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Help[Opinions] Zenzele
Hi! What do you all think of Zenzele for a girl? I think it's so pretty and has been a favorite of mine since I was 11 when I read it somewhere. It's African (I could kick myself for not remembering it's origins more specifically than that) and means something along the lines of "self reliance". Always loved the name and loved the meaning when I read it in a book of African names from the library. I've never felt I could use it since I'm not black and for myself, I wouldn't use a name from a different culture unless I, the child if they were adopted, or their father had a direct connection to it (I'm 19 and not married so who knows who I'll marry). For example, I wouldn't name my son Nikolai because I'm not Russian, but I would name my daughter Amina because even though I'm not Arabic, one of my best friends is and her name's Amina and it would be after her, and I'd name my daughter Inge because even though I'm not German or Austrian, I was a foreign exchange student in Austria for a year and that was the name of my host mother. If that makes sense. Anyway, what do you think of Zenzele?
~SHILOH~
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Replies
I've never heard of the name Zenzele, nor have I read about it anywhere. As of right now, it looks made up to me. I don't find it feminine either, sorry.
Just because you're not of African descent, doesn't mean you can't use it (or a Russian name, etc.). If we only used names that corresponded with our ethnicity, we would live in a very boring world, I think. So, I would say not to let that change your mind. My motto: nothing should stop you from using the name you love.
-Lissa Hannah-
As soon as tradition has come to be recognized as tradition, it is dead. - Allan Bloom
Just because you're not of African descent, doesn't mean you can't use it (or a Russian name, etc.). If we only used names that corresponded with our ethnicity, we would live in a very boring world, I think. So, I would say not to let that change your mind. My motto: nothing should stop you from using the name you love.
-Lissa Hannah-
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Just because you've never heard it doesn't mean it's made up...
~SHILOH~
~SHILOH~
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Hi there! Sort of like when people meet a child named Kandyce and wonder WHY there parents would do that, only to find out Kandyce was the mother's twin sister who died when they were 10 or something and that's why she spelled it that way.
~SHILOH~
~SHILOH~
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Your example...
In that case, my thinking would be that it's a trendy spelling, and not a made up name (because Candace is a name). I could stomach the spelling, since it would be honoring. So, that example isn't exactly what I was speaking of. Of course, an example name is escaping me now! LOL. I usually list it in my posts whether I think the mentioned name looks made up or not.
-Lissa Hannah-
As soon as tradition has come to be recognized as tradition, it is dead. - Allan Bloom
In that case, my thinking would be that it's a trendy spelling, and not a made up name (because Candace is a name). I could stomach the spelling, since it would be honoring. So, that example isn't exactly what I was speaking of. Of course, an example name is escaping me now! LOL. I usually list it in my posts whether I think the mentioned name looks made up or not.
-Lissa Hannah-
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pronunciation of Zenzele
Okay, how *I* have heard it pronounced is "zen-zee-lee". I think it sounds so pretty. There could be some pronunciation issues but for some reason I think people will remember this one.
~SHILOH~
Okay, how *I* have heard it pronounced is "zen-zee-lee". I think it sounds so pretty. There could be some pronunciation issues but for some reason I think people will remember this one.
~SHILOH~
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I love African names too :)
Zenzele *is* pretty it just reminds me of 'gazelle' the animal too much
How is it pronounced?
alice x
Zenzele *is* pretty it just reminds me of 'gazelle' the animal too much
How is it pronounced?
alice x
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Hmmm, how do you pronounce it, Zen - Zel or Zen-Zel -eh
Either way, it's pretty on paper, but not nice sounding in my opinion. As for Amina, I think its beautiful for any ethnicity.
I wouldn't get too hung up on the ethnic thing. Like I've before I've known people with names from a different culture that their own, and it hasn't caused them any bad consequences, other than the "how do you spell that??"
Either way, it's pretty on paper, but not nice sounding in my opinion. As for Amina, I think its beautiful for any ethnicity.
I wouldn't get too hung up on the ethnic thing. Like I've before I've known people with names from a different culture that their own, and it hasn't caused them any bad consequences, other than the "how do you spell that??"
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Hmm I do kind of like the sound but I put it in google and the meaning came up as "do it yourself" and I just think of Homebase-type DIY! Hehe
S xx
Processed “cheese”. The word should always, like Soviet “democracy”, be framed in quotes, for no matter what the law may say, I refuse to call this cheese
~Bob Brown~
S xx
Processed “cheese”. The word should always, like Soviet “democracy”, be framed in quotes, for no matter what the law may say, I refuse to call this cheese
~Bob Brown~
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There was an African-American couple on "A Baby Story" that named their daughter Zenzele. I personally don't care for it, but it definitely suited this family.
P.S. I love Amina, and I think it would sound fine on a child from any ethnic background.
Leslie edd 4/17/05. Baby should be arriving via c-section April 8th, though.
P.S. I love Amina, and I think it would sound fine on a child from any ethnic background.
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