[Opinions] Re: Zephaniah
in reply to a message by Lapin
If I saw it: Seems nice. Easy to say, easy to get used to. It seems vaguely familiar because of Zachariah and Zephyr. Zeph sounds like both Zack and Jeff, but is "new." It even sounds a little bit like Stephanie - Zachariah/Zachary, Zephaniah/Zephany?
If I were to consider using it: I personally wouldn't use names based on their sounding good and being respectable-because-Biblical, if they aren't basically vernacular in my own culture. I feel kinda the same as I do about names from any foreign culture. That -iah ending seems pointedly religious to me. I want to know a little bit about their native context, and find it appealing from my own perspective, before I am comfortable to consider it as a name for my kid. If my own name were from the bible and not commonly used in my culture, I'd want to know about that character's story. What were the prophecies of Zephaniah about? Or is the name referring to someone more recent and well-known? I don't mind using names that float free of history and meaning, but I balk at using ones that I know do have it and I'm just ignorant of it.
- mirfak
If I were to consider using it: I personally wouldn't use names based on their sounding good and being respectable-because-Biblical, if they aren't basically vernacular in my own culture. I feel kinda the same as I do about names from any foreign culture. That -iah ending seems pointedly religious to me. I want to know a little bit about their native context, and find it appealing from my own perspective, before I am comfortable to consider it as a name for my kid. If my own name were from the bible and not commonly used in my culture, I'd want to know about that character's story. What were the prophecies of Zephaniah about? Or is the name referring to someone more recent and well-known? I don't mind using names that float free of history and meaning, but I balk at using ones that I know do have it and I'm just ignorant of it.
- mirfak
Replies
Good point! Theres not much information on the name itself, as it mean to hide from God/ My God is hidden in me." according on this website. I'm not having children anytime soon, but I toyed around this name in the future, but it sounded like a mouthful and not enough. Thank you for your perspective