Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Unflip

1 2 3 4

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:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SoftPillow · 14/01/2022 11:15

I would pronounce it See-lah

I do quite like it, although you and your daughter would be constantly explaining pronunciation and spelling. I have to do this with my name and it's tedious. Even people I know we'll call me the wrong name

ineedsun · 14/01/2022 11:15

I’d pronounce it like stellar without the t.

I’ve never heard of it before

Sportsnight · 14/01/2022 11:15

I would probably say Seh-LAA. But I have never heard it said out loud so am probably wrong. It’s not a name I have come across before.

The Say-La pronunciation being so close to Sailor would put me off I think.

PolytheneRam · 14/01/2022 11:15

Seller

Original poster

Flutterflybutterby · 14/01/2022 11:14

@DixiePeach

The one I know pronounces it Say-la

Is the one you know in the UK, out of curiosity? And is she a Christian, if you don't mind me asking? I'm wondering if it's used outside of Christian communities much.

OP posts:

Andtheyalllookjustthesame · 14/01/2022 11:14

Seal-ah

Thegirlhasnamechanged · 14/01/2022 11:12

I’d probably pronounce it like Cellar until otherwise corrected 😅

DixiePeach · 14/01/2022 11:11

The one I know pronounces it Say-la

Original poster

Flutterflybutterby · 14/01/2022 11:09

(The Selahs I know pronounce it either Say-luh or See-luh)

OP posts:

Unflip

1 2 3 4