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Helpnew Jewish names on my mind
I found the 2 following Jewish names in the novel "Tamara Walks on Water" by Israeli novelist Shifra Horn:
Simcha: love this meaning of this one. In the book it's a female character, but I've seen it's actually unisex. Does it work better on a boy or a girl? Would the "ch" sound be a problem for non-Hebrew speakers?
Tamar / Tamara: Tamar is really growing on me, Tamara I don't like so much.
WDYT?
Simcha: love this meaning of this one. In the book it's a female character, but I've seen it's actually unisex. Does it work better on a boy or a girl? Would the "ch" sound be a problem for non-Hebrew speakers?
Tamar / Tamara: Tamar is really growing on me, Tamara I don't like so much.
WDYT?
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Simcha doesn't appeal to me at all.
Tamar on the other hand I do like but I'm not sure I like it enough to use it. It was the name of a great-great grandmother and my cousin is called Tamara (sort of after her but not really). Tamar is also the name of the river between Devon and Cornwall. I may add it to my PNL soon.
Tamar on the other hand I do like but I'm not sure I like it enough to use it. It was the name of a great-great grandmother and my cousin is called Tamara (sort of after her but not really). Tamar is also the name of the river between Devon and Cornwall. I may add it to my PNL soon.
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I love Tamar! I really like Jewish/Hebrew names, too. My favorite of the moment is Merav. My friend spent a week in Israel and met a woman by that name. I also like Masada, although it is a place name in Caesarea, I think it would be pretty for a girl, especially with the nickname Mazzy.
I'm Catholic, but I have no problem using Jewish names because Christianity is rooted in Judaism. I sing in the choir at my church, and the woman who sits next to me is a convert from Judaism. We talked about this one day -- using Jewish names for Christian kids --because a woman in the choir had a son and named him Abraham. Anyway, the Jewish-to-Catholic convert said her Jewish niece has a son named Sebastian (an early Christian martyr)! So I guess it goes both ways. :-)
M.
I'm Catholic, but I have no problem using Jewish names because Christianity is rooted in Judaism. I sing in the choir at my church, and the woman who sits next to me is a convert from Judaism. We talked about this one day -- using Jewish names for Christian kids --because a woman in the choir had a son and named him Abraham. Anyway, the Jewish-to-Catholic convert said her Jewish niece has a son named Sebastian (an early Christian martyr)! So I guess it goes both ways. :-)
M.
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I love Jewish names. In fact, I have a closet full of them.
Just kidding. But really.
I agree with you, Tamar is preferable to Tamara. I like it as a middle name better than a first name, mostly because it's hard for me to find something that goes well with it. With the emphasis on the second syllable, I can't seem to find anything that picks it up again and I feel like I've collapsed under the weight of too many shopping bags full of baby names. Good choice, though.
Simcha seems more masculine to me, for some reason. I know it's unisex, and usually anything that ends in an -a I see as feminine, but somehow this one slipped through. I love it as well, and I have no problem with it, but I also speak Hebrew. In the past, when I've tested out some favorites on my non-Hebrew-speaking friends (Chaya, Chava, etc), they always pronounce it with the Ch- as in "chocolate" and I end up frustrated. So, short answer, good name, but people won't get it right.
Just kidding. But really.
I agree with you, Tamar is preferable to Tamara. I like it as a middle name better than a first name, mostly because it's hard for me to find something that goes well with it. With the emphasis on the second syllable, I can't seem to find anything that picks it up again and I feel like I've collapsed under the weight of too many shopping bags full of baby names. Good choice, though.
Simcha seems more masculine to me, for some reason. I know it's unisex, and usually anything that ends in an -a I see as feminine, but somehow this one slipped through. I love it as well, and I have no problem with it, but I also speak Hebrew. In the past, when I've tested out some favorites on my non-Hebrew-speaking friends (Chaya, Chava, etc), they always pronounce it with the Ch- as in "chocolate" and I end up frustrated. So, short answer, good name, but people won't get it right.
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I love Simcha. I've always thought about it on a girl, but I could see it on a boy, too. I'm not Hebrew, but I'm pretty sure I could master a "ch," hehe. I think the name and interesting sound would stand out in a slew of more common names.
Tamar I've never heard of. I love Tamara. But I like the idea of Tamar. I don't think I would use either, but they both sound and look nice.
Tamar I've never heard of. I love Tamara. But I like the idea of Tamar. I don't think I would use either, but they both sound and look nice.
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Simcha tends to be more of a male name - but it is by no means unknown for girls. The girls' name Aliza has a similar meaning. (Don't forget that loch ch sound in Simcha, though!).
I like Tamar - and that "date palm" meaning. There's a river in south-west England, near Plymouth, the Tamar (pronounced Taymahr) so with that pronunciation it could easily work as a "water/river" name.
I prefer Tamar to Tamara but the latter could grow on me, despite the "tomorrow" jokes).
I like Tamar - and that "date palm" meaning. There's a river in south-west England, near Plymouth, the Tamar (pronounced Taymahr) so with that pronunciation it could easily work as a "water/river" name.
I prefer Tamar to Tamara but the latter could grow on me, despite the "tomorrow" jokes).
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I love Tamar.
Have for a long, long time. Simcha...I'm not sure. I have mixed feelings for it, especially as seems very "new" for some reason.
Have for a long, long time. Simcha...I'm not sure. I have mixed feelings for it, especially as seems very "new" for some reason.
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Simcha is a nice name. I think it works equally well on both sexes, I don't have a preference of seeing it on one sex more than the other. The 'ch' *might* be a problem for non-Hebrew speakers. Not for German speakers since the 'ch' in German is basically pronounced the same as it is in Hebrew. But to be honest, 'SIM-kah' isn't too pleasing on my ears. The guttural sound gives the name extra oomph.
Tamar is a name that is growing on me, as well. I hate Tamara, and though I never used to like Tamar, I find it more appealing each time I see it.
Tamar is a name that is growing on me, as well. I hate Tamara, and though I never used to like Tamar, I find it more appealing each time I see it.
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Simcha is ok, nms. I think I prefer it for a boy. I love the nn Sim!
I don't care much for Tamara.
Tamar, I don't like because of the history. Tamar was a daughter of King David. She was the full sister of Absalom. She was raped by her half-brother Amnon. Absalom eventually killed Amnon to avenge his sister, then he rebelled against his father, King David. Absalom had a beautiful daughter which he named Tamar, presumably after his sister.
I don't care much for Tamara.
Tamar, I don't like because of the history. Tamar was a daughter of King David. She was the full sister of Absalom. She was raped by her half-brother Amnon. Absalom eventually killed Amnon to avenge his sister, then he rebelled against his father, King David. Absalom had a beautiful daughter which he named Tamar, presumably after his sister.
This message was edited 6/3/2008, 1:09 PM
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