Which spelling? Tzipora v Zipora

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe how invested some PPs seem to be in this discussion. "Choose a real name someone in your family had"??

That was actually excellent advice from a Jewish perspective. Honors her husbands heritage far more than a name unconnected to anyone in their family.

I really object to people talking about Jewish perspective as if it's some monolithic thing. Everyone knows "two Jews, three opinions", and my opinion is people need to unclench. Frankly 90% of the Jews I know honor a relative at most by using the same initial-- so I think it's hard to maintain the idea that Jews have some requirement that a name be traceable back to a direct ancestor.

[Anonymous]

I'm Jewish and certainly have no problem with someone who is not Jewish giving their child a Hebrew or Jewish name. The only thing is that people will tend to assume she is jewish which could be confusing at times. Personally, there are other names I like better and that are more subtle in their associations , for Hebrew/Israeli I like Shira or Talia or Yael, or you could use a biblical name like Miriam or Rachel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people on this thread are uncomfortable with the notion that OP is not Jewish but wants to name her daughter a name that screams Judaism. Would they have this reaction to a thread entitled "Christina or Kristina?" I think not. They wouldn't give a damn whether OP was living a Christ-centered life. But let a non-Jew name her daughter Tzipporah and everyone goes apeshit.

Op- i guess it is interesting to see what people consider jewish - is judaism a race or a religion? My husband is 50% ashkenazi. I disn't think it was so far-fetched to use a hebrew/biblical name.

It's not that far-fetched. It's just that it's a name that's really only used by religious Jews (as opposed to something like Hannah or Rachel or Miriam which are used by Jews of all stripes). But if you don't mind that people might think your kid is Orthodox, then who cares.

I've seen people on here before saying they want to name their kid Malik or Saoirse or other names that are associated with a specific culture or religion, when the person asking doesn't belong to that group. Everyone always shoots them down. I say, name your kid what you want. Just don't be surprised if people think the kid is from that group. (And the reverse -- if your name is Christina, don't be surprised when everyone is astonished that you're actually Jewish.)

[Anonymous]

I thought it was a Jewish thing to use the same first initial as the relative you want to honor. No?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish and certainly have no problem with someone who is not Jewish giving their child a Hebrew or Jewish name. The only thing is that people will tend to assume she is jewish which could be confusing at times. Personally, there are other names I like better and that are more subtle in their associations , for Hebrew/Israeli I like Shira or Talia or Yael, or you could use a biblical name like Miriam or Rachel.

Op- shira is on the list too. Problem is, as much as i value dcumers opinions, dh's opinion matters more and he has not expressed interest in those names.

[Anonymous]

Op- i've decided on the z spelling. I searched "tzipora" on facebook and most of the women seem to be jewish, which according to most people on dcum apparently will be a lot of pressure on our only marginally jewish child. When i searched "zipora" a much more ethnically diverse pool of people showed up- asian, latina, black, and jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe how invested some PPs seem to be in this discussion. "Choose a real name someone in your family had"??

2 scenarios:

a)

- Why is your name Miriam?
- Because that was the name of my great grandma
- Cool

b)

- Why is your name Tzipora?
- My mom liked it
- But, are you Jewish?
- Well, it depends
- Depends on what?
- ...........

Or

-Why is your name Tzipora?
-My mom liked it.
-Cool.

Jews by and large do not react this way. OP needs to be aware of this.

And how do Jews act PP? You are offensive. I'm a Jew and I wouldn't ask someone about their name. I would compliment the name but wouldn't make any assumptions. I know people with the last name "Finegold" and they aren't Jewish. Perhaps there's a Jewish male down the line but they don't know for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a Jewish thing to use the same first initial as the relative you want to honor. No?

Well, ideally you'd use the actual name. But if that's not possible (gender change, you hate the name, whatever), then you use the same initial. Also, in Ashkenazi tradition, the person you are honoring must be deceased. You don't name after living people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op- i've decided on the z spelling. I searched "tzipora" on facebook and most of the women seem to be jewish, which according to most people on dcum apparently will be a lot of pressure on our only marginally jewish child. When i searched "zipora" a much more ethnically diverse pool of people showed up- asian, latina, black, and jewish.

