Which spelling? Tzipora v Zipora

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Americans for the most part will pronounce Tziporah as "Tee-zip-or-ah) (t as in tee-shirt). I don't think that's what you want.

I don't think this is true of most reasonably well-educated people.

Just polled my colleagues (nurses, LPNs and one doctor). Only one nurse, who was Jewish, new how to pronounce "Tziporah". Everyone else when for Tee-zip-orah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Americans for the most part will pronounce Tziporah as "Tee-zip-or-ah) (t as in tee-shirt). I don't think that's what you want.


It is a very Jewy name for someone who isn't Jewish. Like being an upper class Brit and naming your daughter Saoirse. It is odd.

Most Americans are not as stupid as you are, and would understand that the T is silent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Americans for the most part will pronounce Tziporah as "Tee-zip-or-ah) (t as in tee-shirt). I don't think that's what you want.

I don't think this is true of most reasonably well-educated people.

Just polled my colleagues (nurses, LPNs and one doctor). Only one nurse, who was Jewish, new how to pronounce "Tziporah". Everyone else when for Tee-zip-orah.

Just because they're nurses and doctors doesn't mean they can't be dumb.

[Anonymous]

I like Tzipora, but I like it more with an H at the end. Tziporah. It's a fine name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Americans for the most part will pronounce Tziporah as "Tee-zip-or-ah) (t as in tee-shirt). I don't think that's what you want.

I don't think this is true of most reasonably well-educated people.

Just polled my colleagues (nurses, LPNs and one doctor). Only one nurse, who was Jewish, new how to pronounce "Tziporah". Everyone else when for Tee-zip-orah.

Just because you have a medical degree doesn't mean that you're reasonably well-educated.

(It's the same -tz- in matzah, for pizz-ake!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Americans for the most part will pronounce Tziporah as "Tee-zip-or-ah) (t as in tee-shirt). I don't think that's what you want.

I don't think this is true of most reasonably well-educated people.

Just polled my colleagues (nurses, LPNs and one doctor). Only one nurse, who was Jewish, new how to pronounce "Tziporah". Everyone else when for Tee-zip-orah.

I agree many people won't know how to pronounce it, but who cares? They'll learn. There are several kids at my son's day care whose names are not pronounced at all like I expected. Their parents said them slowly and spelled them and now I can pronounce them. It wasn't that bad.

I voted upthread for Tziporah (and being Jewish, I do know how to pronounce it). I like it and think you should go for it. It is a little odd on a non-Jew -- everyone who is Jewish will assume she is not only Jewish, but Orthodox -- but it's not any worse than naming a non-Irish kid Colm or Domhnall or whatever. (Which my Jewish cousins did.)

If you are looking for other Hebrew names that might be easier to pronounce, Orly and Hadassah come to mind. But it sounds like you've made your choice, and it's a good one.

[Anonymous]

I agree many people won't know how to pronounce it, but who cares? They'll learn. There are several kids at my son's day care whose names are not pronounced at all like I expected. Their parents said them slowly and spelled them and now I can pronounce them. It wasn't that bad.

I voted upthread for Tziporah (and being Jewish, I do know how to pronounce it). I like it and think you should go for it. It is a little odd on a non-Jew -- everyone who is Jewish will assume she is not only Jewish, but Orthodox -- but it's not any worse than naming a non-Irish kid Colm or Domhnall or whatever. (Which my Jewish cousins did.)

If you are looking for other Hebrew names that might be easier to pronounce, Orly and Hadassah come to mind. But it sounds like you've made your choice, and it's a good one.

op- thanks! Based on the names in my kids' classes, i have become a lot braver about names. Between cultural names and kre8tive spellings and trendy names, i don't think either tzipora or zipora is that big of a deal. I mean even my 2 year old can say "pretzel" and that is the same tz, yes? I am interested in the orthodox assumption - do orthodox jews name their kids more obscure old testament names? our jewish friends and relatives all have pretty mainstream names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tziporah but I agree this is weird choice for a non Jewish family. And your other kid has an Asian name? This is going to be a strange combo.

I gather OP is Asian--I'm guessing Korean--and her husband's family is Jewish by heritage, and they are trying to honor the roots of both sides of the family. Makes as much sense to me as any other naming-related chain of thought. Being more of a conformist, I might pick Rebecca or Rachel, but if they like Tziporah, why not?

Op- Thank you!!! And we are not especially conformist, we like that the name tzipora is offbeat.

YOU might not be conformist, and you might love the fact that Tzipora is offbeat, but your daughter is the one who has to live with it.

And I actually don't mind the name (prefer it Zipporah or Tzipporah). But it's almost like you chose a "weird" name just to demonstrate how unique and special YOU are.

