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HelpSephora
I recently came across Sephora and was surprised to see that it's not in the database, though it's user-submitted. I initially assumed it was pronounced SEF-er-ah, and then saw that some of the people who submitted it say it's pronounced se-FOUR-ah.
I like it, but only if it's pronounced SEF-er-ah. Do you think that that pronunciation would work? And what do you think of the name, with either or both pronunciations?
I like it, but only if it's pronounced SEF-er-ah. Do you think that that pronunciation would work? And what do you think of the name, with either or both pronunciations?
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I've always pronounced it Se-FOR-ah because that's how everyone pronounces the name of the cosmetics company. I'd never heard it any other way, but now that you mention it it is nice pronounced SEF-er-ah. I think that makes a much pretty girls name than Se-FOR-ah.
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I quite like the name and would pronounce it as SEF-rah. That's the way it was pronounced in the movie The Ten Commandments, which I have always loved and grew up with. A nice name imo.
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This is idiosyncratic, and so it's probably irrelevant to you, but it has always (ever since I first encountered it as the name of the cosmetics co) reminded me of epiphora (eh-PIF-or-a). Epiphora is a medical term for tears overflowing the eye. How tragic! *sniff*
I think it can probably be pronounced either SEF-er-a or seh-FOR-a because Zipporah gets pronounced either way too. I always imagined it was SEF-er-a.
Anyway I vastly prefer it spelled Seffora because that takes the scientific-seeming "phor" out of it - and brings it down to earth, like many Latin spellings seem to be compared to Greek IMO. I could kinda like Seffora, but I can't quite stomach Sephora. Sephora, even without the cosmetics, would be sort of like Persephone or Seraphina or Sophronia or Sapphira (overbearingly phloophy) or Sarai or Moriah or Bathsheba (fusty bible names).
I think it can probably be pronounced either SEF-er-a or seh-FOR-a because Zipporah gets pronounced either way too. I always imagined it was SEF-er-a.
Anyway I vastly prefer it spelled Seffora because that takes the scientific-seeming "phor" out of it - and brings it down to earth, like many Latin spellings seem to be compared to Greek IMO. I could kinda like Seffora, but I can't quite stomach Sephora. Sephora, even without the cosmetics, would be sort of like Persephone or Seraphina or Sophronia or Sapphira (overbearingly phloophy) or Sarai or Moriah or Bathsheba (fusty bible names).
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The beauty/cosmetics store is pronounced se-FOUR-uh (as far as I've ever heard people pronounce it), so it's difficult for me to pronounce it any other way. It's nice enough as a name, but I really can't think of anything but the store when I hear it.
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I love it!
Probably in the minority here, but I grew up watching The Ten Commandments, where they use Sephora (prn. Sef-rah), the Greek Bible's version of Zipporah, the name of Moses' wife. She was always my favorite character in the movie and was played with grace and poise by Yvonne de Carlo. I don't associate it with the makeup brand.
I think it's totally useable pronounced Sef-rah. It's not any different than being called Nay-omi when you prefer Nie-omi or vice versa. It just takes one correction.
Probably in the minority here, but I grew up watching The Ten Commandments, where they use Sephora (prn. Sef-rah), the Greek Bible's version of Zipporah, the name of Moses' wife. She was always my favorite character in the movie and was played with grace and poise by Yvonne de Carlo. I don't associate it with the makeup brand.
I think it's totally useable pronounced Sef-rah. It's not any different than being called Nay-omi when you prefer Nie-omi or vice versa. It just takes one correction.
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I'm not keen on that pronounciation - I would definitely say se-FOR-uh. I quite like the sound, but it doesn't look like a name to me for some reason, more like a brand name.
However, it's unusual enough that people wouldn't have assumptions about the pronounciation, so you could probably get away with pronouncing it differently.
However, it's unusual enough that people wouldn't have assumptions about the pronounciation, so you could probably get away with pronouncing it differently.
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I would pronounce it Seah-FOR-A, but I don't like it. It really sounds to me like a medicine.
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Ditto, I love it but it has been ruined by the association with the upscale make-up chain (quite a nice store, just too linked to the sign, the black bag, etc. for me now). I see you knew that now- glad it doesn't put you off. I feel sort of like that about Pandora- I love it and I wish the jewelry store hadn't usurped it as I feel most people will associate it with that-however, if my husband were on board, I'd probably have still considered Pandora regardless of jewelry or her box!
This message was edited 7/8/2012, 12:37 PM
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Isn't this the name of a cosmetics company?
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Yes, apparently. I didn't know that until a few minutes ago, but I did find it out before I made my post. I had meant to put in the post "I know it's the name of a cosmetics company, but I don't care about that", but forgot. Sephora was a personal name before it became the name of a cosmetics company, so it's along the same lines of the cosmetics company called Jane. It doesn't put me off Sephora.
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It's not so much like Jane, really. Jane made it's way as a name before becoming a company, whereas Sephora is sort of like Maybelline-- a name that was uncommon and will now be forever linked with the company that picked it. I'm not trying to put you off Sephora, but those are just my thoughts.
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I agree, but I don't think of the cosmetics company when I hear Maybelline. I think of Chuck Berry.
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All I can think of is the major make-up store Sephora, and with it's raging popularity, I'm certain that most would feel the same. Aside from that, it's a gorgeous name. I prefer sa-FOR-ah for a pronunciation. I don't like the other as much!
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