Comments
Meaning
Usage
Pronunciation
Famous
Impression
Other
One of my best friends is called this, and my first impression of her was "omg what a cool name". She's wonderful.
2
2
I would love to pronounce it FAY-dra...IDK lovely name honestly.
5
5
Found out about this name from the song "Some Velvet Morning" and I can't tell if I genuinely like the name or if the song just gave me a romanticized view of it.
2
2
This name is so unappealing.
-6
-6
I have 2 boys, Roman & Cassius (cash-es). We're really loving Phaedra if we have a girl next!
4
4
The original Greek Φαίδρα (Phaidra) was likely pronounced PIE-drah, given that the Ph would've been a P sound instead of an F (see pronunciation notes on the name PHAENNA for clarification).
In classical Latin, however, this can be pronounced two ways: during the Roman Republic and the earliest stages of the Roman Empire, the æsc / "ash" (Æ) made a long-I sound, so Phaedra would be pronounced FIE-drə. Once the Roman Empire really kicked off, Æ became the short-E sound, making this FEH-drə. (The short-E pronunciation is the one I heard in college when studying Ancient Greek theater.)
In English, this can also be pronounced two ways: FEE-drə, or FAY-drə. The first pronunciation is likely strictly British English, given their treatment of the "ae" diphthong in such words as archaeology, leukaemia, etc. The latter pronunciation appears to be more common in American English (and possibly Canadian English as well).
6
In classical Latin, however, this can be pronounced two ways: during the Roman Republic and the earliest stages of the Roman Empire, the æsc / "ash" (Æ) made a long-I sound, so Phaedra would be pronounced FIE-drə. Once the Roman Empire really kicked off, Æ became the short-E sound, making this FEH-drə. (The short-E pronunciation is the one I heard in college when studying Ancient Greek theater.)
In English, this can also be pronounced two ways: FEE-drə, or FAY-drə. The first pronunciation is likely strictly British English, given their treatment of the "ae" diphthong in such words as archaeology, leukaemia, etc. The latter pronunciation appears to be more common in American English (and possibly Canadian English as well).
6
Such a pretty name.
3
3
Glorious. I adore it.
3
3
Gorgeous!
5
5
Pretty! I like it best pronounced 'Fay-druh'.
8
8
Some upsides to naming your child this;
1. Means “Bright”.
2. She married Theseus.
3. It’s beautiful.
Some conflicts;
1. Sounds like a witch’s name.
2. Killed herself.
3. People could think it’s ugly.
If you want to name your child Phaedra, do it! She might get teased, though.
3
1. Means “Bright”.
2. She married Theseus.
3. It’s beautiful.
Some conflicts;
1. Sounds like a witch’s name.
2. Killed herself.
3. People could think it’s ugly.
If you want to name your child Phaedra, do it! She might get teased, though.
3
My sister is named Phaedra and we and my Greek relatives pronounce it as Feh-dra.
3
3
Ph-ae-d-ra : F-e-th-ra, as you would say feath(er) it is pronounced Fea-th-ra three syllables.
1
1
Can’t stand the ae, it sounds like aid.
-4
-4
I do NOT like "ae" names. It just looks and sounds... I don't know, but... blech!
0
0
This name was referenced in the song "Some Velvet Morning" sung by Lee Hazlewood featuring Nancy Sinatra.
