Comments (Meaning / History Only)
Meaning is "Bringer of life" because when Persephone came back to the earth she would bring spring.
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It also has the meaning "bringer of destruction". Very cool.
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An alternative meaning that occurred to me was "phere" (to bring) and sephone as "sophia" (wisdom)
Which would thus mean "Bringer of Wisdom" and would go well together with her association with the astrological sign Virgo.
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Which would thus mean "Bringer of Wisdom" and would go well together with her association with the astrological sign Virgo.
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In Homer's Odyssey, her name is Persephoneia (Περσεφονεία). In other dialects, her name had variants such as: Persephassa (Περσεφάσσα), Persephatta (Περσεφάττα), or simply Korē (Κόρη, "girl, maiden"). In Plato's Cratylus, she's called Pherepapha (Φερέπαφα) "because she is wise and touches that which is in motion." There are also the forms Periphona (Πηριφόνα) and Phersephassa (Φερσέφασσα). The existence of so many variations suggests the ancient Greeks had a difficult time pronouncing the word in their language, leading to theorize a Pre-Greek origin for the name. Persephatta (Περσεφάττα) is considered to mean "female thresher of grain"; the first constituent of the name originates in Proto-Greek "perso-" (related to Sanskrit "parṣa-"), meaning "sheaf of grain", and the second constituent of the name originates in the Proto-Indo European root meaning "to strike." An alternative etymology is from φέρειν φόνον, pherein phonon, "to bring (or cause) death."
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I see a lot of comments about "the original mythology" where Persephone isn't kidnapped, and raped by Hades, and let me tell you, as a scholar of Greek Mythology, that's all bunk. The oldest reference to the Persephone myth is in Homeric Hymn to Demeter "He [Hades] was riding on a chariot drawn by immortal horses. The son of Kronos. The one known by many names.
He seized her against her will, put her on his golden chariot, and drove away as she wept. She cried with a piercing voice…She was being taken, against her will, at the behest of Zeus,"
In all versions of Greek and Roman myths it is suggested that Persephone was taken against her will, and I've found very little evidence of an older mythology that doesn't state this, Persephone mentioned in Mycenean Script seems to be some sort of Spring Goddess, with no mention of her kidnapping at all. Regardless, all versions are very clear that Persephone was abducted, and raped, doesn't matter if it was common in Greek culture at the time. Also, what possible reason could anyone have to demonize Hades? He's a little regarded figure by either the Greeks or Romans. It ultimately doesn't matter, they're both fictional deities. It's a nice name, maybe a little too poetic, but nice nonetheless, with an interesting mythology.
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He seized her against her will, put her on his golden chariot, and drove away as she wept. She cried with a piercing voice…She was being taken, against her will, at the behest of Zeus,"
In all versions of Greek and Roman myths it is suggested that Persephone was taken against her will, and I've found very little evidence of an older mythology that doesn't state this, Persephone mentioned in Mycenean Script seems to be some sort of Spring Goddess, with no mention of her kidnapping at all. Regardless, all versions are very clear that Persephone was abducted, and raped, doesn't matter if it was common in Greek culture at the time. Also, what possible reason could anyone have to demonize Hades? He's a little regarded figure by either the Greeks or Romans. It ultimately doesn't matter, they're both fictional deities. It's a nice name, maybe a little too poetic, but nice nonetheless, with an interesting mythology.
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A lot of people seem to be ignorant here. For one, most of you are just buying bias theories. Or coming up with your own theories. And no, Persephone wasn’t “raped” in hymn to Demeter. I suggest you go do some real research.
@cutterfishCuller You’re not fooling anyone. If you really were a “scholar”, then you would know that it was NEVER implied that Hades “raped” Persephone in hymn to Demeter. That’s a theory and a fabrication made up by later authors. At most, your only “proof” is Persephone being forced to eat the pomegrante seeds.
And no, it isn’t the origina tale. It’s only the original kidnapping tale. There was no indication that she was ever kidnapped in earlier tales, such in Homers’s Odyssey.
And that’s because, it wasn’t a thing at the time. According to Homer, Persephone was the proud and the majestic queen of the underworld and she embraced her role as the queen of the underworld. For all we know, it was originally consensual.
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@cutterfishCuller You’re not fooling anyone. If you really were a “scholar”, then you would know that it was NEVER implied that Hades “raped” Persephone in hymn to Demeter. That’s a theory and a fabrication made up by later authors. At most, your only “proof” is Persephone being forced to eat the pomegrante seeds.
And no, it isn’t the origina tale. It’s only the original kidnapping tale. There was no indication that she was ever kidnapped in earlier tales, such in Homers’s Odyssey.
And that’s because, it wasn’t a thing at the time. According to Homer, Persephone was the proud and the majestic queen of the underworld and she embraced her role as the queen of the underworld. For all we know, it was originally consensual.
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Like many Ancient Greek names the meaning has been lost or at least changed drastically. The roots of Persephone can be found in Mycenean script which identifies it as Perswa. The meaning of that, has also been lost. To bring death is an accepted meaning, but another one may "sheaf of grain", fitting since Persephone is both an Underworld deity, and a Spring deity.
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In response to the very first comment which INCORRECTLY states that Persephone is Virgo, this, of course is completely untrue. There are several myths surrounding Virgo but the most prevalent suggests that Virgo is named for Erigone, the daughter of King Icarius. When Erigone went looking for her father, her faithful dog Maera helped her discover Icarius' tomb after he had been murdered by drunken shepherds. She was so overcome by grief that she hung herself. Maera followed her into death by drowning himself. Dionysus took pity upon them and transformed Erigone into Virgo and Maera into the Lesser Dog Star.
