Message: "Elisheva" - Behind the Name

Elisheva

by Fiammetta (lady murasaki)

4/14/2021, 2:29 AM

I’ve recently started watching “Shtitsel “ where it’s the name of one of the characters, and it’s kind of been growing on me?

WDYT? Could it catch on amongst non Jewish people as a “Hebrew chic” name/an alternative to Elizabeth?

"We have met the enemy and he is us" Walt Kelly

#Elisheva

Replies

- MasterCiaraXo (ciara23)

4/15/2021, 11:27 AM

Very beautiful.

- aussiechic04

4/14/2021, 4:03 PM

I can see the appeal. It would be great if it caught on (Elizabeth is so tired). I mean Elijah is in the US top 10, so why not? People would have to actively search for alternatives to overused names though, maybe an "influencer" would have to use it first. I don't think it will ever be as popular as Elizabeth, but it could have a trendy phase.

This message was edited 4/14/2021, 4:04 PM

- Pink Princess

4/14/2021, 3:44 PM

I think it’s beautiful. I do prefer Elisheba even more though I think. Anyway both are lovely, but I obviously love Hebrew names, as you can tell by my kids names! I don’t think it will catch on and suddenly become popular. Elizabeth is far more palatable for most people.

- Manipura (glaucous)

4/14/2021, 10:57 AM

I doubt it'd ever be as popular as Elizabeth in English speaking places, but yeah, I do like it and think it's accessible cross culturally.

- New_Chloë (New_Chloe) +1

4/14/2021, 9:41 AM

It's very pretty, how is it pronounced? I want to say it like "el-ISH-eh-vah" but is that how it's said? Or is it more like "el-ih-SHEE-vah"?

- )( (guest)

4/14/2021, 11:37 AM

This is how you say it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXZVZbGCUfU&t=5s

- Rosebeth (Rosanne) +6

4/14/2021, 5:42 AM

I adore Elisheva, after Elizaveta it's my favourite variant of Elizebeth. But my SO is half Jewish, so it wouldn't be weird for us to use it. Personally I wouldn't use it if the child had no Jewish heritage whatsoever, but it's fine for other people to use it if they want to.

- )( (guest) +5

4/14/2021, 8:48 AM

That does not make sense at all. Would you say that it is weird for people without any Jewish background to use names like Abigail, Joshua, Ethan, Rachel, Benjamin, etc. because they are names of characters in Jewish mythology in the Old Testament?

- Rosebeth (Rosanne)

4/14/2021, 10:44 PM

Manipura and Fiammetta have already explained quite well what I actually meant. And if you read my post again, you'll see that I said I personally wouldn't use it, but if someone else wants to they should go ahead.

And as Fiammettz said, those names you mention aren't good examples because they are anglicized versions of Hebrew names.

- Manipura (glaucous) +1

4/14/2021, 10:54 AM

No, just like it's not weird for people with no Jewish background to use Elizabeth. The names you mentioned aren't Hebrew or Yiddish versions of the names...that's when it starts to seem weird (I personally wouldn't call it wrong if someone with no Jewish heritage used Rifka instead of Rebecca, but I might wonder why they identify with that particular form so much).

- )( (guest)

4/14/2021, 11:22 AM

The names are mentioned come from original Biblical names and ones mostly used where I am in North America. But if soeone wants to use Rifka, go ahead, it's just a name and being a Jew is not a requirement.

- Fiammetta (lady murasaki) +1

4/14/2021, 9:56 AM

Because non Jewish people/Hebrew speakers are going to use Elizabeth, likewise Abigail rather than Avigail, Benjamin rather than Binyamin?

This message was edited 4/14/2021, 9:57 AM

- )( (guest)

4/14/2021, 10:53 AM

A name is just a name and accessible for everyone. Also names like Avigail etc. are more do used by people in Israel and Ultra Orthodox communities anyway.

- M.Selenika

4/14/2021, 2:40 AM

It sounds exotic and makes me think to someone sage possessing magical powers. In conclusion, my opinion on this name can only be positive.

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