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Baby names

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

Original poster

Sybil Or Sibyl spelling?

33 replies

Pictureperfect3rdtime · 22/06/2022 16:17

What spelling do you prefer?

I personally prefer Sybil?

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webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat · 26/06/2022 08:33

Sybil and I'm so jealous! My DH vetoed Sybil outright

JuneJubilee · 25/06/2022 15:16

Sybil.

but you have to put up a framed photo of Fawlty Towers' in her bedroom.

nomorespaghetti · 25/06/2022 15:08

I have a Sybil too!

Theoldwoman · 25/06/2022 14:58

SYBIL

ChagSameachDoreen · 24/06/2022 23:36

Sybil.

Sibyl puts me in mind of Chernobyl due to the ending.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 24/06/2022 16:05

You could even have the spelling Sibella.

(Kind Hearts and Coronets played by the brilliant Joan Greenwood)

Cindie943811A · 24/06/2022 15:35

Sybil and Sybilla seem to have been popular in the 14th and 15th Centuries so I’d say that spelling is fairly well entrenched by now.
Rather pretty and I prefer it to some of the other “old” names now coming back into fashion such as Maude and Constance and Ethel

17caterpillars1mouse · 24/06/2022 13:09

I love Sibyl. I considered it for dd2

soulinablackberrypie · 24/06/2022 00:24

I wouldn’t saddle a child with a misspelt name.

Sibyl is actually the more historically accurate spelling, but since everybody seems to have spelt it Sybil in modern times, I'd probably go with that just because most people will think it's that anyway.

Cameleongirl · 23/06/2022 01:36

Wasn’t the Sibyl a prophetess in classical mythology? She’d go into a trance and foretell the future? She was very ancient as well.

I think I’d stick with “Sybil” as a name spelling, the Sibyl was somewhat frightening!

AuntTwacky · 23/06/2022 01:01

Neither
Old lady name

AlwaysLatte · 23/06/2022 00:47

Sybil. Can just imagine the lifetime of correcting people with the other one!

brokengoalposts · 23/06/2022 00:29

Sybil, love it!

peaceinourtime · 23/06/2022 00:20

Sybil for sure.

Matilda1981 · 22/06/2022 23:04

I have a Sybil

Ellmau · 22/06/2022 23:02

Sibyl is the original, but Sybil is much more common. I think either is fine.

Yika · 22/06/2022 22:23

I’ve only ever seen it spelt Sybil but now I see Sibyl I prefer that. Very pretty.

DramaAlpaca · 22/06/2022 22:09

Sybil, for sure.

riotlady · 22/06/2022 22:05

Sybil

Luxa · 22/06/2022 22:03

Sybil

Riverlee · 22/06/2022 21:55

Sybil.

The other version looks misspelt and you will spend your whole life spelling it out.

neverwinternights · 22/06/2022 21:48

It comes from old Greek Sibylla, which was spelt sigma, iota, beta, epsilon, lambda, lambda, alpha, iota = i, epsilon = y
www.behindthename.com/support/transcribe?type=GR&target=Si%27bulla

You'll want to spelt it Sybil cause of Sylvie, but that spelling comes from middle ages when both were used.

I prefer Sibyl.

Rockmehardplace · 22/06/2022 21:46

Sybil

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 22/06/2022 21:25

Sybil. Sibyl looks like it should be pronounced Sib-yull.
Fab name, BTW. Are you using it for your baby.

IStandWithMaya · 22/06/2022 17:47

Sybil

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