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Original poster

Do you pronounce 'Hephzibar'...

87 replies

Flangelica · 10/07/2022 05:41

With a 'p' or an 'f' sound (if you are familiar with the name.)

Like 'Hep-zee-bar'

Or

'Hef-zee-bar'?

There seems to be some difference in opinion, wondering which was more common/popular.

Thank you!

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myriama · 11/07/2022 20:03

If you mean Hephzibah or Hepzibah (no R), I read Carrie's War at school and Hep-zih-ba was how the teacher pronounced it. Other than it being the name of a minor figure in the Bible, I've never come across this name in any other context.

Hephzibar looks like a strange blend of Hephzibah and Zanzibar.

Penguinevere · 11/07/2022 18:07

P

SummerPuddings · 10/07/2022 23:30

It's a biblical Jewish girls name.
Sounds like Hep Zee bar
I wouldn't saddle a child with it.

SpaceJamtart · 10/07/2022 22:06

I would say it Hep-z bar like how you hep-C

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 10/07/2022 21:51

P. I knew an adult Hepzi - short for Hephzibah and she used the p sound.

It was on my shortlist for dd. I like it a lot.

rnsaslkih · 10/07/2022 17:52

I wouldn't pronounce it. I would wait until told the pronunciation, as would many others. You should consider how that may impact your child.

MerryMarigold · 10/07/2022 17:49

Yes, HEP-see-bar is where the stress comes. It's a lovely dancing rhythm.

But the other issue now seems to be is it a 'z' or an 's' sound. I've never heard it said with a 'z' (like buzz)

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 10/07/2022 17:48

With a p

But then I always thought it was a boys name 😳

MerryMarigold · 10/07/2022 17:42

I pronounce with a 'P' - hep see bar

I think Hepsie is a cute nn and would hopefully help people still to the 'P'.

Don't envy the poor thing learning to write her name when she's 4 though.

ThePumpkinPatch · 10/07/2022 17:40

Heppy whaaaa?!

Oh the poor kid. You know very well Evie & Lily are farrrrrr from your only other options! There are billions of names out there, please don't name her something that sounds like a religious ceremony

Iammeiamfree · 10/07/2022 17:39

SirChenjins · 10/07/2022 09:08

With a p - as in, ‘please don’t give me this hideous name, mummy’

🤣🤣

KirstenBlest · 10/07/2022 17:06

'I'd have assumed...'
It's a hebrew name and transliteration isn't reliable because of the different alphabets.
HEP-zi-ba is how I'd say it. I hear 'bar' different to baa or bah

jackstini · 10/07/2022 16:47

Zampa · 10/07/2022 07:51

I have a great (many times over) grandmother from the mid nineteenth century called Hephzibah and considered it for one of my girls.

My question was which syllable is the most pronounced; Hep-ZEE-bar or Hep-zi-BAR.

I never even questioned that some people might choose a f sound over a p.

Neither Smile HEP-zi-bah

(As pronounced in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers anyway!)

midsomermurderess · 10/07/2022 16:19

‘I’d have assumed…’. Why assume when, in the space of seconds, you can check?
That phrase ‘Lord, give me the confidence of a mediocre white man’, could so easily be tweaked to ‘oh for the confidence of an uninformed subset of mumsnetters’. Of which there are many.

I thinks it’s a marvellous name, but it is bold. And I have only heard it as Hep-zi- bah.

DuchessOfSausage · 10/07/2022 13:55

ApolloandDaphne · 10/07/2022 05:59

It is Hephzibah with and h on the end not an r. I would pronounce it Hep-zi-ba.

This

RightOnTheEdge · 10/07/2022 13:41

I'd pronounce it with a P but I've only ever read it, I've never met one in real life.
I thought it was a bit weird when I read the OP but it's grown on me as I've read the thread.
The nicknames are cute!

Luredbyapomegranate · 10/07/2022 13:38

daisypond · 10/07/2022 13:30

I remember reading Carrie’s War at primary school and thinking, “Hepzibah? What sort of name is that?” I’d never heard of it before then.

God I forgotten Carrie’s War! I did love that book!

FredGarland · 10/07/2022 13:38

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 10/07/2022 11:18

This is what I was going to say!

'Eppie in the coal hole!" So cute.

Show quote history

"Eppie in the coal hole" was Patsy Kensit as a child, wasn't it?

I would pronounce with a P, OP.

Luredbyapomegranate · 10/07/2022 13:34

Hep-sa-buh

I think it’s always pronounced w a p in English, so unless you are Jewish and want the f for a particular reason I would do that.

I like it, but I think it’s worth considering spelling it Hepzibah as that’s what people will know from HPotter and Marvel and it gets rid of the issue

daisypond · 10/07/2022 13:30

I remember reading Carrie’s War at primary school and thinking, “Hepzibah? What sort of name is that?” I’d never heard of it before then.

grey12 · 10/07/2022 13:16

FilePhoto · 10/07/2022 06:08

Hep-zi-bar

Same

WestHamPam · 10/07/2022 11:27

*bah

WestHamPam · 10/07/2022 11:19

To be fair, even in Silas Marner Dolly’s a bit taken aback by Hephzibar as a name 😂

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 10/07/2022 11:18

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 10/07/2022 07:03

With a p, and then call her Eppie for short, like Silas Marner.

This is what I was going to say!

'Eppie in the coal hole!" So cute.

daisypond · 10/07/2022 11:16

I would assume that any sites suggesting there’s a valid pronunciation of an F in the middle have it wrong. I’m also surprised that people haven’t at least come across the name, even if they don’t know anyone actually called it.