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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Ester or Zehava

35 replies

dothehardeststuffnow · 08/10/2024 22:45

I like both but worry Ester will be spelt as 'Esther'. It'll be after a relative that's passed on so it has to be Ester (nickname Essie)

I also like Zehava. It means Golden

OP posts:

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user1492757084 · 10/10/2024 01:20

Ester is lovely.

Zehava is not as attractive to me, sorry.

Maybe you would like ..
Zara
Pascale
Clarabel
Java

Alcedo · 09/10/2024 12:18

They're both beautiful. I like Zehava a little more. Who cares re the misspelling, that happens to me, I still like my name.

Atishooo · 09/10/2024 12:15

I vote for Zehava with Ester as a middle name if you want to remember someone. So it gives them their own name.

zeitweilig · 09/10/2024 10:42

FlowersOfSulphur · 09/10/2024 09:42

Well, if you call her Ester she will certainly have a head start in remembering her condensation reactions in GCSE chemistry!

How about Hester, but Essie for short?

From memory of first year chemistry labs at Uni, some esters smell beautiful but others less so. I'm sure OPs child will mostly be the former, with a little of the latter like all babies!
@dothehardeststuffnow spell it whatever way means the most to you, it's irrelevant if me and some others are reminded of chemistry lectures/labs.

shoopshoopdedoo · 09/10/2024 10:00

I prefer Ester! It’s lovely.

She/you may have to correct the spelling of her name a lot but it’s hardly a wild spelling and I’m sure people will learn quickly. My kids have names from another culture and I find it’s no bother at all to politely correct people or just put up with a misspelling occasionally.

FlowersOfSulphur · 09/10/2024 09:42

Well, if you call her Ester she will certainly have a head start in remembering her condensation reactions in GCSE chemistry!

How about Hester, but Essie for short?

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 09/10/2024 09:29

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 09/10/2024 07:28

I like Esther, but Ester / ester is the name given to a class of fragrant compounds, in chemistry, so would be a strange spelling.

That's what I was trying to think of! That's why Ester wouldn't be a good spelling.
If you're in the UK, use Esther. It's a beautiful name.

OkStepmum · 09/10/2024 09:19

Are you Jewish? For what it's worth I prefer Zehava.

Original poster

dothehardeststuffnow · 09/10/2024 09:07

My maiden name is Clark. I very boring, standard name everyone has heard of. I always have to say 'Without the E' when someone asks for my surname

OP posts:

Pillarsofsalt · 09/10/2024 08:34

my Name has been spelled wrong my whole life. I don’t really care. Ester has meaning for you so go for it.

MerryMarys · 09/10/2024 08:30

Travellingarcher · 09/10/2024 07:31

Someone I know called Esther gets her name spelt incorrectly as Ester more often than the correct spelling!

Yes, because the h is not pronounced.

I'd spell it Ester if it has more meaning to your family

EasyComfortDishes · 09/10/2024 08:03

How about Estie? A friends mum is called that and I’ve always loved it.

Chocolateporridge · 09/10/2024 07:58

Ester is lovely and that's the way it's spelled in many countries. It's a biblical name and some Bibles have the whole book of Ester with that spelling.
Go for whichever name you love most.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 09/10/2024 07:48

I love Hester. Less keen on Ester but I'm sure people will cope with learning the spelling.

Comedycook · 09/10/2024 07:45

pinkfleece · 09/10/2024 07:37

Do you spend your life having your name spelled wrongly?

I do.

It's a pain.

Show quote history

I have a very easy short surname but people often mistake one letter for another so I always spell it out after I've said it.

I've never seen the Ester spelling...but all you'd have to say is it's Ester without the H.

Loads of names have various spellings

zeitweilig · 09/10/2024 07:38

To me (an) Ester is a specific type of chemical, so I'd chose Esther.

pinkfleece · 09/10/2024 07:37

Comedycook · 09/10/2024 07:32

I like Zehava best out of the two.

By the way, who cares if you have to spell your name....even the most common names often have various spellings

Claire/Clare
Stuart/Stewart
Anthony/Antony

Do you spend your life having your name spelled wrongly?

I do.

It's a pain.

SharonEllis · 09/10/2024 07:34

dothehardeststuffnow · 09/10/2024 06:31

Ester isn't an unusual spelling

Show quote history

I've never seen it before. Have known several Esthers.

RedWinePoliticsAndHair · 09/10/2024 07:33

We have an Esther. Her name is routinely spelt as "Ester", "Estar" and even "Esta". Honestly, no one can spell it, including educated adults... it's a bit baffling, especially as Esther Rantzen has been famous for about 50yrs. So I'd prepare for the fact that it will be spelt in all sorts of ways by people.

It's a lovely name though. We also call our Esther "Essie" as a nickname.

Comedycook · 09/10/2024 07:32

I like Zehava best out of the two.

By the way, who cares if you have to spell your name....even the most common names often have various spellings

Claire/Clare
Stuart/Stewart
Anthony/Antony

Travellingarcher · 09/10/2024 07:31

Someone I know called Esther gets her name spelt incorrectly as Ester more often than the correct spelling!

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 09/10/2024 07:28

I like Esther, but Ester / ester is the name given to a class of fragrant compounds, in chemistry, so would be a strange spelling.

pinkfleece · 09/10/2024 07:14

dothehardeststuffnow · 09/10/2024 06:31

Ester isn't an unusual spelling

Show quote history

It is in the UK.Normal spelling is Esther.

DoublePeonies · 09/10/2024 06:57

I think Zehava has as much chance of being spelt wrong as Ester, so I'd take spelling out of the equation.

Which do you prefer? Ester gets my vote.

Notmynamerightnow · 09/10/2024 06:53

Feelingstrange2 · 09/10/2024 05:28

Yes, give your child a strange spelling, it will be spelt wrong more often than not. Your choice though. Don't be one of those parents who are awkward for the sake of it. If it will worry you - don't choose it.

I've lived all my life with a strange name that sounds like a common one. I've even had banks tell me I'm wrong! And my Post Office Travel Card was put in the wrong name even though she'd seen my passport!

One of my kids has a common classic name which has 2 ways of spelling, I picked the slightly more standard spelling over the other one (which I preferred) to avoid dc having to keep correcting people. Wish I'd not bothered, it is constantly spelt wrongly anyway, in fact I didn't realise there were so many ways people could manage to spell it.

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