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Help[Opinions] Ismene?
Didn't want to start a thread within a thread below. But it's difficult for me to understand why some of you think Ismene is "lovely" or an appropriate name for a modern child in an English-speaking country at all. The traditional English pronunciation of Ismene is "Is-MEE-nee", and most English speakers who aren't familiar with it will first attempt to pronounce it as "is mean." This seems to me to be a name which is bound to lead to extremely cruel teasing and I would never advise anyone to give it to a modern American girl. Taunts of "she's a meanie" are completely inevitable with this name. :)
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The English English, rather than American English, pronounciation is is-MAY-ne, which I think is nicer than is-MEE-ne, and WAY nicer than is-mean, lol!
I like the name, and quite liked the character too, so it's on my favourites list, but not really one I'd consider using for an actual person. Maybe for a pet, though.
I like the name, and quite liked the character too, so it's on my favourites list, but not really one I'd consider using for an actual person. Maybe for a pet, though.
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I loved it for a while, but wasn't terribly familiar with it and thought, for some odd reason, that it was pronounced IZ-men. Not much better than "is mean" or "is (a) meany" but I thought it was "lovely" for a short time. I'm over it now, I think. LOL.
~Heather~
~Heather~
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I agree completely - and feel the same about Antigone
nt
~Lillian~
Proud daughter of Ann and John
Proud sister of Lauren and Leah
Proud wife of David
Proud mother of Alexander, Scarlett, Sophia, and Gideon
nt
~Lillian~
Proud daughter of Ann and John
Proud sister of Lauren and Leah
Proud wife of David
Proud mother of Alexander, Scarlett, Sophia, and Gideon
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I agree but I think it's sad...
As both name DO sound pretty - Antigone and Ismene but, yeah, it's inevitable that people will mispronounce them ALL the time and the teasing... oh my.
I didn't even know Antigone was "ann-tig-oh-nee" until freshman year of high school when we read it! I was saying "anti-gone" lol and my mom had no idea what I was talking about!
But I like names with I's and especially the "Is" sounds - Isabel, Isolde, Isa, Isadora, Isi, and, yes, Ismene. Though I'd never use it...
"Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh"
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds - Half of writing history is hiding the truth.
- Serenity
As both name DO sound pretty - Antigone and Ismene but, yeah, it's inevitable that people will mispronounce them ALL the time and the teasing... oh my.
I didn't even know Antigone was "ann-tig-oh-nee" until freshman year of high school when we read it! I was saying "anti-gone" lol and my mom had no idea what I was talking about!
But I like names with I's and especially the "Is" sounds - Isabel, Isolde, Isa, Isadora, Isi, and, yes, Ismene. Though I'd never use it...
- Serenity
This message was edited 4/3/2006, 10:13 AM
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If we're taking Oedipal names, Jocasta wins hands down :-)
I pronounce Ismene closer to is-MEY-ney, so the 'is a meanie' thing isn't immediately apparent...but I've never actively considered any of these names. The connotations are just way too strong.
Antigone has a nice rhythm, but in addition to the 'anti-gone' thing, it sounds like a medical condition, or some sort of sinister plant or chemical...but only in my head :-P
sa
I pronounce Ismene closer to is-MEY-ney, so the 'is a meanie' thing isn't immediately apparent...but I've never actively considered any of these names. The connotations are just way too strong.
Antigone has a nice rhythm, but in addition to the 'anti-gone' thing, it sounds like a medical condition, or some sort of sinister plant or chemical...but only in my head :-P
sa
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I really dislike Ismene, myself. I prefer Antigone; while it looks like Anti-Gone, I think it has a beautiful sound, and I've always admired the character's determination to give her brother a proper burial. :) I'd consider Antigone--at least as a middle name--but never Ismene. Partly because I'm not a huge fan of her character.
Array
Russ Feingold is a hero.
Censure President Bush.
Array
Russ Feingold is a hero.
Censure President Bush.
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Love your signature line, and a message.
My dh and I were kicking around names one day, just for fun. I mentioned Antigone and he loved it right away. The role model aspect of the name was a big part of his love for it. (I love it too, but not enough to displace some other favorites.)
P.S. Russ Feingold and Bernie Sanders (I- VT) are my hope for the future. :-)
My dh and I were kicking around names one day, just for fun. I mentioned Antigone and he loved it right away. The role model aspect of the name was a big part of his love for it. (I love it too, but not enough to displace some other favorites.)
P.S. Russ Feingold and Bernie Sanders (I- VT) are my hope for the future. :-)
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Ugh
Have you ever seen it performed? Antigone is downright boring. She just keeps talking! Blah. Pig-headed and a blind follower, I'd say. I disagree with her uncle, but I mean, she's not admirable to me.
Sorry. My two unwanted cents! :)
PS - I like the name Antigone, too, though.
Have you ever seen it performed? Antigone is downright boring. She just keeps talking! Blah. Pig-headed and a blind follower, I'd say. I disagree with her uncle, but I mean, she's not admirable to me.
Sorry. My two unwanted cents! :)
PS - I like the name Antigone, too, though.
This message was edited 4/2/2006, 8:30 PM
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Have you ever seen it performed?
Funny you should ask. I'm actually performing in it this semester! We're still doing rehearsals, though. It's a shortened version of Antigone in French. I'm the guard. :)
And despite all her talking, I like her. Call me crazy, hehe. I always found Ismene really bland.
Array
Russ Feingold is a hero.
Censure President Bush.
Funny you should ask. I'm actually performing in it this semester! We're still doing rehearsals, though. It's a shortened version of Antigone in French. I'm the guard. :)
And despite all her talking, I like her. Call me crazy, hehe. I always found Ismene really bland.
Array
Russ Feingold is a hero.
Censure President Bush.
1
I was an Ismene understudy so maybe I'm partial. The guards are the best part of the show! I got to be the messenger, but ours was in English.
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I like this name. I know and use the traditional English prn. I would never let the possibility of a taunt ruin a name for me. I think the look and, yes, the prn are pleasing (I use a soft S not a Z sound). The meaning is wonderful, so why not use it?
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I pronounce Ismene as either "is-mean" or "is-meanie." But would you believe I still love it? I would never use it because of the pronunciation and potential teasing.
I think what I love about it is the mental picture of ancient Greece that it evokes. It just seems so exotic and mystical. Plus, I have a thing for girls' "i" names.
It doesn't make logical sense. But it makes *Bear* sense.
I think what I love about it is the mental picture of ancient Greece that it evokes. It just seems so exotic and mystical. Plus, I have a thing for girls' "i" names.
It doesn't make logical sense. But it makes *Bear* sense.
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It'd be my instinct to pronounce it IZ-meh-nay, but I absolutely agree that it's just asking for trouble in an English-speaking school environment. Kids tease enough without making it easy for them!
♦ Chrisell ♦
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. - J.R.R. Tolkien.
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I pronounce Ismene like this: ees-MÈH-nuh, so to me it doesn't sound like she's mean at all... I see this as a Greek name, not an English one.
edit: Spelling
edit: Spelling
This message was edited 4/2/2006, 7:29 PM
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