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HelpEmbeth and Wilbeth
This is just for fun, right? Pointless musings, no child will be given either name anytime soon (or ever).
So anyway, lately I've been looking into some local and regional folklore. In the process I came across the "Three Virgins", a group of allegedly pre-Christian goddesses who later became "unofficial" saints. Whatever they were, the cult of Embeth (or Ambeth or Einbeth or a plethora of variants of her name), Wilbeth (or Vilbeth or Fürbeth or a plethora of variants of her name) and Borbeth (or Barbeth or Warbeth or a plethora of varitans of her name) has been around since the Middle Ages and became rather popular when the "girls" got appointed companions of Saint Ursula in the 15th century.
Now, as I said, it's not like I'd have to name a baby girl tonight, but it got me thinking - would Embeth or Wilbeth be usable as names in this day and age? Just wondering.
So anyway, lately I've been looking into some local and regional folklore. In the process I came across the "Three Virgins", a group of allegedly pre-Christian goddesses who later became "unofficial" saints. Whatever they were, the cult of Embeth (or Ambeth or Einbeth or a plethora of variants of her name), Wilbeth (or Vilbeth or Fürbeth or a plethora of variants of her name) and Borbeth (or Barbeth or Warbeth or a plethora of varitans of her name) has been around since the Middle Ages and became rather popular when the "girls" got appointed companions of Saint Ursula in the 15th century.
Now, as I said, it's not like I'd have to name a baby girl tonight, but it got me thinking - would Embeth or Wilbeth be usable as names in this day and age? Just wondering.
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Thanks everyone!
:-)
:-)
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Interesting! I had no idea Embeth had any history - having seen it on the actress I just assumed it was a mashup of Emily/Emma & Elizabeth. Someone in the 1940 US census is a Burbeth with parents Wilbur and Elizabeth; there's a 'proper' Borbeth, too. The US census for various years (20thc) also seems to have quite a few Wilbeths, so clearly it was usable relatively recently.
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Aw, thank you for looking them up for me!
I have to admit for some reason I'm especially drawn to Wilbeth at the moment. Probably because she's so... "ugly cool" (to steal dying daylight's words). Cool in a very peculiar way. Plus, she would be a way to, kind of, honour the Wilhelms in the family without using Willa, who arrives with her very own set of issues for German speakers, or Wilhelmine, Wilhelmina, who certainly is stately, kind of beautiful but just too imposing a name for a simple girl like myself ;-)
Huh, I'm rambling here so I better stop.
I always liked Embeth Davidtz's name so I was quite fascinated to discover this mythological Embeth.
I have to admit for some reason I'm especially drawn to Wilbeth at the moment. Probably because she's so... "ugly cool" (to steal dying daylight's words). Cool in a very peculiar way. Plus, she would be a way to, kind of, honour the Wilhelms in the family without using Willa, who arrives with her very own set of issues for German speakers, or Wilhelmine, Wilhelmina, who certainly is stately, kind of beautiful but just too imposing a name for a simple girl like myself ;-)
Huh, I'm rambling here so I better stop.
I always liked Embeth Davidtz's name so I was quite fascinated to discover this mythological Embeth.
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Beth, Beth and Beth. Euuuuurgh. Along with Abigail, Beth is something that makes me dry gag. I would love Elizabeth if it weren't for beth and Beth on its own is some horrible lovecraftian gagging horror. Sorry, but never in a million years would I give a child a name with the hideous nickname "Beth". Ewww.
Embeth is kind of pretty. Wilbeth is ugly-cool. Fürbeth should be outlawed. Borbeth likewise, although Barbeth is interesting to write and Warbeth is kind of funny.
Embeth is kind of pretty. Wilbeth is ugly-cool. Fürbeth should be outlawed. Borbeth likewise, although Barbeth is interesting to write and Warbeth is kind of funny.
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LOL! Seriously, your post cracked me up, a much needed laugh, so thank you! :-)
And it gets even worse: the three of them together are commonly referred to as "Die Bethen" nowadays. That would be "The Bethes" in English, or "The Beths" or whatever the proper plural of Beth is ;-)
"Ugly-cool", yeah, that's a good word to describe Wilbeth, I think. And maybe it's just this quality that has me so intrigued with her, among other things.
And it gets even worse: the three of them together are commonly referred to as "Die Bethen" nowadays. That would be "The Bethes" in English, or "The Beths" or whatever the proper plural of Beth is ;-)
"Ugly-cool", yeah, that's a good word to describe Wilbeth, I think. And maybe it's just this quality that has me so intrigued with her, among other things.
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I think Embeth is rather nice...warm, uncomplicated and with some elegance. Maybe I'm thinking of embers on the warmth bit. I have seen actress, Embeth Davidtz, in a period drama.
Wilbeth? First thought was an attempt at a feminine Wilbur. A bit awkward, I think.
Wilbeth? First thought was an attempt at a feminine Wilbur. A bit awkward, I think.
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I'm getting this warm feel from Embeth, too. Maybe it's the ember association that I have as well or the fact that she seems to have been a motherly kind of figure in the triad, you know, the mature woman who is, not only, but also a mother... anyway, I like it.
I have been liking the name ever since I first saw a movie with Embeth Davidtz, I just didn't mention the actress to see if everyone would immediately think of her. To see if Embeth was a one person kind of name, you know?
I have been liking the name ever since I first saw a movie with Embeth Davidtz, I just didn't mention the actress to see if everyone would immediately think of her. To see if Embeth was a one person kind of name, you know?
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I too immediately thought of actress Embeth Davidtz who I have seen in the 1999 film Mansfield Park (nothing like Jane Austen's original novel but great actors).
I think Embeth is definitely usable. It reminds me of Elspeth (and Elsbeth and Elizabeth) so it actually looks/sounds a bit Scottish to me. The other names are pretty much too out of date to use and don't have pleasant sounds.
I think Embeth is definitely usable. It reminds me of Elspeth (and Elsbeth and Elizabeth) so it actually looks/sounds a bit Scottish to me. The other names are pretty much too out of date to use and don't have pleasant sounds.
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Huh, interesting that Embeth makes you think of Elspeth. It wouldn't have occured to me, but actually it makes a lot of sense: I've had a crush on Elspeth (the name) for a long time and Embeth shares quite a few of her sounds and has a similar feel to me, so no wonder I like Embeth as well.
Thank you! :-)
Thank you! :-)
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