Chione


Origin: Greek
Gender: Female
Meaning: "Snow"
Pronunciation: KYE-oh-nee, kye-OH-nee
Other Forms: Khione; Chion

Today's name is that of a lesser known Greek Goddess or nymph, one who I, even Greek mythology nut that I am, didn't even know of!

Chione, according to which tale you ascribe to, is either the daughter of an Athenian Princess named Orithyia and Boreas, the God of the North Wind or calls the naiad Callirrhoe and the God of the Nile River, Neilus, her parents. It is said that Zeus had Hermes turn her into a snow cloud, and that is where Chione gets its meaning. Later, Chione would become pregnant with a son of Poseidon, named Eumolpus, which she tossed into the waters in fear of the father. He was rescued by Poseidon, and came to rule as a King of Thracia.

Though most likely unusable for a modern child, I can't help but be entranced by this name. Maybe it's best left to the myths, or perhaps, a cat.

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