Name of the Day: Ariadne
What’s that? You’re thinking of calling your baby-to-be Arianna? Or maybe Adriana?
Let us stop you for a minute and suggest that you consider the original version of the name: Ariadne.
Pronounced ah ree AHD nee, this name has history and myth behind it. Rather than saddle your girl with an ersatz princess appellation, consider calling her a name that’s been worn by a clever and heroic figure.
The story of Ariadne is a simple one. Her dear dad, King Minos, had defeated the city of Athens in battle. As punishment, the city of Athens was required to send seven young men and seven maidens for sacrifice to King Minos’ curious pet, a vicious half-bull lurking at the end of a maze. One of unlucky fourteen was a spoiler - the valiant Theseus, who volunteered in order to take out the beast himself.
If not for Ariadne, however, Theseus would long be dust in the depths of the labyrinth. She hooked him up with a suitable sword and a ball of red thread, so he could mark his path into the maze - and back out again.
She’s showed up in literature and poetry ever since, her name used by everyone from Anton Chekov to A.A. Milne. There’s an Richard Strauss opera, too, one performed regularly enough that you could take your little Ariadne, were you so inclined.
But perhaps the thing that recommends Ariadne over similar names is simply this: the original does not appear in the Top 1000 in the US. Meanwhile, sound-alikes are so popular that, when combined, they’re easily a Top 50 choice. Consider that in 2006:
- Arianna ranked #77 (4,212 births)
- Ariana ranked #78 (4,184 births)
- Adriana ranked #106 (3,057 births)
- Adrianna ranked #179 (1,930 births)
- Aryanna ranked #652 (436 births)
- Aryana ranked #823 (324 births)
Tally it up, and that’s 14,143 girls sharing the same name. Top Ten hits like Hannah boast about that many. (Hannah ranked #8 with 14,294 births.) And perpetual favorites like Elizabeth are actually less common. (Elizabeth came in at #11 with 12,193 births.)
While we’re not opposed to simplifications and translations, this is one case where the original is still simply the best.
Filed under: Names for Girls, Names of the Day |
Tags: Ariadne, Arianna, Ariana, Adriana, Adrianna, Aryanna, Aryana
Pretty, but she’d be doomed to a life-long pronunciation battle.
Maybe so, but I’m not sure it’s any worse than *spelling* Arianna every time you say it.
I love Ariadne a kazillion times more than Arianna or Adriana. I knew an Aerianne in high school. That girl was miserable!
Aerianne … yikes! Mythological names can be tough to wear, but at least when we don’t recognize them, it’s a gap in our knowledge - not because the name was pulled from the ether. It might not make kindergarten easier, but I suspect by freshman year, it’s less of an issue. Assuming, of course, that your mythological namesake was more or less decent and well-behaved.