Message: "Hippolyta" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Hippolyta

by Wordsmith

4/21/2019, 6:28 PM

What does everyone think of Hippolyta? Is there anyone out there who doesn't immediately dismiss it because it contains "hippo"? I studied Ancient Greek in college, so when I see the name, I reflexively translate it ("horse loosener," i.e., "freer of horses"). I love this poetic meaning, as well as the name's sonic richness. Plus, the nickname Polly is adorable.

Here are some combos:

Hippolyta Agnes
Hippolyta Alice
Hippolyta Alma
Hippolyta Audrey
Hippolyta Beatrice
Hippolyta Catherine
Hippolyta Cecile
Hippolyta Clare
Hippolyta Eloise
Hippolyta Eve
Hippolyta Flora
Hippolyta Frances
Hippolyta Georgia
Hippolyta Inez
Hippolyta Ingrid
Hippolyta Iris
Hippolyta Jane
Hippolyta Joan
Hippolyta Josephine
Hippolyta Juliet
Hippolyta Lucy
Hippolyta Marguerite
Hippolyta Mary
Hippolyta Opal
Hippolyta Phoebe
Hippolyta Primrose
Hippolyta Rosemary
Hippolyta Roxane
Hippolyta Ruth
Hippolyta Sibyl
Hippolyta Sophie
Hippolyta Vera

#Hippolyta

This message was edited 4/21/2019, 6:29 PM

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- Barbra (barbierose)

4/23/2019, 12:42 AM

When I first encountered the name, I may have stumbled over the "hippo" syllables; eventually I began to love it. I may have first encountered this name through Chaucer - who of course reverts through myriads of literary heritage.

- noel (glaucous) +1

4/22/2019, 7:48 PM

I actually thought of it (with NN Polly) last week as a potential cat name. I'm pretty sure at one point the Hippo part stood out to me, but nowadays it doesn't register.

What'd actually keep me from using it is the uncertainty I feel with the pronunciation.

Names containing a Z came to mind first, when I thought of combos...

Hippolyta Zuleika
Hippolyta Zulema
Hippolyta Zoe
Hippolyta Zendaya
Hippolyta Zoraida
Hippolyta Zephyrine
Hippolyta Fairuz
Hippolyta Emperatriz
Hippolyta Elizabeth

So, based on that, Hippolyta Inez is my favorite of your combos. Hippolyta Rosemary is probably my 2nd favorite.

Also thought of...
Hippolyta Shoshana
Hippolyta Rosamund
Hippolyta Verdiana
Hippolyta Siobhan
Hippolyta Gladys
Hippolyta Desiree

This message was edited 4/22/2019, 8:20 PM

- Wordsmith

4/23/2019, 7:28 AM

Oh wow, so many gems here! I love Hippolyta Zoe, Hippolyta Zephyrine, and Hippolyta Fairuz.

- Dracotorix +1

4/22/2019, 11:07 AM

I love it, but I've only really thought about it as a middle name. "Hippo" doesn't bother me because at least in my accent it's not like "hippo" in Hippolyta, it's more like hip-PA.

I like:
Hippolyta Agnes
Hippolyta Alice
Hippolyta Catherine
Hippolyta Clare
Hippolyta Eve
Hippolyta Flora
Hippolyta Iris
Hippolyta Jane
Hippolyta Joan ** (my favorite of these)
Hippolyta Opal
Hippolyta Phoebe
Hippolyta Rosemary
Hippolyta Sibyl
Hippolyta Vera

and:
Hippolyta Arwen
Hippolyta Morgan
Hippolyta Rhian
Hippolyta Rhiannon
Hippolyta Rose
Hippolyta Gudrun
Hippolyta Gaea
Hippolyta Octavia
Hippolyta Rowan
Hippolyta Rowana
Hippolyta Rowenna

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- Wordsmith

4/23/2019, 7:29 AM

Ooh, I'm loving Hippolyta Gudrun, Hippolyta Xanthe, Hippolyta Iokaste, and Hippolyta Selene.

- Myosotis

4/22/2019, 10:34 AM

Hippolyta did start to grow on me after Wonder Woman, and I still like it, but I don’t imagine many people could get past the ‘hippo’ start (at least in English speaking countries) so I’d probably keep it in the middle. I would love to meet a Hippolyta though, and I like Hippolyta Sibyl and Hippolyta Clare.

This message was edited 4/22/2019, 10:35 AM

- RoxStar

4/22/2019, 7:27 AM

The lady who got killed over her girdle.
No charm.

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