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8
Phaedra Parks stars in the hit Bravo reality series "Real Housewives of Atlanta," now in its ninth season and one of the network's highest rated shows. Parks is also a successful attorney, businesswoman, media personality, motivational speaker, author and social activist. As managing partner of The Parks Group, an Atlanta-based law firm, Parks practices law in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property rights and civil and criminal litigation. Her clients have included celebrities and high-profile individuals and she is actively involved in the Atlanta legal community. She has served as president of the Gate City Bar Association and on the advisory board of the American Bar Association. Parks has been an on-air legal analyst for media outlets including NBC, Fox, CNN, truTV, EXTRA and Entertainment Tonight and has been quoted on legal issues in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Newsweek and People. A passionate social activist, Parks is a tireless advocate for African-American boys. Through her nonprofit organization Save Our Sons she works with communities nationwide on the importance of positive male role models in the lives of black boys. She has spent time with the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and others who have been victims of violence and unjustified killings. Parks is a regular fixture in Washington, D.C., where she works with members of Congress on implementing initiatives to provide opportunities for at-risk youth. Parks is also outspoken on civil rights issues and has gone to cities from Selma, Alabama to Flint, Michigan to fight social injustices. Parks is the author of the bestselling "Secrets of the Southern Belle: How to Be Nice, Work Hard, Look Pretty, Have Fun, and Never Have an Off Moment," which provides amusing and entertaining insight and tips on how to have all the charm, confidence and grace of a true Southern Belle. As a motivational speaker, Parks regularly travels around the country speaking to different groups about subjects ranging from business and law to personal growth and achieving success.
4
4
I think this is a unique name that sounds elegant and has a nice meaning. A good nickname would be "Phae", pronounced as "FEY".
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My name is Pheadre, I'm 45 years old and I have always loved my name. My father loved Greek mythology when I was born and he loved this name. It has always been mispronounced but I have gotten used to that. People always love it and they say the name fits me. Mine is pronounced Faydra, I do not use a nick name, I like my name as it is.
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7
I actually have this as my first name and it has been massacred in all kinds of ways. Depending on where you are from, the pronunciation varies. I go by the French spelling, but depending on whether one uses an accent grave or accent acute, the pronunciation changes. If I go by Phèdre, then it is pronounced "Fee-dra." If I used Phédre, then it is Fay-druh. I go by Fay-druh as that is how my parents pronounced it and how I have always used this name. Trust me, I've had a few French teachers try to tell me a few times how to say my name and no one can agree which accent I should use. If you use this name, I highly suggest Phaedra as it's so much easier to spell and isn't mangled nearly as much. :)
6
6
My middle name (alas) is Faye and not Phaedra. I first heard the name Phaedra in the song "Some Velvet Morning" by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood. I love the name and think it sounds mysterious and even haunting. It goes well with this song which is so about being high!
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Pretty, though I'm not quite sure how to pronounce it. FAY-drah? FED-rah? FEE-drah? All are pretty, though I slightly prefer FED-rah.
4
4
Pretty and exotic.
4
4
My name is Phaedra, and all of my friends have, up until recently, (and still do out of habit) call me Phaedie. It's a nickname my mom made up. I decided it sounds too much like a little kid name and switched over to Phaedra. I think it's a very flamboyant and yet at the same time beautiful name, and I feel like in one way it fits me, personality wise, but at the same token, I feel as if maybe it's not right. I've always been a sort of hippie chick and I feel though Phaedra is pretty and somewhat fitting, it feels a bit proper for me, so personally I am looking for a nickname or other name that suits me better. I'm yet to decide, though. I like the name.
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Phèdre is indeed the French variant of Phaedra. It is not really used as a first name, probably because of the notoriety of the play and the association with the character, which is not really positive. Also, the French prononunciation is kind of harsh : FE-dr.
6
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There's a tragedy of Jean Racine, "Phèdre". So maybe it's the French form of the Greek Phaidra.
3
3
Yesterday there was a question about the mythical Phaedra on the BBC quiz show "Eggheads". I assume (this being the BBC, which prides itself on correct pronunciation of personal names and countries) that the question master got it right when he pronounced it FY-druh - I thought immediately of Hydra and this killed Phaedra as an option for me!
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1
The Oxford English dictionary lists ˈfeɪdrə (FAY-druh) and ˈfiːdrə (FEE-druh) as acceptable English pronunciations of Phaedra.
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Phaedra
I imagine the Greek and Latin pronunciations to be somewhat different.
