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[Opinions] Jezebel?
What do you think of the name Jezebel? Is it too tied to the evil woman in the Bible to use? Do you think it could work as a middle name? I named a character this in one of my stories, and while it worked for the character (who was not a wicked person), I don't know if it could work on a real person. What are your thoughts? Thanks so much!
Keeley
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I wouldn't touch Jezebel due to its unsavory association. It's a shame, though. I really like the sound of it.When my dh was a kid, his family had a dog named Jezebel!
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Queen Jezebel and "loose woman". NopeJezebel may have been much maligned in the Bible and there is much more to her story but the name itself is far too problematic. I know people who still use it as a term for a "ho-bag". May as well be frank!
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I love it. I still can't decide whether I would use it or not, but that's more because I like other names more, not because of the connotations. I think it could be used. Any name could have bad connotations for you, and a sweet person with that name could flip it all around.
That said, maybe it's still a bit borderline now (although I personally would probably use it if I liked it enough). It is quite an old-fashioned word now, (I've maybe heard it used twice as an insult, ever, although I do live in a quite secular country). Maybe in a decade or two it will be perfectly usable, and no-one much would have any qualms.
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I've seen it on a couple of real life girls who hadn't any problems with it.
A lot of people aren't familiar with the religious background to the name, which is fair enough. The term 'Jezebel' as negative slang seems old fashioned.
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It sounds cool but I just wouldn't use it. You may like the name but your kid may go through a lot for it. If it must be used, maybe as a mn.
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I don't think Jezebel works for a real child. Its association with the biblical figure and its slang use as a term for a promiscuous woman are too ingrained. Even if I could overlook these associations, I don't think it's a pretty name. The first syllable is very abrasive, imo.Jezebel is best left for pets and evil characters.
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I don't think it would work. Jezebel has been tied to evil women for far too long for a girl to carry it without some problems. People would make fun of her.
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I can see your point if the child were to be raised in a very Christian country, like the U.S.A., however the Jezebel's I knew weren't teased as none of their peers were familiar with that bible story.
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I like it a lot. I think people need to meet a Jezebel in real life to see that it works. Otherwise you could still use Jessabelle.
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I wouldn't use it. Not only because of the Biblical Jezebel, but because it's a term for a immoral woman.
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It became used as slang for an 'immoral woman' because of the biblical Jezebel, though.
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That's true. However people that aren't familiar with the biblical Jezebel are still familiar with the name being used for that purpose, at least where I live.
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When I first came across the name Jezebel I wasn't familiar with the Biblical Jezebel and I thought some people were overreacting when they said that it was totally unusuable. But I spent a few months in Ireland last year and I heard the expression "dirty jezebel" etc enough to agree with those who thinks it's unusable. I think it works for a character though.
There was an article in the newpaper not long ago where a ten year old girl was named Jezebel. It honestly made me wonder if the parents realised what they had named their daughter. I live in a very secular country and I think the majority would not have a clue who the Biblical Jezebel was. I still think it's a bad idea.
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I don't think it's useable, a "jezebel" is an old-fashioned synonim for slut.
I used to kind of like it in spite of the negative associations, but I've gone off all -bel names recently.
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For a character it's fine, but for a real child I'd feel very sorry for the kid. It's not a name that could work IMO. I'm pretty open to all types of names this is not one.
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I don't think it's usable in real life. Its connotations are too strong.

This message was edited 5/2/2009, 11:19 AM

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