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Baby names

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

Original poster

Scheherazade

131 replies

Allthatglittersisntart · 09/01/2024 23:07

This is one of the only names I can agree on with my DP,(both Persian and an example of strong heroine who is a powerful storyteller) however I think it is only suitable as a middle name.
I have tried to explain to my DP that it is hard to pronounce and that it would become ‘Shahza’ however he doesn't understand what is wrong with that and I struggle to explain.

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Wytchy · 10/01/2024 11:20

TwigTheWonderKid · 10/01/2024 11:13

So we all have to have simple names for the benefit of our dumbed down society?

Surely life will be much more interesting and richer if people are allowed to use beautiful, classical names with interesting stories behind them?

People can give whatever they name they fancy to their child. But I always approach these threads with ‘would I want to be called this?’

In this case, no, because I can imagine being bored to death with explaining spelling and pronunciation to people on a nearly daily basis.

Other people will have different opinions.

TheBirdintheCave · 10/01/2024 11:16

StarboysMum · 10/01/2024 10:46

To add: I've never heard it said, and I had the pronunciation in my head incorrect. I'm a native English speaker but know German. I thought it was pronounced according to German phonetics, so: Sh-hera-zar-de.

You are correct.

Mirabai · 10/01/2024 11:15

AlexisBleedyhell · 10/01/2024 11:08

Im sure you can work it out with your superior intelligence and language knowledge 🤗

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Charming... I will ask someone less arsey.

upwardsonwards · 10/01/2024 11:14

Shahrzad is that a spelling? It is actually very easy to see and pronounce with that spelling. Lovely name.

TwigTheWonderKid · 10/01/2024 11:13

So we all have to have simple names for the benefit of our dumbed down society?

Surely life will be much more interesting and richer if people are allowed to use beautiful, classical names with interesting stories behind them?

deepsea9 · 10/01/2024 11:12

I like it and can pronounce it no problems. The biggest issue is that I have to look up how to spell it every single time, so resort to just referring to my friend's daughter as S in texts.

AlexisBleedyhell · 10/01/2024 11:09

Exactly, people are saying Zaid because of the 'zadE'.

AlexisBleedyhell · 10/01/2024 11:08

Mirabai · 10/01/2024 10:38

Interesting, how would it be spelt the “English” way?

Shehrazad?

Of course the French don’t pronounce Hs so the “her” wouldn’t be pronounced in French.

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Im sure you can work it out with your superior intelligence and language knowledge 🤗

Wytchy · 10/01/2024 11:06

I can see the appeal of the name, it looks imposing and grand, but I would find it a bit of a mill stone. It wouldn’t be a case of ‘tell people how it’s pronounced once, job done’. Lots of people would need to be told several times. And that’s just the pronunciation. The spelling would be mangled on a daily basis too.

NashvilleQueen · 10/01/2024 10:58

@madeinmanc I am in awe of your linguistics knowledge 😍

Pestopastaandcheese · 10/01/2024 10:56

'She-her-a-zaid'
Is how I read it.

Sounds like a Pokemon tbh.

Dillane · 10/01/2024 10:54

ConciseQueen · 09/01/2024 23:13

I can’t imagine wasting my child’s time with this. It is an endless typo scenario, however lovely.

This

DuchessOfSausage · 10/01/2024 10:53

@Allthatglittersisntart , call her Zara. The persian connection won't be recognised by most, and the only spelling/pronunciation issues will be with Sara.

And she'll probably get 'like the shop' quite often.

The Mia/Mya/Maya/Maia and Lily/Lyra/Lila type names are probably more confusing

madeinmanc · 10/01/2024 10:52

I know, just call her Cityborn, Born for short.

Amplissimo · 10/01/2024 10:50

I knew a Scheherezadeh. She shortened it to Zadeh for everyday use.

madeinmanc · 10/01/2024 10:49

Guys, "Zadie" (with a long a) doesn't work as a nickname unless you're going to butcher another language and culture, which is not the done thing these days. Something about colonialism something something something.

StarboysMum · 10/01/2024 10:46

To add: I've never heard it said, and I had the pronunciation in my head incorrect. I'm a native English speaker but know German. I thought it was pronounced according to German phonetics, so: Sh-hera-zar-de.

StarboysMum · 10/01/2024 10:43

Beautiful name. As you are both Persian, I wouldn't hesitate.

BUT if you are living in the UK I would certainly choose a nickname that you both like, and that you would be happy to hear as her every day name if she so chooses.

When kids start school, in my experience there is a formal name and a "known as" box, so your daughter could be the "known as" name, with the choice of using her full name or a different nickname when she's older.

I love the suggestion of Zadie above.

HoleGuacamole · 10/01/2024 10:42

madeinmanc · 10/01/2024 10:27

"Zadie"? Not sure if the people posting this realise the "a" is long (as in "father"). But it doesn't make sense, it's like nicknaming your child "-Son" or "Ova".

Edited

So like Sonny, the not uncommon Western name and perfectly valid nickname for names such as Jackson?

Makes sense to me…

TwigTheWonderKid · 10/01/2024 10:42

It's a beautiful name. I have a pretty common name but still get asked to spell it. It doesn't bother me. If you love it (and it is lovely) then use it. Other people will cope, after all we all learn to spell as children, don't we? So surely we can continue as adults?!

Anansisu · 10/01/2024 10:40

I know someone with this name - she uses Sherry.

I think it's a lovely name.

Mirabai · 10/01/2024 10:38

AlexisBleedyhell · 10/01/2024 09:51

I know Farsi has different alphabet.
She could spell it the English way. The whole Sch and E at the end are unnecessary in English.
I thought op might like many Persians have links to Germany. If she were bringing up her baby in an English majority country I would suggest an English spelling which will shorten the length of the name and make it more pronounciable.

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Interesting, how would it be spelt the “English” way?

Shehrazad?

Of course the French don’t pronounce Hs so the “her” wouldn’t be pronounced in French.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 10/01/2024 10:36

She'll love writing that out in infant school.I wouldn't.

BonjourCrisette · 10/01/2024 10:32

I really like it, and Zadie is a great nickname - pretty, easy to pronounce, easy to spell.

Silverbirchtwo · 10/01/2024 10:30

Could shorten it to Zade or Zadie.

It will probably be anglicised anyway if you are in the UK, so use the shortened version you like first so her friends don't chose one you don't like.