Hephzibah

Anna8888's remark that "Only in England are Old Testament names common currency for Christians" is really interesting. I never knew that. My two sons have Biblical names. One is in both Old and New Testament, the other is in New, but I assumed it crops up in Old also. The Bible is a wonderful source of names. How is it that other Christian nations have rejected the Old Testament as a name source?

love it! we gave our ds a hebrew first name, and then a family name middle name, then as his second middle name we gave another hebrew name - kenaniah! was a bit risky and a few eyebrows got raised (in particular by older family members)anyway, our DS loves it and his friends all love it too and we never hear anything but compliments.. Kenaniah was one of King Davids men in the Old Testament, he was in charge of the music as he was such a cool musician apparantly, anyway we loved the story behind it, and havent so far met another child with the name

I'm sorry, but that name is terrible. And wouldn't vote for Martha either, I'm afraid. I have a sister Martha and when we were growing up people always commented that the only other Martha they's ever heard of was Martha Washington. It might be different over here in the UK. I find that a lot of names which are considered nice traditional names here are regarded as rather old fashioned in the states.

But I have to tell it like it is (as I do), that name is yuk.

Not telling

I once saw it described on Mn as 'the least sexy name anyone could have' - but also other more 'oooh, I love that' comments...it could be an up and coming name - slowly.

I once posted rather bluntly to a woman who wanted to call her child Anarkin.

Edith is the name of my fantastic neighbour, my ds is deaf and cant talk on the phone he's been taught to go to Edith in an emergency she is a lovely lady!

not as bad as my Father who wanted to call my brother Quatermass Ignatius

no no it was poo-pooed by dh for being to AH sounding

I have no idea why people ask on here about names (though the Portley thing is a good one obv) They are so personal as Blu says

What is your dd's derided name then Blu?

And is that on her birth certificate, CD?

Eppie/Hepzibah was the heroine of Silas Marner.......

My great aunt was a Methodist.

Old testament doesn't necessarily mean Jewish.

Lots of people think my DS's name is hideous and ugly....and I don't care, one jot! Plenty of other people (who have chosen such discreet, tasteful names..) have given names which I find cheesy or hideous or whatever - and I doubt they care. (wouldn't dream of mentioning it - but it stands to reason that someone will hate any chosen name) All those of you calling 'horrible' will probably find that there are people who find your DC's names horrible, or boring, or cliched, or reminiscent of some undesiraable character or trait!

These threads act as a good sounding board for reactions - and who was it who was saved from herself yesterday by being dissuaded from 'Portly'? - but it's ridiculous to think that any name will please all!

oh ehhloo peahead how goes it?

I liked Mahalia for dd it is was my great-grandmother's name.

Yes all the people who think it is hideous are just politer than CD and me and are not posting but merely shouting "for the love of god NO!" at their screens

But we are telling you For Your Own Sake

My partner (100% Ashkenazy Alsatian Jewish) has lots of friends who gave their children hyper-Jewish names - Ariel, Tsiporah etc - when they were going through a fundamentalist-let's-live-in-a-kosher-home phase in the early part of their marriage - and now regret it . Hephzibah would be one of those names in my book - is that how you want your child to be perceived by the outside world?

FWIW, my name is Anna and my sister's is Rachel and our father is called David, and in lots and lots of countries we get asked whether we are Jewish. Only in England are Old Testament names common currency for Christians.

My grandmother - sister to Hepzibah - was called Hannah!

I think it is hideous sorry

Martha Edith is very "th" ish

If you have a th in your surname it would be bad eg Thatcher

You could have twins called Silas and Eppie and have a whole "Silas Marner" theme going on
"Eppie in de tole hole" etc

I really like Hepzibah.

I had a great aunt called Hepzibah - she was Epsie or Hepzi for short - lovely!

Hatrick - I like Silas.

What about Abraham (Abe)?, Caleb? Seth? Jehosophat? (Joe)

I don't like Jed.

I knew someone who had two children called Hephzibah and Tegwyn. I thought they were two of the ugliest names I'd ever heard. Particularly as they called the elder "Heppie" which sounded like a disease.
I suppose I wouldn't have minded Hephzibah so much if they were actually Jewish and fans of the Menuhin family, but they weren't. And Tegwyn is just AWFUL even if you are welsh (which they WEREN'T either!)

Poor children

Piffle- people often cite that as a good reason for not giving children out of the ordinary names. I don't see it myself; so what if it does take a couple more weeks at the age of 5 to learn how to write it? You get long term benefits throughout your life of having an unusual name (memorability for example). Surely a couple of weeks in reception are not worth rethinking a child's name...

Was a shock at first but it grows on you. Hep as a short form would be lovely. I like the name Edith. It sounds so strong and capable.

I once looked after the loveliest lady called Hephzibah in a rest home I worked in years ago. She was Heppy for short.

So it's thumbs up from me