New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Beulah
Beulah has been on my mind a lot lately, I'm loving it. I personally slot it in with names like Nuala, Lula, Selah, etc. so it feels usable. What do you think of it? Could it ever make a comeback? How do you pronounce it? I ask because my pronunciation is all over the place as both BYOO-la and BEH-oo-la.
I prefer it as a middle name. I've been thinking about Pearl Beulah [BEH-oo-la] as a combo. Thoughts?
Thanks!
I prefer it as a middle name. I've been thinking about Pearl Beulah [BEH-oo-la] as a combo. Thoughts?
Thanks!
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I think it's hideous. I don't see it coming back anytime soon.
1
Honestly, it's one of the worst proper names out there. I dislike how it looks and sounds and doesn't even have a nice meaning to compensate... I'd say BYOO-lah.
Also it starts with Beul, which is Dutch for Executioner, so to me it looks like someone tried to feminize Executioner.
It wouldn't be overly bothersome as a MN, but I'd definitely steer clear of it as a FN. I'm not fond of Pearl Beulah, bc I also don't really like the sound of Pearl. I do like its looks & meaning though.
If forced, I'd combine Beulah with a more light and cheerful FN:
Rosalie Beulah
Ivy Beulah
Vivienne Beulah
Lily Beulah
Milly Beulah
Elsie Beulah
Also it starts with Beul, which is Dutch for Executioner, so to me it looks like someone tried to feminize Executioner.
It wouldn't be overly bothersome as a MN, but I'd definitely steer clear of it as a FN. I'm not fond of Pearl Beulah, bc I also don't really like the sound of Pearl. I do like its looks & meaning though.
If forced, I'd combine Beulah with a more light and cheerful FN:
Rosalie Beulah
Ivy Beulah
Vivienne Beulah
Lily Beulah
Milly Beulah
Elsie Beulah
1
BYOO-la. Byul-ah.
I think there's something charming about it. Maybe because the byoo sound + an old fashioned vibe makes me think "bucolic", and it vaguely reminds me of "beautiful" (I guess there aren't very many words in English with that initial sound).
I don't see it being popular anytime soon. It's one of those names that I personally like, but that I would expect most people I know to describe as outdated/ugly; a couple others on that list would be Ethel and Gertrude.
I think there's something charming about it. Maybe because the byoo sound + an old fashioned vibe makes me think "bucolic", and it vaguely reminds me of "beautiful" (I guess there aren't very many words in English with that initial sound).
I don't see it being popular anytime soon. It's one of those names that I personally like, but that I would expect most people I know to describe as outdated/ugly; a couple others on that list would be Ethel and Gertrude.
This message was edited 6/12/2018, 10:32 AM
1
I really like Beulah! I have boundless space in my heart for dusty name gems.
Pearl Beulah is darling, though I don't love the sound of it. Here are some other combos:
Aurore Beulah
Celine Beulah
Cicely Beulah
Daphne Beulah
Dorothy Beulah
Edith Beulah
Emilie Beulah
Frances Beulah
Harriet Beulah
Hester Beulah
Inez Beulah
Ingrid Beulah
Iris Beulah
Ivy Beulah
Joan Beulah
Lenore Beulah
Margery Beulah
Odette Beulah
Therese Beulah
Vivien Beulah
Winifred Beulah
Xanthe Beulah
Pearl Beulah is darling, though I don't love the sound of it. Here are some other combos:
Aurore Beulah
Celine Beulah
Cicely Beulah
Daphne Beulah
Dorothy Beulah
Edith Beulah
Emilie Beulah
Frances Beulah
Harriet Beulah
Hester Beulah
Inez Beulah
Ingrid Beulah
Iris Beulah
Ivy Beulah
Joan Beulah
Lenore Beulah
Margery Beulah
Odette Beulah
Therese Beulah
Vivien Beulah
Winifred Beulah
Xanthe Beulah
1
People are unfair against this name. They have a lot of negative reactions.
Personally, I wouldn't be quick to use it because of that. I would be more likely to use the names you listed. Even just Eulah is better. I think it works fine as a middle name and Pearl Beulah has a huge southern belle vibe.
