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Baby names

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

Hephzibah

65 replies

BirdieFriendReturns · 24/01/2020 09:54

Or Hepzibah

Nice?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
thehepis · 24/01/2020 16:03

We like all the same names!

We called our daughter Hepzibah (Hepzi for short). Obviously I absolutely love this name ... It's got a lot of compliments, but I'm not so naive to think it hasn't also had a lot of 'comments' behind our backs Wink

Family didn't like it originally but now they say they it has really grown on them and they can't imagine her as anything else.

You do have to explain the name a lot as so many people haven't heard of it, but usually people respond positively. No one has ever had trouble pronouncing it or anything like that. I did give DD a 'normal' middle name in case she does think it's too out there when she's older.

I love it and think there should be more of them. It means 'my delight is in her', which is also beautiful.

EvilHerbivore · 24/01/2020 15:59

Live all your options, you have great taste! Love the 'little bear' meaning of Ursula too

Batqueen · 24/01/2020 15:55

Hester!

BinkySodPlop · 24/01/2020 15:53

The NN options sound very medical; Hep-C, or Epi (like epi pen). She would go through life being asked how to spell / pronounce it.

Hanab · 24/01/2020 15:52

Sorry OP .. I think of the controversial boarding school that is in the news in America who has that particular name ..re: Dr Phil ..

If you love it then go for it!

JacquesHammer · 24/01/2020 15:50

Gorgeous.

I also loved Mehitabel which is of a similar origin

mammmamia · 24/01/2020 15:49

Great strong name but I just don’t like how it sounds and I don’t like the nicknames either.
Effie is really wet.
Eppie sounds like Epi pen.
There are so many other lovely Hebrew names!

DramaAlpaca · 24/01/2020 15:44

I like Hester.

JaneJeffer · 24/01/2020 15:01

I think Diarmuid Gavin used it for his daughter but she's called Eppie. I like it.

midsomermurderess · 24/01/2020 15:01

Marvellous name. In a sea of simpering Emilys, Ellas, Evies, marvellous.

FATEdestiny · 24/01/2020 14:51

Love it. I'd never use it, but love it.

I thinks there's a Hepzibah is Harry Potter somewhere

GoodbyePorpoiseSpit · 24/01/2020 14:50

Love Hepzibah!!!

AudacityOfHope · 24/01/2020 14:48

It's cool but it's very extra. And it needs a cool surname to match. It's quite a name for a person to handle.

Hepzibah Smith
Hepzibah Mcgurk
Hepzibah Johnson

Mmm 🤐

NoSquirrels · 24/01/2020 14:47

Hester is my favourite.

strawberry2017 · 24/01/2020 14:26

it's a very big name, I don't love it but I don't dislike it either.
Plenty of nickname options to.

Marcipex · 24/01/2020 14:15

Nn Zizi

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 24/01/2020 14:10

Meh, not too keep, mush prefer Hester, or Hestia

kikibo · 24/01/2020 14:04

It was common in the 19th century.

Go for it.

bridgetreilly · 24/01/2020 13:56

In order, I like:
Hepzibah
Hester
Hephzibah
Ursula

BirdieFriendReturns · 24/01/2020 13:27

Oh yes, Carrie’s War! I knew I had heard it somewhere else. Hephzibah, Hester or Ursula? Which is the least worst?

OP posts:
AwkwardSquad · 24/01/2020 13:20

Ah, slow cross-posting there!

AwkwardSquad · 24/01/2020 13:19

Love it. There’s a character called Hepzibah in the book ‘Carrie’s War’ by Nina Bawden.

AllTheWhoresOfMalta · 24/01/2020 12:54

If you like the “Effie” sounding nickname what about Esther with nickname “Essie”?Also Hebrew!

NoSquirrels · 24/01/2020 12:48

I love it because of Carrie’s War. In reality though the nickname diminutive would put me off - I’d have to shorten to something like Zee and I think it’s open to horrible shortenings, so I’m not sure I love it enough for that reason.

KittenVsBox · 24/01/2020 12:43

I'd pronounce the 2 differently.

With the h in the middle, I'd say hef-ze-ba. The second version I'd say hep-ze-ba.
Which do you prefer?