Baby Name Dilemma For Caroline Rhea

Actress and comedienne Caroline Rhea is preparing for the birth of her first child — a baby girl, she told Regis & Kelly this morning — this fall with longtime boyfriend Costaki Economopoulos, and like most couples, they are trying to decide on a name for their daughter. However, the 44-year-old admitted that "everyone has something to say about every baby name" the couple comes up with, including her mother, who Caroline calls "the most hilarious."

My boyfriend is Greek, so we have to work a Greek name in there. My mother’s like, ‘What about Parthenon or Acropolis?’

Caroline can currently be seen in Sordid Lives.

Source: New York Daily News; Photo by Paul Hawthorne/StarTraks.

Thanks to CBB reader P.

Do you have any name suggestions for Caroline and Costaki?

Comments

I’ll suggest “Athina” Reminds me of Athina Onassis.

- Lissette on July 22nd, 2008

LOL to her mother’s comments

How about something short and sweet, like Kate? With that many syllables in the last name, you need a 1- or 2-syllable first name!

- The Nanny on July 22nd, 2008

Aleta

Always loved that name

- Alana on July 22nd, 2008

I like Calysta, Elysa or Nerissa. I think using Rhea as a middle name would be cute. Ex: Elysa Rhea Economopoulos!

- Jen on July 22nd, 2008

i like Alexandra, Isadora and Leora. Very girly Greek names. But i agree with ‘the nanny’ her name will be a mouthful no matter what they name her with the surname

- Clair on July 22nd, 2008

Being half Greek, I know how difficult it is to find a name that’s pronounceable in several languages.
Most Greek girls being Maria, Eleni or Katerina, she could consider Marina, Daphne, Julia, Clio, Myrto or Irene/Irini.

- Aelys on July 22nd, 2008

Going off of Jen and Aelys’ suggestions, Daphne Rhea Economopoulos would be pretty.

- JennB on July 22nd, 2008

My fav is Chrysanta (alternative spellings: Chrysanthe, Chrisanti, Krizanti…). It means goldenflower.

- Tris on July 22nd, 2008

i would suggest clio (cleo) or alexis…

- suze on July 22nd, 2008

I have a Niece Named Rhina (pronounced
_
Rena). I like Natasha, Ava, Abigail also.

- Cindy Murphy on July 22nd, 2008

I have a Niece Named Rhina (pronounced
_
Rena). I like Natasha, Ava, Abigail also.

- Cindy Murphy on July 22nd, 2008

I have a Niece Named Rhina (pronounced
_
Rena). I like Natasha, Ava, Abigail also.

- Cindy Murphy on July 22nd, 2008

I have a Niece Named Rhina (pronounced
_
Rena). I like Natasha, Ava, Abigail also.

- Cindy Murphy on July 22nd, 2008

What about Melina or Athena? I have a friend that is Greek and her name is Maria but everyone calls her Mia. That is also cute.

- HeatherR on July 22nd, 2008

With a long and difficult to pronounce last name like that I’d go with something short and simple…and none of the freaky celebrity names!

- Susan on July 22nd, 2008

calista, Callie, Candace, Carissa, Gillian, Gretchen, Halle, helena, Hilary, Tiffany, Teadora (Tea for short), Theresa, Tess or Tessa, Sirene, Stephanie, Daphne, daria, Dasha

- tink1217 on July 22nd, 2008

Emilie Eleni Economopoulos would be a challenge for any Kindergartener but it’s short and cute.

- Lynda on July 22nd, 2008

My favorite’s are Eleni, Alexia and Chloe

- mimi on July 22nd, 2008

My daughter has a Greek name: Sophia. It means wisdom. Sophia Rea Econompoulos.

- Dana on July 22nd, 2008

I like Sarah

- Sasha on July 22nd, 2008

Anastasia or Demetria. They can both be shortened easily!

- Chana on July 22nd, 2008

Thea, (Means Godsess, short for Theodora) Cassandra, Athina , Phoebe (Means Light)
Zoe (Means life)

- Kate on July 22nd, 2008

I’ve known a few Greeks in my time so forgive me if this is too much, I dropped the Athena’s and Nikki’s: Daphne, Aurelia, Elena, Eliana, Delphine/a, Olympia, Aria, Echo, Ambrosia, Ariadne, Calista, Naia, Dacia, Christianna, Edeline, Kaia, Larissa

- Harley on July 22nd, 2008

I’m not sure if Caroline is aware of this, but Rhea was the Titaness daughter of Uranus, the sky, and Gaia, the earth, in classical Greek mythology. She was known as “the mother of gods.”

And some names suggestions I love are:

Athena Rhea Econompoulos
Delia Rhea Econompoulos
Thalia Rhea Econompoulos

- Allyssia on July 22nd, 2008

I am greek and my parents named me

Lena Natashja

i think all of the names are great above i especially like Athina and Isadora

- Lena on July 22nd, 2008

Acacia is my favorite Greek girl’s name… it means pointed, and is also a flowering bush. It’s a very lovely name.

Some others:

Alessia – means defender
Amara – unfading; eternal
Anthea – flowery

- Nicole on July 22nd, 2008

I hope Caroline is really going to see these suggestions because they are really beautiful.