So you're going with the pharmaceutical version?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op- wow some of you have some hard chips on your shoulders. fwiw, my other kids had interfaith naming ceremonies with a rabbi and korean minister, and have hebrew/korean names. It sounds like our family is doing more to educate our kids about respect for family, culture and tolerance than some of your parents did. "Go name your kid a real name?" A biblical name with multiple transliterated spelling options is kre8ive? wow, just wow.

OP, I have no idea why some people are just being so nasty in this thread.

We're a mixed race/religion couple and have picked names that represent that. There is nothing wrong with Zipora or whatever you decide to name your kid. And, it makes no difference what your reason for choosing the name is.

Do what works for you and your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op- i've decided on the z spelling. I searched "tzipora" on facebook and most of the women seem to be jewish, which according to most people on dcum apparently will be a lot of pressure on our only marginally jewish child. When i searched "zipora" a much more ethnically diverse pool of people showed up- asian, latina, black, and jewish.

So you're going with the pharmaceutical version?

OP is quite funny. She asks for feedback, but doesn't really want it. I'm done here. OP, best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op- i've decided on the z spelling. I searched "tzipora" on facebook and most of the women seem to be jewish, which according to most people on dcum apparently will be a lot of pressure on our only marginally jewish child. When i searched "zipora" a much more ethnically diverse pool of people showed up- asian, latina, black, and jewish.

So you're going with the pharmaceutical version?

OP is quite funny. She asks for feedback, but doesn't really want it. I'm done here. OP, best of luck!

Op- oh i got plenty of feedback which informed my decision. How long did u want this thread to go on?! Did u have anything else to add?

In summary:
Tzipora- hard to pronounce for lazy people, our family is not "orthodox jewish enough" and our daughter will get interrogated often by nosy people who want to know why she has such a jewish name

zipora- sounds like medication, makes people think of ziploc bags and zippers, is not spelled the anglicized biblical way

Both names- should emd in h, shiuld have double pp, is an ugly name regardless and oir daughter will hate us, we should just name our daughter rachel or something normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op- i've decided on the z spelling. I searched "tzipora" on facebook and most of the women seem to be jewish, which according to most people on dcum apparently will be a lot of pressure on our only marginally jewish child. When i searched "zipora" a much more ethnically diverse pool of people showed up- asian, latina, black, and jewish.

So you're going with the pharmaceutical version?

OP is quite funny. She asks for feedback, but doesn't really want it. I'm done here. OP, best of luck!

Op- oh i got plenty of feedback which informed my decision. How long did u want this thread to go on?! Did u have anything else to add?

In summary:
Tzipora- hard to pronounce for lazy people, our family is not "orthodox jewish enough" and our daughter will get interrogated often by nosy people who want to know why she has such a jewish name

zipora- sounds like medication, makes people think of ziploc bags and zippers, is not spelled the anglicized biblical way

Both names- should emd in h, shiuld have double pp, is an ugly name regardless and oir daughter will hate us, we should just name our daughter rachel or something normal.

Oh come on now OP. That's just rude. I'm the pp who suggested the -h based on the Hebrew spelling and I was way supportive. You even thanked me. Your OP acknowledges you knew this would be a DCUM-troversy. What did you really want from us, since a simple online search is all you needed to make your decision?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op- i've decided on the z spelling. I searched "tzipora" on facebook and most of the women seem to be jewish, which according to most people on dcum apparently will be a lot of pressure on our only marginally jewish child. When i searched "zipora" a much more ethnically diverse pool of people showed up- asian, latina, black, and jewish.

So you're going with the pharmaceutical version?

Pharmaceutical version???

That is inane.

Zippora Karz -- featured ballet dancer with New York City Ballet. Incidentally, danced professionally for years with Type I diabetes. I would certainly want my daughter to have her for a role model.

I don't think anyone assumed she was a pharmaceutical.

You, on the other hand....

[Anonymous]

Her parents should have gone with Tziporah. Then she would have been a shoo-in for "Tzigane."