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HelpRe: Zoe
in reply to a message by Ozma
As is pretty well-known here, my mother's name was Zoe, and in our family we pronounced it ZO, with the long O. My college roommate's name was Zoe, and she also pronounced it ZO. I think the latter fact is what made me insist for a long time that ZO was an acceptable alternate pronunciation. But this site doesn't list it as one, and I don't think I've seen it listed as one anywhere else, either. I've finally come to accept the fact that my family and my roommate's family were just wrong. Then again, if people want to pronounce it that way, what is there to stop them?
My daughter's middle name is Zoe, after my mother and my grandmother, whose middle name it was. We pronounce it ZO because, being that is the pronunciation my mother used, it just wouldn't seem right otherwise. I used to hate the name, because of that pronunciation, and also probably influenced by my mother's hatred of her name (and hate it she did, believe me.) However, I've come to like it with the ZO-ee pronunciation. So I like it, though I don't think I like it enough to ever use it as a first name, and I wouldn't have used it as a middle name if it hadn't been a family name.
My daughter's middle name is Zoe, after my mother and my grandmother, whose middle name it was. We pronounce it ZO because, being that is the pronunciation my mother used, it just wouldn't seem right otherwise. I used to hate the name, because of that pronunciation, and also probably influenced by my mother's hatred of her name (and hate it she did, believe me.) However, I've come to like it with the ZO-ee pronunciation. So I like it, though I don't think I like it enough to ever use it as a first name, and I wouldn't have used it as a middle name if it hadn't been a family name.
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This reminds me of my dh's family. When we married, I was surprised to learn that his gf (Boyd Evan) pronounced his mn ee-VAN. Wow! Not only that, but his ds and gs (Allen Evan) also pronounced their mns the same. Another child (who is Anna's age) is Robert Evan (goes by both names) and finally, someone is pronouncing this name correctly!
Than again, it's not a name's pronunciation that bugs me -- it's the spelling. As longs as that's okay, then I'm good. ;-)
I'm curious. If your mother hated Zoe, how did she feel when you gave it to your dd?
Than again, it's not a name's pronunciation that bugs me -- it's the spelling. As longs as that's okay, then I'm good. ;-)
I'm curious. If your mother hated Zoe, how did she feel when you gave it to your dd?
This message was edited 12/26/2010, 4:04 PM
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I have a family member Renee pronounced REN-ee. :P I think it's a cute pronunciation, but when I look at her name and hear it, it makes my brain hurt a little.
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She was very touched. When I told her I was going to do it, she just said, "Oh." She wasn't very verbally demonstrative, though she said it in a pleased tone. Then at my daughter's christening, when the minister said the name "Victoria Zoe", I looked at my mother, and she had tears in her eyes. This is the example I often cite when somebody says, "I know that my grandmother wouldn't have wanted me to use her exact name to honor her, because she hated her name." Nope, ain't necessarily so!
The fact that my mother died when my daughter was thirteen months old made me glad that I used her name, and glad that she at least lived to see that.
The fact that my mother died when my daughter was thirteen months old made me glad that I used her name, and glad that she at least lived to see that.
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I agree with this.
My grandmother hated her name (mostly because her father named her and she didn't have a good opinion of him, and since she was a tenth child her name was a bit of an afterthought), not to mention the fact that everyone called here Bara or Barica, but she was thrilled when I told her that I plan to name my future daughter Barbara after her.
The thing is, my wanting to honor her has nothing to do with her particular name and everything to do with my love for her (at least that's how I see honoring).
My grandmother hated her name (mostly because her father named her and she didn't have a good opinion of him, and since she was a tenth child her name was a bit of an afterthought), not to mention the fact that everyone called here Bara or Barica, but she was thrilled when I told her that I plan to name my future daughter Barbara after her.
The thing is, my wanting to honor her has nothing to do with her particular name and everything to do with my love for her (at least that's how I see honoring).
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Ooh, I'm so glad she lived to see it as well. Great story, Janice.
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