Hephzibah

[Chunkamatic]

We have just been discussing girls names... even though we're convinced we are having a boy!

Think we have decided on Martha Edith, but we both really love the name Hephzibah... it's a hebrew name that means something like 'my delight is in her'. It would be shortened to Effie or Eppie, but we're not sure we're brave enough.

Your thoughts please.....

Yes all the people who think it is hideous are just politer than CD and me and are not posting but merely shouting "for the love of god NO!" at their screens

But we are telling you For Your Own Sake

My great aunt was a Methodist.

Old testament doesn't necessarily mean Jewish.

Lots of people think my DS's name is hideous and ugly....and I don't care, one jot! Plenty of other people (who have chosen such discreet, tasteful names..) have given names which I find cheesy or hideous or whatever - and I doubt they care. (wouldn't dream of mentioning it - but it stands to reason that someone will hate any chosen name) All those of you calling 'horrible' will probably find that there are people who find your DC's names horrible, or boring, or cliched, or reminiscent of some undesiraable character or trait!

These threads act as a good sounding board for reactions - and who was it who was saved from herself yesterday by being dissuaded from 'Portly'? - but it's ridiculous to think that any name will please all!

oh ehhloo peahead how goes it?

I liked Mahalia for dd it is was my great-grandmother's name.

Eppie/Hepzibah was the heroine of Silas Marner.......

And is that on her birth certificate, CD?

I have no idea why people ask on here about names (though the Portley thing is a good one obv) They are so personal as Blu says

What is your dd's derided name then Blu?

no no it was poo-pooed by dh for being to AH sounding

not as bad as my Father who wanted to call my brother Quatermass Ignatius

Edith is the name of my fantastic neighbour, my ds is deaf and cant talk on the phone he's been taught to go to Edith in an emergency she is a lovely lady!

I'm sorry, but that name is terrible. And wouldn't vote for Martha either, I'm afraid. I have a sister Martha and when we were growing up people always commented that the only other Martha they's ever heard of was Martha Washington. It might be different over here in the UK. I find that a lot of names which are considered nice traditional names here are regarded as rather old fashioned in the states.

But I have to tell it like it is (as I do), that name is yuk.

Not telling

I once saw it described on Mn as 'the least sexy name anyone could have' - but also other more 'oooh, I love that' comments...it could be an up and coming name - slowly.

I once posted rather bluntly to a woman who wanted to call her child Anarkin.

love it! we gave our ds a hebrew first name, and then a family name middle name, then as his second middle name we gave another hebrew name - kenaniah! was a bit risky and a few eyebrows got raised (in particular by older family members)anyway, our DS loves it and his friends all love it too and we never hear anything but compliments.. Kenaniah was one of King Davids men in the Old Testament, he was in charge of the music as he was such a cool musician apparantly, anyway we loved the story behind it, and havent so far met another child with the name

Anna8888's remark that "Only in England are Old Testament names common currency for Christians" is really interesting. I never knew that. My two sons have Biblical names. One is in both Old and New Testament, the other is in New, but I assumed it crops up in Old also. The Bible is a wonderful source of names. How is it that other Christian nations have rejected the Old Testament as a name source?

I totally agree about names being unique to each individual, However its great to get a perspective of others as it is them that our children are likely to mix with ...

Interesting enough both Silas and Seth are considerations if its a boy ( obviously we wouldnt choose Hephzibah & Silas ) ...but our front runner for a boy is still

Gene - (controversial ?)

I know a little girl called Hepzibah, and everyone calls her Hepsi, which i think is sweet.

hello CD!
christ your dd had a lucky escap
my FIL wanted to call his second son quercus oakapple as he was born on oakapple day (WTF??)
luckily he didn't...
but he called him Nigel instead . I think I prefer Quercus

Threadie - Catholicism likes Saints' names - here in France you had to give your child a saint's name until pretty recently.

She will soon be Hepsi Pepsi...

Gawd
I agree

I was at school with someone whose parents were very confused. She was called Ashley and her brother Lindsay

DH wanted Melody as dd's second name (something to do with a Stones song "Melody, it was her second name" and when I listened to the song it was about a prostitute or something )

I always wonder if people with Lolas are too young to remember the kinks song

also LOVE martha!! but round where we live in this particular part of south london, there are alot of marthas. keeping it on my list for any future girls though.

also Melody = Catwoman name IMO

WoW! They are still quite restrictive in France aren't they? So it's a combination of protistantism and non-conformism that gives UK its Old Testament tradition? I like the fact that my boys' names are both profoundly 'English' and also indebted to an international Judeo-Christian tradition with origins in the east.

Yeah but showgirl better than tranny