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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!

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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.

artisanbread · 10/07/2022 07:50

Personally, with a hard P. I haven't heard it the other way.

Aozora13 · 10/07/2022 07:49

Stephen Fry pronounces it Hep-zi-bah in the Harry Potter audiobooks so I’d go with that.

Effie could be short for Ephigenia.

Although both are a bit Victorian for my tastes.

Rugges · 10/07/2022 07:46

Hep with a p.

I am Jewish but don't speak Hebrew but have only heard of it as Hep-zi

I love the name.

Ethelswith · 10/07/2022 07:42

Hep-zi-ba

And that's the only way I've heard it said in church

Didn't even occur to me that it could be a 'f' any more than I'd start Thomas with a 'th'

daisypond · 10/07/2022 07:40

But there are several other short forms you could get - Hepzi, or Zibah, or Heba, for example.

Original poster
Flangelica · 10/07/2022 07:35

A conundrum, then, as I prefer the "Hep-zi-bah" pronunciation to the "Hef-zi-bah" but prefer nickname Ephy to Eppie!

OP posts:
mizzo · 10/07/2022 07:17

The other thread confused me tbh. I've always pronounced the P after being read Carries War as a child and that's how my Dad pronounced it although I think the spelling was p not ph.
Then you said you liked Ephie/Effie as a nn so I googled the pronunciation.

daisypond · 10/07/2022 07:15

Actually, the Carrie’s War character is spelled Hepzibah (without the H), so that makes it very clear.

Lisbeth50 · 10/07/2022 07:15

I've only ever seen it written as Hepzibah so would pronounce it with a p.

BooksAndHooks · 10/07/2022 07:15

If spelt Heziba I’d pronounce with a P if spelled with ph f. I prefer it with a p. Always liked the name from reading Carrie’s war.

daisypond · 10/07/2022 07:13

With a P. Hephzibah is Eppie in Silas Marner. There’s a Hephzibah in the children’s book Carrie’s War too. It’s never occurred to me that there could be an F pronunciation.

Original poster
Flangelica · 10/07/2022 07:11

ReeseWitherfork · 10/07/2022 06:44

Wait…. You’ve seen a name you like but you weren’t even pronouncing it right? Doesn’t that give you some suggestion of how much your DC may struggle?! Also…. Your sarcastic suggestions suggest incoming child is a girl…. I’d have assumed Hepzibah was a boy? But to answer your action question…. p.

Hi! No, to clarify, it can be pronounced both ways. It's an Old Testament Hebrew names and the Hebrew pronunciation is with an 'f' sound, but it's also a name made famous through other novels, where it is pronounced with a 'p' sound 😊 So both ways are correct.

OP posts:
Primatrying · 10/07/2022 07:06

I say Hep zi bah.
Surely most people will have come across it in Harry Potter?! Spelt Hepzibah if you want to reduce the potential for the "ph" pronunciation.

ChagSameachDoreen · 10/07/2022 07:04

Heff-ZEE-ba.

acornpattern · 10/07/2022 07:04

I have a friend with this name - pronounced with a P but she is usually called Eppie.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 10/07/2022 07:03

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

ReeseWitherfork · 10/07/2022 06:49

FilePhoto · 10/07/2022 06:46

Well you'd assume wrong because it's a girls name!

Show quote history

Oh no sorry I got that from the update. I just meant that I saw it and assumed boy. I wonder if others would do the same. Just might be something to consider. I think it’s the last syllable throwing me.

FilePhoto · 10/07/2022 06:46

ReeseWitherfork · 10/07/2022 06:44

Wait…. You’ve seen a name you like but you weren’t even pronouncing it right? Doesn’t that give you some suggestion of how much your DC may struggle?! Also…. Your sarcastic suggestions suggest incoming child is a girl…. I’d have assumed Hepzibah was a boy? But to answer your action question…. p.

Well you'd assume wrong because it's a girls name!

ReeseWitherfork · 10/07/2022 06:44

Wait…. You’ve seen a name you like but you weren’t even pronouncing it right? Doesn’t that give you some suggestion of how much your DC may struggle?! Also…. Your sarcastic suggestions suggest incoming child is a girl…. I’d have assumed Hepzibah was a boy? But to answer your action question…. p.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 10/07/2022 06:41

With a P

SpiderVersed · 10/07/2022 06:38

Hep zi bah

Original poster
Flangelica · 10/07/2022 06:38

So, so far 5 people would pronounce with a 'p' and 2 with an 'f'.

I actually pronounced it with an 'f', but prefer the 'p' pronunciation!

OP posts:
meloncolic · 10/07/2022 06:37

I love hepzibah! Is that the same name or a variation, never seen it with a r on the end before.

It was high on my list but DH didn’t like.

Original poster
Flangelica · 10/07/2022 06:36

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.

You're right - thank you for the correction! I was thinking of how to write the pronunciation and confused myself!

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