Selah or Sybil?

[JanuaryJuniper]

Which do you prefer as a sister to Eli and Aphra?

I had a recent thread in Sybil, I know it's marmite but myself and dh love it and I think it goes well. I see it as elegant, others see it as major granny name though!

But, I LOVE that Selah is Hebrew like Eli and Aphra. It's meaning is also beautuful! It's pronounced Say lah btw.

[Castledolorous]

I think they are both lovely names. I do like Selah best but it might be tricky for people who don't know how it's meant to be pronounced

[JanuaryJuniper]

Yeah I could see pronunciation being an issue with Selah alright!

Though my ds heard me suggest it to dh and said uh that's an awful name how about Greta....I think my name obsession is rubbing off on him

[celtictoast]

I like Sybil.

[ApplesTheHare]

Selah is beautiful but be prepared for forever explaining how to pronounce it. I have a Sylvie which I thought was a standard name and people get it wrong all the time

[Snossidge]

Selah goes better with Eli and Aphra. I doubt telling people how to pronounce it will be an issue because they will mostly hear the name before seeing it written.

[JanuaryJuniper]

Oooh Sylvie....now that is beautiful!

[villainousbroodmare]

I really like all three! (inc Sylvie!)
but Selah possibly goes better with your others.

[mangocoveredlamb]

All gorgeous!!

(How do you mispronounce Sylvie? )

[WaitroseEssentialPancetta]

Selah looks lovely written down but telling people she's called sailor might get odd looks?

[JanuaryJuniper]

It's Say lah not Say ler

[Indole]

Sybil much better in the UK. And Saylah/Sayler are not going to be much different in lots of accents.

[JanuaryJuniper]

Yeah I suppose some people don't really pronounce the r at the end of sailor which would make them sound the same.....though I secretly like Sailor as a baby name aka Liv Tyler, though for a boy!

[ApplesTheHare]

Mango the most common mistake is saying 'Sylvia' and then after that take your pick. We've have everything from Salvia (?) to 'Silver'. We are in the north though, and January everyone with a northern accent would pronounce it 'Sailor' but it's still beautiful so don't let that put you off!

[ApplesTheHare]

Also is you already have an Aphra you must be used to correcting people!

[celtictoast]

I was thinking it might be confused for Sailor as well.

[MrsCaecilius]

Saleh - too much like sailor to me too.

Sybil is pretty, although a bit too Downton Abbey, which is why I think I prefer Sybilla. Sylvie is a lovely alternative.

[mrssmith79]

Sybil reminds me of that movie from the seventies. I know that's not in the least bit constructive but I had to get it out

[rainydaygrey]

Selah/Sailor sound more or less the same in my accent.

Nothing wrong with that though It's lovely and a good match with the other 2 names.

[welliesandleaves]

Sybil always reminds me of the Chalet School books and I like it for that reason. I think other people will associate it with Downton Abbey which is another nice connection.

And yes, you will get people who will think of the Sally Field film or Fawlty Towers, but not that many I shouldn't think.

[SeveredHeadsDragOnTheFloor]

I would automatically pronounce Selah as See la from just seeing it written down. That might get annoying after a while but I doubt it's a major problem.

I prefer it to Sybil although my judgement might be clouded by being of the Fawlty Towers generation so I associate it with older people.