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Baby names

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Original poster

How would you pronounce Selah?

84 replies

Flutterflybutterby · 14/01/2022 11:08

A biblical word, the meaning of which is not certain but it's thought to be a musical instruction meaning "to pause; reflect on God". It is quite a well-known name in American Christian communities (I know 4 baby Selahs!) but I assume fairly rare in the UK.

My question is, how would you pronounce this name? The Selahs I know pronounce it differently. Also, do you know any baby Selahs? If so, how do they say the name?

Lastly, do you like it? What sort of middle name do you think goes with it? Two of the Selahs I know have long, classic middle names (think Catherine, Elizabeth type names) and the other two short, snappy, one syllable, cool middle names. What would you choose?

OP posts:
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ElephantandGrasshopper · 14/01/2022 22:01

I am not familiar with the name, would have guessed sellAH with the emphasis on the last syllable.

SnowySnowman · 14/01/2022 21:40

I always think with an unusual 1st name (and I like unusual names - my child has one) it's always good to have a classic traditional middle name so if they don't like having an unusual name when older they have an option of a well known name they could use.

guardiansofthegalaxychocs · 14/01/2022 21:40

Sell-ah

Thatsplentyjack · 14/01/2022 21:37

Like Stella without the T

Shmippy · 14/01/2022 21:36

Always assumed it was pronounced see-lah

Luredbyapomegranate · 14/01/2022 21:29

@Andtheyalllookjustthesame

Seal-ah
Like this.

I’ve never heard of it. Don’t think it’s especially attractive and it will be a pain for her to be endlessly spelling it. So unless you are dead set I’d find something else.

Knittedfairies · 14/01/2022 20:29

Like Sheila without the h.

Kelpie78 · 14/01/2022 19:51

Like Sarah but with an l

Blubells · 14/01/2022 19:44

Where on earth are some of you getting the SAY sound from?

It's not Saylah. It's Selah.

VioletBlanche · 14/01/2022 19:29

I would say "SAY-luh"

SunshineOnKeith · 14/01/2022 18:56

Sella
Because that's phonetically how it would be pronounced in English.
You'd need to change the spelling to get either of the pronoun IAR ions you mentioned.

It's not very pretty and she'll spend her life explaining it

LethargicActress · 14/01/2022 18:44

I’d say it Sel ah, exactly as it looks phonetically. It sounds lovely, made me think of Mo Salah, so I’d think it was Arabic.

Adventing · 14/01/2022 18:38

@steppemum

sellar, but with the stress on the second syllable.

se-LLAR

(I am a Christian, don't know any kids called selah, but that it how we pronounce it if reading Psalms aloud)

All of this

It's a beautiful name

Glitterygreen · 14/01/2022 18:14

@Thegirlhasnamechanged

I’d probably pronounce it like Cellar until otherwise corrected 😅
Same for me, that was my first reading.
Blubells · 14/01/2022 16:30

And there's definitely no double ee

Blubells · 14/01/2022 16:29

I'd pronounce it as it's written Hmm

Seh-lah 2 syllables

Seh (as in Cellar) ah (as in ah)

There's no ay sound nor an ar sound!

Concestor · 14/01/2022 16:06

When I read it in the Bible i say it sill-AH although I don't know if that's correct.

Synchrony · 14/01/2022 15:59

@steppemum

sellar, but with the stress on the second syllable.

se-LLAR

(I am a Christian, don't know any kids called selah, but that it how we pronounce it if reading Psalms aloud)

This
Original poster
Flutterflybutterby · 14/01/2022 15:54

@peachgreen

Weirdly, I read it as "SEElah" in the bible but as a name I would pronounce it "SAYlah".
Me too! Grin

What type of middle names do you all think would suit this name?

OP posts:
peachgreen · 14/01/2022 12:26

Weirdly, I read it as "SEElah" in the bible but as a name I would pronounce it "SAYlah".

Captainj1 · 14/01/2022 12:22

Seller. Made me immediately think of Mo Salah who plays for Liverpool and Egypt. Never heard the name before but would have assumed it was male.

DoucheCanoe · 14/01/2022 12:21

I'd pronounce it to rhyme with fella.

I don't know any and I'm not religious.

EdgeOfACoin · 14/01/2022 12:18

See-lah.

I don't know anyone with the name but that's how I've heard it pronounced when the Bible is read aloud.

notangelinajolie · 14/01/2022 12:14

Cellar

As in the space under a house.

tiredanddangerous · 14/01/2022 12:09

Seller. I've never heard it before.