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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Shem / Shemuel

33 replies

tummytickler · 01/08/2009 12:56

Hi all
After my thread on Graham/Gladys last night i talked to dh further about Shem.
I think it is starting to grow on me.
It is a name in its own right or a shortening of Shemuel.
What is your general opinion on Shem/Shemuel?
Which do you prefer?
Will I have to correct people constantly as it is a little similar to Samuel.
I say the end of the name as more distinct in Shemuel then Samuel (Shem - you -el).
Also we are not Jewish - does this matter - we already have Amos and Eli (alhtough girls names are flowers and jewels).
Stuck for mn aswell as none of our family names fit except maybe Josiah after dh?
Looking forward to some honest opinions as always!

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moondog · 01/08/2009 12:57

No, it will sound as if you are trying to say Sam or Samuel and are either pissed or have a speech impediment.

weepootle · 01/08/2009 12:58

I'm not keen personally, to me it sounds like Sean Connery's pronunciation of Samuel .

TrinityRhinoIsInDetention · 01/08/2009 13:00

you are just saying samuel wong though
people will pity your speeedge impeeedimant

SummerC · 01/08/2009 13:00

Like moondog and weepootle said...it sounds like you have a speech impediment and intended to say Samuel. Aside from that, it is just an odd sounding name.

nickschick · 01/08/2009 13:01

As mum of a ds called Sam I SAY DONT DO IT!!!

SoupDragon · 01/08/2009 13:02

I don't like it at all. My first thought was that you were Jewish.

aJumpedUpPantryBoy · 01/08/2009 13:02

I think it's lovely.
Shem or Shemie for short
(I should add as a disclaimer that no one ever likes the names that I think are fabulous)

tummytickler · 01/08/2009 13:03

Dammit!
I did wonder if that might be the case.
It is such a nice sounding name?
I will have to think of some alternatives (not Sam/Samuel)

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tummytickler · 01/08/2009 13:05

Thank you JumpedUpPantryBoy!
Maybe there is hope!

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aJumpedUpPantryBoy · 01/08/2009 13:10

Tummytickler - I love your other boy names as well. Amos and Eli are lovely.

Tidey · 01/08/2009 13:12

Samuel and Sam are gorgeous names, but I suppose they are probably too popular for some people's tastes. Really don't like Shemuel, but Shem's okay.

MollieO · 01/08/2009 13:17

Can't make a sensible comment as I can't stop laughing at weepootle's post .

mrswoolf · 01/08/2009 13:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tummytickler · 01/08/2009 13:45

The original suggestion was to use Shem alone, when i saw th elonger version i thought maybe it would make sense to have a longer name with a nn.
Maybe i should stick to Shem!
Dont want to be 'try-hard'

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campion · 01/08/2009 13:48

Shemuel's just the Hebrew version of Samuel so, really, it's the same name.

I think if you're seriously considering Gladys for a girl then you / he could cope with Shem / Shemuel.

There are loads of ' Jewish' names in circulation and, besides, why would it matter if people thought you were Jewish

MollieO · 01/08/2009 13:48

I would worry that Shem is a bit close to sounding like Shep!

TrinityRhinoIsInDetention · 01/08/2009 13:49

It would matter to me if people thought I was Jewish but only because I'm not

who wants to be thought of as being something they aren't

tummytickler · 01/08/2009 13:50

I dont mind if people think we are Jewish at all.
I just think they might think we are weird when they find out we are not! I do realise that it doesn't really metter what they think of course!

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tummytickler · 01/08/2009 13:52

Sorry - my spelling and typing is shockingly bad today!

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edam · 01/08/2009 13:57

Wasn't Shem Noah's son, or have I got my Biblical characters wrong? Go and get a Bible and check his life didn't end tragically...

Shem's unusual, easily confused with Sam, but if you can cope with that, fine!

MakkaPakkasWilly · 01/08/2009 14:07

I wouldn't, personally, I would think you spoke like sean connery or something and couldn't say Sam.

Like someone with a lisp calling their son Seth.

tummytickler · 01/08/2009 14:15

yes, Shem was Noahs son! i dont know his life story though

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edam · 01/08/2009 15:23

He'd probably end up being a zookeeper, then.

franklymydear · 01/08/2009 15:37

Well

Shem in hebrew is pronounced as shame phonetically and it kind of means name (but a bit more essential essence

so it would be kind of like naming a dog "Dog" ie don't do it

Shemuel sounds like Schlemiel to me which is old yiddish (I think) and means an idiot or a dolt

ya big schlemeil (particularly known in USA)

don't do it

hughsieoxf · 05/08/2009 13:30

Shem is better than Ham! I knew a horse called Shem once. Shem is cute, whereas Shemuel just doesn't sound right to my ears.

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