Personally, I wouldn't be quick to use it because of that. I would be more likely to use the names you listed. Even just Eulah is better. I think it works fine as a middle name and Pearl Beulah has a huge southern belle vibe.
1
What do I think of it? I like it. It’s an old-fashioned 19th century name with some good associations. It’s also substantial and solid, a quality lacking in most names popular today.
Will it ever become popular again? Almost certainly not. The sound doesn’t fit with current trends and it has a reputation as a “great grandma name.” The meaning also doesn’t really fit today’s culture.
I pronounce it BYOO-lah in English, Beh-oo-lah in Hebrew.
Will it ever become popular again? Almost certainly not. The sound doesn’t fit with current trends and it has a reputation as a “great grandma name.” The meaning also doesn’t really fit today’s culture.
I pronounce it BYOO-lah in English, Beh-oo-lah in Hebrew.
1
I'd pronounce it byoola, because that's the English pronunciation.
I think it's strange and fascinating, like most of the odder Biblical names. (I enjoyed its comments section.) It's not something I'd ever use because I don't like the sound much, and never having met anyone called it, it mainly reminds me of grim-looking Victorian chapels, which often have names like this in Wales. But it would be fun to see in use, and it's definitely not a boring filler middle name.
I think it's strange and fascinating, like most of the odder Biblical names. (I enjoyed its comments section.) It's not something I'd ever use because I don't like the sound much, and never having met anyone called it, it mainly reminds me of grim-looking Victorian chapels, which often have names like this in Wales. But it would be fun to see in use, and it's definitely not a boring filler middle name.
1
I've never heard it pronounced any way other than Byoo-la. It's usable only in the sense that it is an actual name and there is no law on the books saying you can't use it.
But my advice is don't use it. It's the kind of dated that will not come back and it was only popular very briefly. It died out because it deserved to die.
It's also often seen as a very negative, often raciallly-tinged, stereotype for a maid.
But my advice is don't use it. It's the kind of dated that will not come back and it was only popular very briefly. It died out because it deserved to die.
It's also often seen as a very negative, often raciallly-tinged, stereotype for a maid.
1
Beulah is stuck squarely in GP/crush territory for me.
I didn't know about the stereotype. That's interesting.
I didn't know about the stereotype. That's interesting.
1
Meh, there was a radio show from 1945 to 1954, which simultaneously was a TV show from 1950 to 1952, entitled "Beulah", in which the titular character was an African-American maid, and yes, the shows supported stereotypes of African-Americans. However, I don't really think that that in and of itself is enough to totally taint the name. That was a long time ago, and I bet if you asked anyone younger than 75 if they'd even heard of those shows, the majority would say they had not. It's not like Jemima, because we still see Aunt Jemima products on the store shelves today.
It makes me think of the actress Beulah Bondi, who was white. Of course, most people today probably don't know who she was, either.
It makes me think of the actress Beulah Bondi, who was white. Of course, most people today probably don't know who she was, either.
1
I’m usually all for older names making a comeback, but it sounds like the noise I make when I throw up. I’m sorry.
I’ve only ever heard it pronounced as BYOO-la
I’ve only ever heard it pronounced as BYOO-la
1
Oh my gosh I didn't even think of that. Ew! lol
1
I don't think it will ever make a comeback - the sound is pretty ugly by societal standards - but I dig it a lot. It edges on having a silly sound but it strikes me as dark/gothy more than anything else. I actually didn't realize it was a biblical/Hebrew name until just now; I just assumed it was a concoction like Darla. It was a name of a very minor character in Twin Peaks and they pronounced it BYOO-la.
I don't know how I feel about Pearl Beulah. I think the names go together well thematically and give off a similar feel, but I don't think they sound great together. Some other ideas with Beulah in the middle:
Emerald Beulah
Ines Beulah
Noelle Beulah
Shani Beulah
Noemin Beulah
I don't know how I feel about Pearl Beulah. I think the names go together well thematically and give off a similar feel, but I don't think they sound great together. Some other ideas with Beulah in the middle:
Emerald Beulah
Ines Beulah
Noelle Beulah
Shani Beulah
Noemin Beulah
1