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Baby names

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

Original poster

Zephie/Zeffie

28 replies

roopertbear · 14/10/2023 09:41

For a little boy. Short for Joseph but it'd be the name we use when he's small day to day. Thoughts?

Also, which spelling looks best?

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GiveMeCakeOrGiveMeDeath · 14/10/2023 15:59

I pronounce Joseph closer to Joe siph than joe zeph so this makes zero sense to me. I also think it's contrived and a bit pretentious. I think zeph is nice short for Zephaniah or even zephyr but not Joseph.

RockyReef · 14/10/2023 15:54

Zeph / Zephie or rather Seph is a bit of an odd diminutive for Joseph even if you pronounce it with a hard S rather than the more traditional soft S. A more common nickname (other than the obvious Joe) is Sep otherwise you just sound like you are saying Seth incorrectly! If I heard a child called Zeph I would assume it was short for Zephaniah. Joseph is a perfectly nice name itself though and not overly common (I have a 9 year old one and we don’t know any others). Mine has a different diminutive though unrelated to his actual name!

ElizaWinter · 14/10/2023 12:17

Zeph sounds better for a boy than Zephie which is a bit girly.

wellandtruly · 14/10/2023 12:09

AndSoFinally · 14/10/2023 12:08

I would expect a girl. Zephie is a Thomas the Tank Engine character -female.

It's Chuggington! Woman, know your engines!

Oh, blast! It’s Chuggington! So it is.

AndSoFinally · 14/10/2023 12:08

I would expect a girl. Zephie is a Thomas the Tank Engine character -female.

It's Chuggington! Woman, know your engines!

sunglassesonthetable · 14/10/2023 11:35

Zeph, Seems totally natural to me now that we use it on a regular basis for my little DN named after his father Joseph.

Like all things ( especially names ) you get used to them and they become there own thing.

I love him so now I love his name.

Don't overthink. If you really like it do it.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 14/10/2023 11:35

I think it’s fine and quite cute as a family nickname, maybe less so as a name you would want him known as at school etc and therefore which needs a spelling.

BerfyTigot · 14/10/2023 11:33

I know 2 female Zephy's. Short for Zephyr apparently. I quite like it.

Jewelspun · 14/10/2023 11:25

Sounds absolutely awful and contrived.

Joseph = Zephie/Zeffie?

Utterly ridiculous unless his name is Zeffirelli.

Maskedpotato · 14/10/2023 11:21

I'd use Zeph or Zephaniah as the full name. Getting it from Joseph is convoluted.

CurlewKate · 14/10/2023 10:19

Don't try and impose shortenings. Call him Joseph and let the shortening emerge naturally. Use the one you like and see what happens. My ds stopped answering to my chosen shortening out of the house when he was about 6- inside at about 8!

SoupDragon · 14/10/2023 10:06

I assumed this would be for a girl. I'm not seeing it as a natural nickname for Joseph at all.

sunglassesonthetable · 14/10/2023 10:05

I know a little Zeph. Named for his father Joseph.

And a little Xander named for his father Alexander.

DinnaeFashYersel · 14/10/2023 10:05

Why don't you just call him Joseph?

Cherryana · 14/10/2023 10:03

I guess you are getting it from the Joe - Seph

So maybe Sephie would be better although I do prefer the Z at the beginning.

Gnomegnomegnome · 14/10/2023 10:03

Why not just use Zephaniah?

Jessforless · 14/10/2023 10:01

Would also assume a girl…

Maplestars · 14/10/2023 10:00

I like it but I’d assume it was a girl and also be really confused how you got from Joseph to zephyie and why you didn’t just pick a name you like for your child in the first place.

capnfeathersword · 14/10/2023 10:00

It's also confusing for kids when the nickname is totally different to their actual given name. I work in a school and we've got one in year 4 transitioning from the completely out there nickname he's been known as since reception to the very ordinary solid name on his birth certificate. I say transition because it's taking staff and kids ages to get used to!

cocksstrideintheevening · 14/10/2023 09:56

Zephyr would make more sense than Joseph.

HewasH2O · 14/10/2023 09:54

Really? It's quite a stretch of the imagination. Why are you even considering Joseph if you wish to use a made up name which doesn't bear any resemblance to it?

Labradoodlie · 14/10/2023 09:53

I agree it’s a bit contrived. Like the very pretentious (Chris) Tipher I used to know

RecklessBlackberries · 14/10/2023 09:52

One of those nicknames where technically it makes sense but it just looks like you wanted a unique name but weren't brave enough to make it legal.

Whinge · 14/10/2023 09:49

Cherryana · 14/10/2023 09:43

I would expect Zepphie to be short for Zephaniah

Same here. I would be very surprised to find out he was actually called Joseph.

capnfeathersword · 14/10/2023 09:47

Feels contrived. I would go with Zephaniah if you want Zeph.