Parthenope

A mythological name, Parthenope is a rare and distinctive choice that may nevertheless appeal to those looking for little known alternatives to Penelope or Persephone. While some sources suggest the name means "maiden's face" or "virgin appearance", others interpret it as "maiden's voice".

In Greek mythology, Parthenope was one of the sirens who attempted to lure Odysseus to crash his ship, however, when her songs failed to entice him, she threw herself into the sea and drowned. In Roman mythology, Parthenope was pursued by a centaur called Vesuvius, but he was thwarted when the god Jupiter turned him into a volcano and Parthenope into a city.

The name has a few other noteworthy bearers: Frances Parthenope Verney, sister to Florence Nightingale and a writer and journalist in her own right, and the musician Parthenope Wald-Harding. Additionally, it was used as the title (and for the main character) of a 2024 film by Paolo Sorrentino.

With possible nicknames including Thena, Poe, Poppy, Enna, Peri, and Pip, it is a one-of-a-kind choice that has never ranked in the US charts.

Pronounced par-THEN-uh-pee.