My favorites are Delia, Aleta and Theodora.

I agree that it would be a good idea to have a one or two syllable name given that her last name will be really long! So my own suggestions would be:

Nicole, Lina/Lena, Alya, Kaia, or Lea/Leah/Lia

- naomi on July 22nd, 2008

I knew it was gonna be a girl for them! I love the names Sasha Eleni Econompoulos, Kennedy Amara Econompoulos, Lena Rhea Econompoulos, and Rhea Isadora Econompoulos. But with them I think any name will be fine as long as their daughter can pronounce it!

- Morgan on July 22nd, 2008

What about Sabrina?

- Morgan on July 22nd, 2008

Olympia Economopoulos Rhea would be good. Artemis and Athena for twin girls. Or they could continue the ‘C’ theme of their own names with Calliope, Cassandra, or Cosima. Calliope Theodora Economopoulos Rhea would be perfect.

- Diana on July 22nd, 2008

I have a Greek friend who is Nicoletta, which I think is pretty. Since her last name is also long, she goes by Nikki.

- MB on July 22nd, 2008

My daughter’s name is Echo, which is the name of a greek nymph. Very easy to pronounce and short to go with a long last name.

- karyn on July 22nd, 2008

my name is chloe which is greek for “always blooming” or more literally “little green shoot”

i get many compliments on it and it has always served me well.

congrats to rhea!

- Chloe on July 22nd, 2008

Greek girl here! lol

Most common names here are Maria, Eleni,Katerina, Georgia (it’s pronounced differently than the state), Ioanna.

I would suggest some ancient greek names, such as

Myrto
Nefeli
Artemis
Calliope
Ione
Thetis
Dione
Alexandra (Alexis is a name used for boys in Greece,Alexandra being the version for girls)
Cassandra
Pasifai-that’s a bit too out there lol
Persefoni
Demetra

I will post again if I can think of more I like!

- Althea on July 22nd, 2008

How about Caraki? Half of her and half of him!

- cathe on July 22nd, 2008

I like Athena – I know 2 of them!

- mel3164 on July 22nd, 2008

I suggest Thalia

- Sasha on July 22nd, 2008

Aredi is a pretty Greek name

- Emma on July 22nd, 2008

caroline, congratulations on your wonderful miracle. please please name your little girl a normal name, not a horrific name your child will resent you for later on in life, ie Honor, Leon, Pax, Sunday, Inspector Pilot. those are just some of the few that come to mind. in fact, your first name is very pretty or how about madeline or julia good luck whatever you decide

- marie on July 22nd, 2008

caroline, congratulations on your wonderful miracle. please please name your little girl a normal name, not a horrific name your child will resent you for later on in life, ie Honor, Leon, Pax, Sunday, Inspector Pilot. those are just some of the few that come to mind. in fact, your first name is very pretty or how about madeline or julia good luck whatever you decide

- marie on July 22nd, 2008

i would suggest kayce. (casey). it has a cool spelling and is very unique. i love it!

- kayce on July 22nd, 2008

One heads up: everyone working in health groans a little inside when girls are named Melina. It’s the medical term for bloody stool.

- Shmoo on July 22nd, 2008

I collect baby name books (I know, weird right?) and Greek names are by far my favourites. A few suggestions (that are Greek if my memory serves me correctly) I don’t recall seeing from anyone else include:

-Eos (Greek Goddess of Dawn)
-Psyche (Means ‘soul’)
-Parthenope (Means ‘city of the virgin’)
-Chryseis (Means ‘golden’)
-Airlia
-Harmonia
-Symphrosia
-Amaryllis

I can’t remember any others off the top of my head. I do believe those few meanings I’ve listed are correct.

Alternatively, if she’s feeling really bold she could call her Aphrodite!!

- Ratty on July 22nd, 2008

Congrats to Caroline! She is one of my favorite actresses. I love the idea someone gave as the baby’s first name being “Rhea”. Rhea Athena would be beautiful to me.

- MK's Mom on July 22nd, 2008

Sofia Rhea Econompoulos; or
Zoe Econompoulos; or
Bella Econompoulos

all good greek names

- vsandiford on July 22nd, 2008

I love all the aforementioned names, but I just wanted to say that Alexis is not just used as a boys name in Greece, I’m an 100% Greek girl and I was named Alexis. Alexia is another variation that I love.

- Alexis on July 22nd, 2008

I love Jayce (Like JC) for a girl. Ah…Jayce Rhea…Me likie!

- Becky on July 22nd, 2008

I like the name Adreahanna with a silent h.

- Heather Mullins on July 22nd, 2008

Thalia is a beautiful name. I also knew a girl named Anthippe, “Thip” for short.

- crookedhighway on July 22nd, 2008

I adore the name Challis. It is very unique and very beautiful.

- Ashley on July 23rd, 2008

I love the greek name Ioanna.

- Max'sMom on July 23rd, 2008

How about an old fashion name: Amanda Rhea and call her Mandy?

- trudy on July 23rd, 2008

what about parthena. i am full greek and its my name, its pretty so i guess thats a good name, and it would also be nice for a celebrities’ daughter to have my name. my full name is parthena athanasiades.

- Parthena Athanasiades on July 24th, 2008