Thoughts on Hebe?

[Pinkjellyfish]

This has been my favourite girls’ name for a while but would love to hear your opinions! I’m hesitant because I suspect a lot of my family and friends wouldn’t be huge fans. I originally read it in a novel but it’s apparently the name of the Greek goddess of youth (and a shrub )

Would people confuse it with Phoebe?

Does anyone know a Hebe?

Any similar names I might like?

The first thing I thought was - that’s a bush. Would find it a bit strange, but people use Holly so why not?

So is it pronounced Hee-bee, or heeb?

My first thought though was that its actually a racist term for a Jewish person,so personally I wouldn't use it.

I like all the botanical names, so it’s a yes from me!

I know a Hebe. Cute name but does make me think of hebejeebies

I know two! It's pronounced He-be. It does confuse a lot of people.

I love it! Beautiful name. My DD is Phoebe.

Other names you may like - Hester? Penelope?

I like it.

There's a Hebe on the MN staff, maybe ask @HebeMumsnet what she thinks

Reminds me of heebie jeebies-ie spooky- May be a colloquial term & just me

Thanks so much for your thoughts so far! DramaAlpaca Yes I’ve noticed @HebeMumsnet too! Wonder how she feels about her name? I don’t know any in real life!

Phoebe is another lovely option FreckledLeopard

I like it

Afraid my first thought was also the screaming heebie jeebies.

Must admit I wondered if it would conjure up Heebie Jeebies for people! Although maybe people would stop thinking about it after hearing her name once?

That is concerning userplusnumbers. Just to clarify the name is pronounced Hee-bee. I wonder how common Hebe (pronounced heeb?) is as an anti-Jewish slur in Britain?

I know a boy called Hebe, and to be honest I've always thought it sounds like a disease 🙈

There's a child called Hebe at the school I work at and my first thought when I heard her name was "heebie jeebies"

I think it's a nice and unique name as long as it's pronounced properly!

I suggested just this name on a board recently where the OP wasn't sure about Veronica (botanically linked but I'm not a botanist & don't know the details - same genus I think but botanically controversial or something). The name was not greeted with any enthusiasm... but you evidently have much better taste . It's lovely, and classy IMHO.

Hebe is the goddess of youth...she used to serve at the table of the gods, but she had a nip-slip, so got demoted to harnessing peacocks to her mum's chariot (hera)...hence the name of the book...Harnessing Peacocks...I always thought Hebe in that was fabulous.....I loved that she was good at cooking and fucking so that's what she did for a living! And they made a charming movie out of it too...
It's also a hardy seaside botanical - usually purple or white flower....

and yes, pronounced like "Heebie Jeebies" - except in the middle east, where it is also pronounced "He-be with short e sound (like a shortened Hair buh...stress on first syllable.

My DD is Hebe so I might be biased!

And yes, we get the odd bit of confusion with Phoebe...

LostInTheColonies That’s lovely to say, thank you! I’ve seen it linked to Veronica in my research although I’m really not a fan either!

RumerGodden It’s good to hear from a Hebe mum! Actually I’ve read that in Greek mythology Hebe was particularly dedicated to her mother Can I ask what other names you had on your list?

Pink, we had Athene/Athena...which I loved, but it's quite severe, and she was definitely a daddy's girl, having sprung from his forehead! we could have got away with it, as we live in an area with lots of greeks, so had an Athene down the road from us...but she arrived and just felt like a Hebe.
Also had Freya on the list...I liked the stronger names, wanted a mythological one....but they seem to make the choice when you meet them, Athene didn't seem to fit..

Also, we are terrible nick-namers, so Hebe lends itself v well to nicknames...

My thoughts are:

1. I’ve met one girl of middle eastern descent called heba ( not hebe)
2. I’ve see this name frequent birth announcements and it gives me higher class vibes.

However, I dislike the sound and I think it’s a bit too unusual that it will cause issues down the line with: pronounciation, spelling and constantly asking where she’s originally from.

Thanks Rumer, I really love Greek mythological names in particular!

Those are things to think about Saffrona

It makes me think of hebephile, sorry, been on the Michael Jackson threads again.

Thebe is interesting (daughter of Prometheus). but people will think you cannot spell Phoebe