Bathsheba | Mumsnet

Namesnames2 · 2024-06-24T21:00:43+00:00

I know someone who has just called their child Bathsheba!! I’ve never heard the name before, is it literally said Bath - Sheba? Not that I’d ever say it but I think it might be one of the ugliest sounding names I’ve ever heard!

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Pricklyhogs · 26/06/2024 21:32

I like how strong it is but it just doesn’t flow as a name for me. I prefer Bethesda

MovingBird123 · 26/06/2024 21:21

I would just pronounce it Bat-Sheva, and I'd assume child is Jewish/Israeli.

similarminimer · 25/06/2024 13:05

I would say BATH shi ba

Bath with a short a (although i always otherwise say barth)

Nicebloomers · 25/06/2024 12:43

I have to admire a bold choice like this.

BobandRobertaSmith · 25/06/2024 12:18

I love it! And Batsheva, Hepzibah, Elisheva etc

I have an RP accent and say bah-th for bath but would pronounce Bathsheba with a short a, not like bath.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 25/06/2024 12:03

ErrolTheDragon · 25/06/2024 11:44

Oh it does sound a bit better as BATH-shi-ba. I have definitely been saying Bath-SHEE-ba

Personally I don't think it sounds at all better with the emphasis on the first syllable - and I've never heard it pronounced that way.

You can hear it here - listen to how Carey Mulligan pronounces it in the opening seconds of this video:

ErrolTheDragon · 25/06/2024 11:44

Oh it does sound a bit better as BATH-shi-ba. I have definitely been saying Bath-SHEE-ba

Personally I don't think it sounds at all better with the emphasis on the first syllable - and I've never heard it pronounced that way.

Screamingabdabz · 25/06/2024 11:43

Nope. Ugly AF. Give me an Olivia any day.

Mittens1717 · 25/06/2024 11:41

Yes it's a very ugly name

BouleDeSuif · 25/06/2024 11:29

I know a middle aged Bathsheba who says it "Bath shi ba," it suits her. I like it.

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Namesnames2 · 25/06/2024 11:22

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 25/06/2024 11:00

I like it when pronounced BATH-shi-ba, but you would likely get a lot of bath-SHEE-ba and that is ghastly.

Oh it does sound a bit better as BATH-shi-ba. I have definitely been saying Bath-SHEE-ba

OP posts:

loropianalover · 25/06/2024 11:04

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 25/06/2024 11:00

I like it when pronounced BATH-shi-ba, but you would likely get a lot of bath-SHEE-ba and that is ghastly.

I think this is what’s catching me about it. Bath SHEEba is very harsh and reminds me of cat food.

Petrine · 25/06/2024 11:00

Bathsheba was the mother of King Solomon.

I like the name.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 25/06/2024 11:00

I like it when pronounced BATH-shi-ba, but you would likely get a lot of bath-SHEE-ba and that is ghastly.

ErrolTheDragon · 25/06/2024 10:59

I’m interested to see what nicknames develop, Bath sounds ridiculous and Sheba just makes me think cat food.

Baa, I fear.

Sue152 · 25/06/2024 10:57

I saw someone suggest it on her a few days ago and thought it was hideous. Hepzibah is equally horrific. Why would you do that to your child? You just know they're going to have a double barrelled surname as well to add to the complete mouthful - and are going to end up as a teen with some awful nn like Shebes.

Topseyt123 · 25/06/2024 10:51

It's a biblical name. I quite like it but would never use it.

loropianalover · 25/06/2024 10:45

I only know of Batsheva Hart from My Unorthodox Life 🤣 it’s a bold choice, don’t know if I love it… but nice to have something different to the endless Mia’s and Ella’s and Bella’s and Olivia’s…..

TowerStork · 25/06/2024 10:41

Arlanymor · 24/06/2024 22:08

Some people say Bath-sh-ba, some say Barth-Sheeba.

I’m not religious so I am familiar with it as it’s one of Thomas Hardy’s most famous female protagonists… Far From the Madding Crowd.

Thanks. I was trying to remember what book that was in

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Namesnames2 · 25/06/2024 10:30

A bit surprised it’s getting so much love but I have to say it’s really growing on me! Quite like strong names normally but this one was a bit of a surprise. Still think it’s a hard name for a little baby to carry (or a child or teenager for that matter!) I’m interested to see what nicknames develop, Bath sounds ridiculous and Sheba just makes me think cat food.

My little one did ask me with very real, genuine concern last night “if the little bath baby would be allowed showers” as we’ve just managed to convince him that quick evening showers are SO much more fun than long bath times 😂

OP posts:

Moreteaandchocolate · 25/06/2024 08:14

CatrionaBalfour · 25/06/2024 06:57

I've taught an Isis, Tuesday, Moonlight, Storm and Rainbow. Bathsheba ain't the most unusual!

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Very true - I know teens with a couple of those names and similar! Still not sure my teen would be happy to be called any of them though!

CatrionaBalfour · 25/06/2024 06:57

Moreteaandchocolate · 25/06/2024 06:06

I think my teenage daughter would hate to be called Bathsheba! I think it’s one thing to want something a bit different, but another thing to step completely away from the trends of the generation - you’d have to be a pretty confident 11 year old to start secondary school and have Bathsheba called out on the register in front of 200 kids on your first day!

I've taught an Isis, Tuesday, Moonlight, Storm and Rainbow. Bathsheba ain't the most unusual!

Moreteaandchocolate · 25/06/2024 06:06

I think my teenage daughter would hate to be called Bathsheba! I think it’s one thing to want something a bit different, but another thing to step completely away from the trends of the generation - you’d have to be a pretty confident 11 year old to start secondary school and have Bathsheba called out on the register in front of 200 kids on your first day!

CatrionaBalfour · 25/06/2024 05:48

Hepzibah is a lovely name. I went to a Yehudi Menuhin concert years ago, and his sister played the piano for him. She was called Hepzibah.

SemperIdem · 24/06/2024 23:54

Compared to the tsunami of Olivia’s it seems quite refreshing. But it’s a very big name to give a child.

There’s so many easier to wear names between the utterly boring Olivia and the really quite too much Bathsheba.

I hope Bathsheba’s parents really commit and call her future sister Scheherazade.