I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, despite how ridiculous it may be, but I really had to hang my head in shame, mourning the ignorance that plagues current society, after reading the comment that said something to the effect of: a name that combines "purse" and "phone" -no thanks! Shortly followed by a comment that describes Persephone as "pretentious" and haughty, a stunning name which carries a rich, several thousand-year history, that will still be remembered long after children will no longer be named Kylie, Jayden, Stormy, or any number of the trendy names that 'define' this era and can't disappear soon enough.
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I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, despite how ridiculous it may be, but I really had to hang my head in shame, mourning the ignorance that plagues current society, after reading the comment that said something to the effect of: a name that combines "purse" and "phone" -no thanks! Shortly followed by a comment that describes Persephone as "pretentious" and haughty, a stunning name which carries a rich, several thousand-year history, that will still be remembered long after children will no longer be named Kylie, Jayden, Stormy, or any number of the trendy names that 'define' this era and can't disappear soon enough.
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The name "Persephone" has a beautiful meaning! It is NOT related to the ancient Greek "phonos" (murder), as you say. Actually it derives from the ancient Greek words "φέρειν"-"pherein" and "φάος"-"phaos" (or "φως"-"phos). "φέρειν" means "to bring" and "φάος" or "φως" means "the light". Persephone is "the one who brings the light", and this is a beautiful meaning! Another ancient form of the name in "Phersephone" or "Phersepfata", a form closer to its constituent words. Persephone was the goddess of springtime, she has a lot to do with light, and nothing to do with murder. Please check the origin at "Papyros LaRousse" encyclopedia. Greetings and kisses, from Thessalonica / Macedonia / Greece.
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When it is said that the name Persephone means to murder, or destroy, it is not people they are discussing. In Greek Mythology, her mother Demeter was the goddess of the earth/vegetation. The two are often referred to as the "mistresses" because they work together. Persephone is forced to return to the Underworld with Hades for 3 months of the year, when all of the vegetation then dies... in order to be reborn. It's really not the negative connotation that most people think.
Also, as far as it being a long, pioused, or difficult name... my first name is Stephanieauna. It's had it's disadvantages, but it's also had it's advantages. Hard to find on key chains, though!
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Also, as far as it being a long, pioused, or difficult name... my first name is Stephanieauna. It's had it's disadvantages, but it's also had it's advantages. Hard to find on key chains, though!
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If the spelling of "phone" is with an omega instead of an omicron the meaning could be "voice" rather than murder and fits the name meaning better ie Voice of Destruction.
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"Phone" in Greek does not mean solely to murder, it also means "speech sound" (in words such as "homophone" and "telephone"). And the "perse" part--which the word means "dark blue" in English--comes from the Greek word Persikos--"a Persian." So Persephone doesn't have to have such a violent meaning--it can also mean "Persian sound" or "Persian speaker."
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PERSEPHONE according to Plato means wise. (from Plato's Dialogue with Cratylus, Plato, Cratylus and Hermogenes talk about the true origin of names).
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Persephone's name can also mean "she who lightens the darkness". The Greek goddess of spring, she was wife to Hades, the God of the Underworld. There are several stories concerning their romance, more commonly known is "the rape" of Persephone, in which Hades tricks her into staying with him in the Underworld.
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The name Persephone is the Ionic variant of Epic Literature, while the homeric variant is Persephoneia and other dialectic variants include the less lyrical Persephassa and Persephatta. Plato apparently called her Pherepapha.
Regardless, in ancient Greek, Persephone would have been pronounced (according to this site's code) per-se-pho-nay (the ph is a p aspirate, meaning that air is expelled with the consonant--it does not sound like an f).
If spelled Persephoneia, it would be pronounced per-se-phon-e-ee-ah; or, in modern Greek, per-se-fo-nee-ah.
Despite its potential meaning, the lyrical quality of this name is enough to make it a name I should give to my own daughter, about whose spelling skills I am unconcerned. People have been given long names for ages, and there is no reason to presume that humanity has grown so unintelligent as to be unable to learn how to spell a long name.
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Regardless, in ancient Greek, Persephone would have been pronounced (according to this site's code) per-se-pho-nay (the ph is a p aspirate, meaning that air is expelled with the consonant--it does not sound like an f).
If spelled Persephoneia, it would be pronounced per-se-phon-e-ee-ah; or, in modern Greek, per-se-fo-nee-ah.
Despite its potential meaning, the lyrical quality of this name is enough to make it a name I should give to my own daughter, about whose spelling skills I am unconcerned. People have been given long names for ages, and there is no reason to presume that humanity has grown so unintelligent as to be unable to learn how to spell a long name.
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They don't make it extremely clear here, but when she came back from the underworld, everyone rejoiced and Spring came because Demeter was so happy! This would be a cool name for a child born on the first day of Spring! Then you could rejoice every year on her birthday!
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Given that the first two words of the entry are "Meaning unknown" I tend to doubt their idea of its meaning. If I remember correctly (and it's possible that I don't) Persephone was the Goddess of Springtime. The name always makes me think of flowers and the color pink. It's lovely, but I wouldn't use it. Too hard for a kid to learn to spell.
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In the myth of Persephone, she is abducted and raped by her uncle. She then has to live with him. And although I think it is a beautiful sounding name, it's not one I would actually give a child, due to the nature of the mythology. It just doesn't seem like a blessing under the circumstances.
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I just feel like Persephone gets a bad rep. People think her story is disturbing. I think it is tragic and she was just making the best out of what she had.