Zuleika, Zulaykha, Zulekha...
I have been really loving this name, especially as a middle name. It's pronounced zoo-LAY-kuh.
I had only heard of Zuleika, but in searching for it, I've found Zulaykha and Zulekha as Arabic forms. I like that Zulaykha/Zulekha have actual Arabic roots, whereas Zuleika is "just" a literary name with possible Persian roots (not that I really mind that). I love that Zuleika means "brilliant beauty".
Which of the three appeals to you most?
Thanks!
I had only heard of Zuleika, but in searching for it, I've found Zulaykha and Zulekha as Arabic forms. I like that Zulaykha/Zulekha have actual Arabic roots, whereas Zuleika is "just" a literary name with possible Persian roots (not that I really mind that). I love that Zuleika means "brilliant beauty".
Which of the three appeals to you most?
Thanks!
Replies
I have been fond of Zuleika for a number of years and may use it for a cat someday. I tend to prefer that spelling, but I'm not picky because it has many transcriptions. As unusual as it is, I actually know someone with the middle name. She is English and she said her parents told her it was the name of an Indian princess (go figure). I guess I never really paid attention to Zuleika's connection to Potiphar before. After poking around, I think the Islamic accounts of Yusuf and Zuleika seem much more elaborate (and celebrated) than the Jewish and Christian stories. It seems she was never named until much later, which I find rather interesting.
Zuleika.
I usually say it as zoo-LIE-kah.
Before anyone (trusting in the infalibility of the site) tells me that I'm wrong, I would like to explain. Names with ei are always a bit tricky for me to say because my first and primary language is English, a language in which that diphthong doesn't exist. Because when I first saw this name I had never heard it before and I knew some German, I used that. My apologies for not knowing Persian, but I like this way better.
I usually say it as zoo-LIE-kah.
Before anyone (trusting in the infalibility of the site) tells me that I'm wrong, I would like to explain. Names with ei are always a bit tricky for me to say because my first and primary language is English, a language in which that diphthong doesn't exist. Because when I first saw this name I had never heard it before and I knew some German, I used that. My apologies for not knowing Persian, but I like this way better.
Love it! Gorgeous! Zuleika is best imo.
Zuleika.
Zulaykah looks almost dumbed down to me, as if it was spelled phonetically by someone who had never seen Zuleika in print before. Zulekha is pretty enough, but I want to pronounce it as zu-LEK-uh because of the spelling. Zuleika is the most familiar and intuitive, imo.
Zulaykah looks almost dumbed down to me, as if it was spelled phonetically by someone who had never seen Zuleika in print before. Zulekha is pretty enough, but I want to pronounce it as zu-LEK-uh because of the spelling. Zuleika is the most familiar and intuitive, imo.
I prefer Zuleika. I also think it's the easiest to spell. I don't like the look of Zulaykha at all. It's way too complicated. Zulekha is nice, but I would pronounce it zoo-leh-kah not zoo-lay-kah.
I say zoo-leh-kah and zoo-lay-kah the same, but I agree about spelling. As a middle name though, spelling isn't my number one priority.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Zuleika