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Baby names

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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!

OP posts:
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AsanteSana · 10/07/2022 09:54

It is a beautiful name and I am rather surprised that some posters have either never come across it before or have an intense dislike of it. Rather more unusual these days, but certainly not uncommon in Victorian and early Edwardian times and was, (maybe still is!), widely used in the Romani and travelling communities, along with many other Hebrew and biblical names.

Gorgeous name and, had circumstances been different, I would definitely have used it, pronounced with a hard 'P', along with, possibly, Keziah, Rebekka and Bathsheba

BertieBotts · 10/07/2022 09:48

Only come across "Hepzibah", would pronounce with p sound. Definitely a girl's name, unusual, but not completely unheard of. I'd definitely heard of it before Harry potter but no idea where originally.

cottagegardenflower · 10/07/2022 09:36

P but I've never met me and only heard it in relation to the bible. Never on a real person.

Original poster
Flangelica · 10/07/2022 09:29

SoupDragon · 10/07/2022 09:07

If you bothered to read the thread you'll see it can be pronounced both ways and the OP is well aware of this.

Show quote history

Thanks @SoupDragon ! 💐

OP posts:
Derrymum123 · 10/07/2022 09:21

With the p sound. Hep-zee-bar.
Beautiful name by the way.

WestHamPam · 10/07/2022 09:12

With a P. I love it.

SirChenjins · 10/07/2022 09:08

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

SoupDragon · 10/07/2022 09:07

Liorae · 10/07/2022 09:03

For your child's sake don't choose a name that even you don't know how to pronounce.

If you bothered to read the thread you'll see it can be pronounced both ways and the OP is well aware of this.

SoupDragon · 10/07/2022 09:06

I'd go with a P sound but that's because I don't think I've ever noticed it with a H in it - even with your thread I didn't notice the H 😂

(As an aside, I like Zee as a nickname rather than Effie or Eppie)

Liorae · 10/07/2022 09:03

For your child's sake don't choose a name that even you don't know how to pronounce.

FfeminyddCymraeg · 10/07/2022 08:59

I met somebody with this name recently and it was pronounced with a hard P

DecimatedDreams · 10/07/2022 08:59

Hep-zi-bah. I first heard it in 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'...

sashh · 10/07/2022 08:53

I'd pronounce it with an 'f' sound.

LottieTx · 10/07/2022 08:36

I’m unfamiliar with the name so at first sight I would pronounce with the ‘f’ sound but after reading comments I like it better with the ‘p’ sound. It’s a rather unusual name though and she could have a lifetime of telling people how it’s spelt/pronounced. However it’s not boring and it’s beautiful.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/07/2022 08:30

Could you email the hotel there and how they pronounce it?

Hold on a mo! Wasn't it a spell in Harry Potter?

BrownHairedQuirk · 10/07/2022 08:26

I’ve never heard or seen the name but looking at it would pronounce it with the f sound naturally. I quite like it!

Verbena87 · 10/07/2022 08:25

With a p and I like it.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 10/07/2022 08:24

BitOutOfPractice · 10/07/2022 06:06

Hep Zi Bar

Hardly anyone will have heard it or seen it though

Really,why? It's not used a lot but I'd be surprised if no one's heard of it ever.

SausageAndCash · 10/07/2022 08:22

Sorry, irrespective of spelling or pronunciation.

SausageAndCash · 10/07/2022 08:21

You can use whatever NN you like, irrespective of spelling. Betsy and Betty don’t use the ‘th’ of Elizabeth, loads of common nicknames are not just a syllable from the name.

Strugglingtodomybest · 10/07/2022 08:00

I knew a girl with this name and she pronounced it with the p

StopStartStop · 10/07/2022 07:57

Hepsy-bah, nn Eppie. It's a beautiful name, absolutely beautiful.

Cindie943811A · 10/07/2022 07:55

Is Silas Marner still read in schools? I remember at 13 thinking what a heart warming story it was. The description of miserly old Silas caring for baby Eppie is lovely and must be memorable for me to remember it after 60+ years.
Hephzibah was also the name of Yehudi Menuhin’s pianist sister.

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 10/07/2022 07:54

It's a beautiful name and pronounced with the P. I first came across it in Silas Marner and the little girl got Eppie for short, I love it.

I can never get my head around MN horror of names you might possibly have to spell or that others might not know how to pronounce. Hephzibah is a really old name not something newfangled and younique Confused

Velvetbee · 10/07/2022 07:54

P.
Beautiful name.