The name Ianthe is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "purple flower". Ianthe and is often added to lists like Gorgeous Flower Names for Babies and discussed in our forums with posts like "Pick 5 (GIRLS)".
From the experts:
Like Violet, Lavender and Lilac, Ianthe is a purple flower name. Chosen by the poet Shelley for his daughter, Ianthe has a poetic, romantic, almost ethereal quality. In the ancient myth, she was the daughter of Oceanus, supreme ruler of the sea, and also a Cretan woman so beautiful that when she died the Gods made purple flowers grow around her grave.
Iantha is also used.
Ianthe was a favorite of the pastoral poets of the seventeenth century and then again in the early nineteenth. She appears in the works of Shelley, Barbara Pym and Georgette Heyer. Writer Richard Brautigan named his daughter Ianthe.
Lists containing Ianthe:
- Creative Baby Names
- Gorgeous Flower Names for Babies
- Best Girl Names Starting with Vowels
- Unique Baby Names: Unusual and Rare
- Mythology Girl Names
- Cool Baby Names That Start With I
- Unique Baby Girl Names
- Best One-of-a-Kind Names for Girls
- Pisces Baby Names
- Beautiful Bohemian Names for Girls
Comments
Scarlett_mcm Says:
EW314 Says:
Ianthe is gorgeous! I also probably slightly prefer Ione, but Ianthe is so stunning too. I say "eye-AN-thee" as well, but "ee-AN-thee" is a legitimate pronunciation too. Xanthe is another beautiful Greek option with a similar sound, though the X makes it a little bit spunkier IMO. But then the meaning isn't as pretty as Ianthe's.
eveyalecia Says:
You are correct-- I had Ione open in another tab. I did mean eye-an-thee. Thanks!
Tina_and_Bert Says:
I think you must've posted on the wrong name--there's most definitely a -th- in there. Perhaps you meant eye-an-thee?
eveyalecia Says:
This is actually pronounced eye-oh-nee.*
*Edit: Correction-- I meant to say that this is pronounced eye-an-thee. (see below)
:)
Bobcat108 Says:
I like this quite a bit, but IRL would probably use Ione instead. But for a book character... : )
Guest Says:
I hated this name when I first saw but it hit me like a ton a bricks yesterday--I'm in love with it! I would easily use it for middle.
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I'm sorry I can only think if the evil character from a court of thorns and roses.