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HelpRe: Zoe pronunciation
in reply to a message by Bear
My mother was born and lived her entire life in New Jersey, and my roommate was from Missouri. I grew up in New Jersey, but have lived all around the country.
I don't know, my mother's parents just always pronounced it ZO, and that's just the way her name was pronounced. As a result, when I first heard ZO-EE, I thought THAT was strange.
I'm beginning to find it interesting that my mom had the name Zoe, because she was born in 1928, when it was a very very unusual name. I know she was given it because it was my grandmother's middle name, and she was born in 1906, when the name Zoe in the U.S. was just about unheard of. I wonder how it got started in my family, who first thought of using such an unusual (for the time) name, because I believe that I heard that it was my grandmother's paternal grandmother's name.
I didn't realize until reading the comments page for Zoe how uncommon it is to pronounce it ZO. I had always thought it was a legitimate alternative pronunciation.
I don't know, my mother's parents just always pronounced it ZO, and that's just the way her name was pronounced. As a result, when I first heard ZO-EE, I thought THAT was strange.
I'm beginning to find it interesting that my mom had the name Zoe, because she was born in 1928, when it was a very very unusual name. I know she was given it because it was my grandmother's middle name, and she was born in 1906, when the name Zoe in the U.S. was just about unheard of. I wonder how it got started in my family, who first thought of using such an unusual (for the time) name, because I believe that I heard that it was my grandmother's paternal grandmother's name.
I didn't realize until reading the comments page for Zoe how uncommon it is to pronounce it ZO. I had always thought it was a legitimate alternative pronunciation.
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I will take a running jump, and say, "Bet they got it from a book."
A novel, that's to say. Not a baby name book.
We have a friend, a priest (male, need I say), named Eymard.He's French-speaking, but is the only bearer of that name anyone knows..he says his mother ..got it from a book.
I also have a friend, Carlotta, not in the least Latina..same story.
A novel, that's to say. Not a baby name book.
We have a friend, a priest (male, need I say), named Eymard.He's French-speaking, but is the only bearer of that name anyone knows..he says his mother ..got it from a book.
I also have a friend, Carlotta, not in the least Latina..same story.
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I knew a woman named Dom-Angelique, though she was commonly called Angel. Her mother got it from a book.
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I suppose people did this, pre-t.v.
Dom-Angelique is pretty impressive. Wouldn't see three or four of those in the same kindergarten.
Dom-Angelique is pretty impressive. Wouldn't see three or four of those in the same kindergarten.
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Interesting. Thanks for the info.
I suppose your great-great-grandmother could have been Greek. Or, she could have been English / British since they loved to use Greek names way back when. Heck, she could have been anything since everyone loves to use Greek names. :-)
I first saw / heard the name in connection with Dame Zoe Caldwell, the British actress. I always associated it with the classics and Greek drama -- that's how my mind melded the two images. So when I come to these name boards and read that many think of it as a 'new' name I have to shake my head. "No!" I type. "Zoe is a classic!" Yes, it sounds cute and all. But it's definitley a classic. (Sorry to rant. I know you know better. It's just a pet peeve of mine about the name.)
ETA: Heck is a name?
I suppose your great-great-grandmother could have been Greek. Or, she could have been English / British since they loved to use Greek names way back when. Heck, she could have been anything since everyone loves to use Greek names. :-)
I first saw / heard the name in connection with Dame Zoe Caldwell, the British actress. I always associated it with the classics and Greek drama -- that's how my mind melded the two images. So when I come to these name boards and read that many think of it as a 'new' name I have to shake my head. "No!" I type. "Zoe is a classic!" Yes, it sounds cute and all. But it's definitley a classic. (Sorry to rant. I know you know better. It's just a pet peeve of mine about the name.)
ETA: Heck is a name?
This message was edited 7/21/2009, 12:19 PM
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