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I think it's fabulous and villainous and dramatic. And also psychedelic? Because of Some Velvet Morning by Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra. And it's a great way to Fay as a NN.

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I prefer it to Phoebe and I pronounce it FAY-dra.

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Isabel Phaedra would be fantastic.

This message was edited 2/4/2024, 1:48 PM

Your pronunciation is much better! Definitely better than Phoebe with yours!

I love Phaedra! It's so dramatic. I went to a small liberal arts college in rural Ohio, and one of the people who worked in the registrar's office was named Phaedra Fawcett!

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I studied classics (Latin & Greek) and have only ever heard it pronounced "FAY-dra," though this isn't how it would have been pronounced in Latin or Greek.

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I prefer it to Phoebe.

This message was edited 2/4/2024, 8:50 AM

I think it's underrated. It's quite lovely, and I adore the meaning. I also like the variant Phaedria (used in The Faerie Queenie), Phaënna, Phaethousa and Pasiphaë.

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I like Phaedra better than Phoebe because of its rarity, but the latter is also a nice name.

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The pronunciation I use is FEH-dra, inspired by the Spanish form, Fedra.

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On another note, I wonder what made Phaedra chart in Belgium in the late 90s...

I've been saying FEE-dra, based on the pronunciation on this site, but the Greek is mostly likely FIE-dra (first syllable rhyming with eye). It's nice, but the pronunciation uncertainty does put me off. I like Phoebe too, probably more, although I've always found Phoebe a little flimsy and dull. I really like Ariadne, though. (The mythological Phaedra is the famous Ariadne's sister.)

I also say it like FAY-dra. This is also how the reality star Phaedra Parks pronounces it, and I'd wager she's the most famous current Phaedra. I feel like that's what most people would default to.

I pronounce it the same as you

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It's quite nice, Phoebe is lovely too. I'd pick Phoebe

Both are fine names but I prefer Phaedra. It has an air of mystery about it.

Personally, I like Phoebe more because I think she is simpler, and prettier.