome! Ta.

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JimmyCorpseHell · 26/10/2013 19:49

I really like Xanthe. I don't like Adelaide at all. Athena... dunno. HTH Grin

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Disastronaut · 26/10/2013 19:54

Thanks!

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nomorecrumbs · 26/10/2013 19:54

I really like Adelaide. Xanthe and Athena are very Greek! :)

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MiniTheMinx · 26/10/2013 19:57

Not the capital city of South Australia? noooooo

I love Athena

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ChipAndSpud · 26/10/2013 19:58

I love Xanthe, but I'm not sure if people would know how to spell/pronounce it?

I'm not sure if I like Adelaide or not, and Athena is nice.

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TallulahBetty · 26/10/2013 20:00

Love Adelaide. Don't like the others.

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JumpingJackSprat · 26/10/2013 20:04

Athena adelaide then xanthe but theyre all beautiful.

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nevergoogle · 26/10/2013 20:08

We currently have Adelaide on our list for DC3 due in April.
It's a family name (and has nothing to do with australia btw).
I like it, but think it might be a bit marmite for many.
We may use it as a middle name.

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Disastronaut · 26/10/2013 20:11

Thanks all.

Mini: we were wondering about the 'Australia issue' too. Don't want that to be the first thing that everyone thinks when they hear it.

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hatebeak · 26/10/2013 20:24

I really love Adelaide and it was a name long before it was a city. It's beautiful - strong and graceful. Athena is fine, strong as well. For me, Xanthe is a bit much: it's not hideous or anything, and there's nothing wrong with a good pretentious name, but to me it manages to be a bit prententious without the benefit of being especially unusual. It's pretty enough.

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TheNunsOfGavarone · 26/10/2013 20:46

Xanthe is lovely and so is Ianthe.

I prefer Artemis to Athena.

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Coupon · 26/10/2013 20:48

Adelaide = Australia
Athena = greetings cards

Xanthe is a lovely name, pretty and unusual.

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TravelinColour · 26/10/2013 20:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hoppinghare · 26/10/2013 20:51

Adelaide is really nice. I. don't like the other two.

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Frontdoorstep · 26/10/2013 20:56

Even though Adelaide is an ok name, I think most people will instantly think she was called after the Australian city.

They'll all ok as names I guess but not my cup of tea.

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Joycey29 · 26/10/2013 21:28

Love them all! Adelaide is family name - shortened to A-dee!
Off the three I d go Xanthe! But as an Anthea I have been Anthe all my life so love the similarity!

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MiniTheMinx · 26/10/2013 22:04

I used to know an Adelaide, I do actually like it and it can be shortened to Ada (ayda) which is quite nice. But how many people will just instantly think Australia?

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night1971 · 27/10/2013 08:50

I know of a few Athenas and it is one of my favourite names!

Also know an Adelaide known as Addie. Never once thought about Australia!

Xanthe is very pretty too.

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saintmerryweather · 27/10/2013 08:53

why does it matter if people think of australia when they hear the name? adelaide is beautiful

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CordeliaRose · 27/10/2013 12:04

I love the name Xanthe - to me is beautiful, unusual but not 'way out'!

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LondonNightmareInGhostlyBoots · 27/10/2013 12:45

Xanthe, its awesome! Way high up my list. I really like Athena too - I perfer Athene bit I'm very unkeen on -a names in general. Never heard of a card shop - would people really think of a card shop before the greek warrior goddess of wisdom?Hmm

Adelaide is fine, nothing wrong with it, but the other two are much better imo.

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aoife24 · 27/10/2013 12:54

I think I prefer Xanthe. As others have said, the name Adelaide pre-dates the city. The city was named in honour of Princess Adelaide, Queen Consort of William IV.

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Allalonenow · 27/10/2013 13:02

I like Adelaide best from your list, I feel people will think of the royal connection rather than the Australian city.

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curiousgeorgie · 27/10/2013 23:40

I love Athena, it was on my short list for DD2..

Would have used Athie as a nickname Smile

Can never have it though even if I have a DD3 one day as it rhymes with the name we did choose!

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Fantail · 28/10/2013 08:41

Xanthe is very high up on list should any future child be a girl. Love Athena too.

Adelaide is pretty, but as a New Zealander the Australian connection would get me. I like Adele or Adela though.

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