6
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Phaedra
I imagine the Greek and Latin pronunciations to be somewhat different.
6
The English pronunciation is FEE-drə (Random House Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary).
2
2
I think Phaedra is absolutely gorgeous. I pronounce it fay-druh. I also think the pronunciation is intuitive. I don't much care about its back story.
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I think the backstory of this name is pretty disturbing. Nonetheless, it does have a nice ring to it.
3
3
Most Greek names I know of which feature "ae" are pronounced with and "EE" sound - like Aesop - similarly Phaedra would be pronounced "FEE-druh"
That said I do like the sound of "FAY-druh" better.
3
That said I do like the sound of "FAY-druh" better.
3
Considering the Greeks pronounced each vowel individually (Ione: Eye-oh-nee, Zeus: ZAY-os), is it possible this name is pronounced fa-EH-dra, or something close?
2
2
If only I knew the correct way to pronounce it . . . *sigh* Anyway, I don't really like any of the pronunciations listed. They all sound so rough to my ear.
0
0
What an ugly name. Terrible spelling, and an equally terrible back story.
-5
-5
I consider this name to be extremely strange and unusual, but not wholly unlikeable. :)
-1
-1
This would be a cool name for a character, but not for a person (as a first name, anyway).
-1
-1
I don't think it sounds pretentious or ugly at all. And most snobs I know aren't smart enough to think of a Greek mythological name to use and brag about. I think Phaedra is interesting, unusual, and pretty. :)
5
5
I hate this name. It sounds ugly, and it's very pretentious. Phaedra sounds like a name that snobs would use and brag about it.
-7
-7
Hi my name is Phaedra and absolutely love this name. I'm in my teens and all my friends love this name, they have a nickname for me it's Pha or Phae. I don't know anyone with the same name as me.
4
4
I like the Portuguese version (Fedra) better.
0
0
I used to love this name, and I might still use it for a character. But I could never name my child after such a character in Greek Mythology. In all of the sources I've read, I have yet to find a redeeming quality in her.
0
0
The correct pronunciation is with a short E - FED-ra.
2
2
I like the sound and history of the name, but I always see the people who would name their child this name as a sort of pompous modernist who thinks they're smarter than anybody else.
-3
-3
In Greek, the -αι is always pronounced like a soft E (ĕ). The only exception is that -αϊ is pronounced like a soft A (ă) followed by a hard I/E sound (ē).
2
2
Phaedra is the title of a rather psychedelic and liquid track by Tangerine Dream.
2
2
This is definitely a beautiful, strong name--the kind which models usually have.
4
4
I adore this name. It's the most beautiful name I've come across so far. I would love to use it on my daughter, assuming I'll have one some day. I've been thinking of naming my daughter Phaedra Juniper, but I'm not fully decided, nor need to be. This name is far simpler than stranger-sounding names like Persephone and such, so I don't think it's ''out there'' at all.
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3
I think it sounds really pretty, but it's so dramatic and unusual. I think you would have to have a really big personality to carry a name like Phaedra.
2
2
I knew a girl by this name and she pronounced it Fay-dra. The name fit her as she was very pretty.
2
2
I like this name pronounced "FAY-dra". I think it would make a lovely middle name, since having it as a first name is sort of, well, out there. But it's beautiful, nonetheless.
4
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When I studied the play my Greek (that is, born in Greece) lecturer pronounced it FEE-dra. I've never heard it pronounced with a short e.
2
2
Commonly mis-spelled "Phadrea".
0
0
The masculine form is Phaedrus.
1
1
Pronunciation is FEE-dra. An interesting alternative to the overused Phoebe. :-)
-2
-2
Pronounced with a long "A" (as in ape) or short "E" (as in egg). Never was or will be FEE-dra.
4
4
A derivative of Phaedra, i.e. Phedre, was the protagonist in Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy trilogy.
2
2
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