[Anonymous]

Adah's mom from upthread here-while I support the OP's choice of spelling, most of us non-Jews are probably not going to pronounce it with the 'tz' sound, but say 'zip or ah'. I mean, she should probably just expect that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree many people won't know how to pronounce it, but who cares? They'll learn. There are several kids at my son's day care whose names are not pronounced at all like I expected. Their parents said them slowly and spelled them and now I can pronounce them. It wasn't that bad.

I voted upthread for Tziporah (and being Jewish, I do know how to pronounce it). I like it and think you should go for it. It is a little odd on a non-Jew -- everyone who is Jewish will assume she is not only Jewish, but Orthodox -- but it's not any worse than naming a non-Irish kid Colm or Domhnall or whatever. (Which my Jewish cousins did.)

If you are looking for other Hebrew names that might be easier to pronounce, Orly and Hadassah come to mind. But it sounds like you've made your choice, and it's a good one.

op- thanks! Based on the names in my kids' classes, i have become a lot braver about names. Between cultural names and kre8tive spellings and trendy names, i don't think either tzipora or zipora is that big of a deal. I mean even my 2 year old can say "pretzel" and that is the same tz, yes? I am interested in the orthodox assumption - do orthodox jews name their kids more obscure old testament names? our jewish friends and relatives all have pretty mainstream names.

PP you're quoting -- yeah, I think there's a greater tendency among the Orthodox to use either more obscure names, or Hebrew or Yiddish names (which often are the same thing). So while a Reform or Conservative Jew might name her daughter Rachel, an Orthodox Jew might use the Hebrew version, Rochel. Or to use an example from my life, if I were Orthodox I'd have named my son Shmuel instead of Samuel.

But, like I said, if you like the name there's no reason you can't use it. Just be aware that it signals "this girl is Jewish" very strongly indeed! Since you're seeking to honor that part of your daughter's heritage, that may be a good thing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

YOU might not be conformist, and you might love the fact that Tzipora is offbeat, but your daughter is the one who has to live with it.

And I actually don't mind the name (prefer it Zipporah or Tzipporah). But it's almost like you chose a "weird" name just to demonstrate how unique and special YOU are.

Tziporah just isn't that weird. Unusual, certainly. But weird? It's a name from the bible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tziporah but I agree this is weird choice for a non Jewish family. And your other kid has an Asian name? This is going to be a strange combo.

I gather OP is Asian--I'm guessing Korean--and her husband's family is Jewish by heritage, and they are trying to honor the roots of both sides of the family. Makes as much sense to me as any other naming-related chain of thought. Being more of a conformist, I might pick Rebecca or Rachel, but if they like Tziporah, why not?

Op- Thank you!!! And we are not especially conformist, we like that the name tzipora is offbeat.

YOU might not be conformist, and you might love the fact that Tzipora is offbeat, but your daughter is the one who has to live with it.

And I actually don't mind the name (prefer it Zipporah or Tzipporah). But it's almost like you chose a "weird" name just to demonstrate how unique and special YOU are.

+1. Everyone will get how Kool and phlugged OP is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

YOU might not be conformist, and you might love the fact that Tzipora is offbeat, but your daughter is the one who has to live with it.

And I actually don't mind the name (prefer it Zipporah or Tzipporah). But it's almost like you chose a "weird" name just to demonstrate how unique and special YOU are.

Tziporah just isn't that weird. Unusual, certainly. But weird? It's a name from the bible.

OK, I have to disagree here. I grew up in Bethesda and went to college in New York. I'm not Jewish but I know a LOT of Jewish people. And I went to church and Sunday school every week through high school so my bible knowledge is let's say better than most. And I have never heard this name before in my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

YOU might not be conformist, and you might love the fact that Tzipora is offbeat, but your daughter is the one who has to live with it.

And I actually don't mind the name (prefer it Zipporah or Tzipporah). But it's almost like you chose a "weird" name just to demonstrate how unique and special YOU are.

Tziporah just isn't that weird. Unusual, certainly. But weird? It's a name from the bible.

OK, I have to disagree here. I grew up in Bethesda and went to college in New York. I'm not Jewish but I know a LOT of Jewish people. And I went to church and Sunday school every week through high school so my bible knowledge is let's say better than most. And I have never heard this name before in my life.

Have you heard the name Moses? Tziporah was his wife.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

YOU might not be conformist, and you might love the fact that Tzipora is offbeat, but your daughter is the one who has to live with it.

And I actually don't mind the name (prefer it Zipporah or Tzipporah). But it's almost like you chose a "weird" name just to demonstrate how unique and special YOU are.

Tziporah just isn't that weird. Unusual, certainly. But weird? It's a name from the bible.

OK, I have to disagree here. I grew up in Bethesda and went to college in New York. I'm not Jewish but I know a LOT of Jewish people. And I went to church and Sunday school every week through high school so my bible knowledge is let's say better than most. And I have never heard this name before in my life.

Have you heard the name Moses? Tziporah was his wife.

Yes, I saw that earlier in the thread.