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HelpRe: Beulah
in reply to a message by LMS
Maybe, at some point in the future. Possibly by hipsters and/or people who want to honor their great-grandparents.
There's something modest yet unapologetic about it that I admire, but I think the meaning works against it.
There's something modest yet unapologetic about it that I admire, but I think the meaning works against it.
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It means "married" according to this site. Am I missing something?
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if meaning "married" works against it ...
Than meaning "small" should work against Paul, meaning "manly" should work against Caroline (or even Charles, for that matter) meaning "old" work against Priscilla, etc.
Who actually, in everyday life, fixates on the meaning of names that aren't also common nouns?
Than meaning "small" should work against Paul, meaning "manly" should work against Caroline (or even Charles, for that matter) meaning "old" work against Priscilla, etc.
Who actually, in everyday life, fixates on the meaning of names that aren't also common nouns?
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Paul and Caroline are more mainstream than Beulah, which I think makes a difference, but I do realize a lot of people don't know or care about name meanings.
My point was I don't think the meaning by itself would sway many people into using it, if they did look it up...and it's odd enough that if people were on the fence about using Beulah, finding out the meaning might convince them not to. So, it's just more unlikely to catch on because of that factor imo.
My point was I don't think the meaning by itself would sway many people into using it, if they did look it up...and it's odd enough that if people were on the fence about using Beulah, finding out the meaning might convince them not to. So, it's just more unlikely to catch on because of that factor imo.
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It might not be the awesomest meaning, but what's so terrible about it that it would put people off? It's just "meh", not bad.
Plus in my experience, people who aren't name nerds or interested in etymology in some way pay very little attention to the meaning of a name when picking names for their children (at least in Western languages where the meaning of most names isn't obvious).
Plus in my experience, people who aren't name nerds or interested in etymology in some way pay very little attention to the meaning of a name when picking names for their children (at least in Western languages where the meaning of most names isn't obvious).
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I agree. It's "meh".
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it used to be mainstream ...
My opinion is that the name's datedness and stereotypical associations with black maids are enough to dissuade most people from wanting to use it without the meaning being thrown in. It's worked for a hundred years or so already.
The religious aspects of the name can't be all bad, though, because there's a hymn called Beulah Land.
My opinion is that the name's datedness and stereotypical associations with black maids are enough to dissuade most people from wanting to use it without the meaning being thrown in. It's worked for a hundred years or so already.
The religious aspects of the name can't be all bad, though, because there's a hymn called Beulah Land.
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Christianity and Judaism are two completely different religions
I don't think Jews sing Christian hymns and I doubt Christians are Jewish scholars.
I don't think Jews sing Christian hymns and I doubt Christians are Jewish scholars.
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From the comment is seems that only Talmud scholars or very Orthodox Jews would have an issue with, but stating that a Christian hymn means it's OK in all religions makes no sense.
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If you look below I explained how the name doesn't just mean married and actually has what can be construed as a negative meaning in Jewish Culture.
Most people will, of course, not know this - just as many do not know that Colleen is the same as calling your child girl.
But, as seen below, those with a Jewish background would and therefore the name is not usable in those communities.
Most people will, of course, not know this - just as many do not know that Colleen is the same as calling your child girl.
But, as seen below, those with a Jewish background would and therefore the name is not usable in those communities.
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I wonder this, too. I'm a namenerd, but I never care about meaning. I assume most people who aren't namenerds aren't going to give a crap, but I could be wrong.
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Especially when a meaning is obscure or, like Beulah is being claimed to be, very specialized to a particular religious doctrine.
I mean, your name means ewe or sheep, but nobody, not even on here, uses that to justify their dislike of the name.
I mean, your name means ewe or sheep, but nobody, not even on here, uses that to justify their dislike of the name.
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I veto names based on meaning sometimes. I doubt I'm the only person in the world who does that.
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No, you're not, but I'm wondering if the average non-namenerd does that. Maybe they do, maybe they don't, but most people I know who aren't namenerds tend to go by how names sound and believe the BS meanings given by third-rate baby name sites and books ("Jayden means 'beautiful shining warrior!").
This message was edited 11/25/2015, 5:36 PM
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I guess I'm assuming people who like Beulah are more likely to be namenerds than not, considering how uncommon it is currently.
But if it was listed in a third-rate baby name book with a BS meaning like "divine love", I bet it'd be used more.
But if it was listed in a third-rate baby name book with a BS meaning like "divine love", I bet it'd be used more.
This message was edited 11/25/2015, 6:29 PM
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Nah, I was thinking about names and meanings in a general sense, not specifically about Beulah.
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In that case, I still think meaning is a factor; not THE factor, but it influences many people to some degree, even non-namenerds.
Websites and books wouldn't bother to list meanings if no one cared about them at all.
But of course, there's also many people who don't care.
I guess for me, meaning is just another association. My opinion of a name varies based on whether I associate it with positive/negative things.
Websites and books wouldn't bother to list meanings if no one cared about them at all.
But of course, there's also many people who don't care.
I guess for me, meaning is just another association. My opinion of a name varies based on whether I associate it with positive/negative things.
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For me, sound is more important than meaning. You can tell me a name means "hideous witch demon who eats children", but if I love the way it sounds, I'll put it on my PNL and even consider it for a child. I might even like it MORE than a name with a vanilla meaning, like "beautiful meadow" or "born by the riverside", or whatever. At least it's a little different, you know?
This message was edited 11/26/2015, 10:12 AM
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Yeah, a nice meaning might be a plus, but what really counts is the sound.
A name would need to have a truly appalling meaning for me to rule it out if I liked it otherwise. On the other hand, there are plenty of names that have lovely meanings but that I really don't like the look and sound of, so I'd never use them.
A name would need to have a truly appalling meaning for me to rule it out if I liked it otherwise. On the other hand, there are plenty of names that have lovely meanings but that I really don't like the look and sound of, so I'd never use them.
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I agree?
Sort of. I wouldn't want to use a name that meant "disease" or "trash", even if I loved the sound.
Sort of. I wouldn't want to use a name that meant "disease" or "trash", even if I loved the sound.
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TRUTH
I was pretty upset to see that Cormac's meaning on the site has changed from "son of defilement" to "raven/wheel?? + son". Oh Cormac, you were so metal. So metal.
I was pretty upset to see that Cormac's meaning on the site has changed from "son of defilement" to "raven/wheel?? + son". Oh Cormac, you were so metal. So metal.
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This comment sums it up
My roommate first mentioned the name Beulah to me, and I've been finding it more and more in my law hypos as I study for the California Bar, so it prompted me to find this site.
I was hoping it wasn't actually from the Hebrew b'ula, but apparently it is. It really doesn't mean a married woman. I mean we hope she's married, but it just means a woman who's been around the block (not necessarily slutty, but it means a woman who's had sex), as opposed to a b'tula - virgin. It's used a lot in Jewish legal texts (g'mara / talmud) to mean an unmarried woman who is unchaste, for purposes of measuring dowry, or fitness for marrying the kohen gadol (High Priest), which is where I know it from better than y'shaya (Isiah).
It is related to the word for husband - baal (or owner), but so is one of the Hebrew words for sex (b'ila, livol - to have sex).
How this got to be a name in English is beyond me.
My roommate first mentioned the name Beulah to me, and I've been finding it more and more in my law hypos as I study for the California Bar, so it prompted me to find this site.
I was hoping it wasn't actually from the Hebrew b'ula, but apparently it is. It really doesn't mean a married woman. I mean we hope she's married, but it just means a woman who's been around the block (not necessarily slutty, but it means a woman who's had sex), as opposed to a b'tula - virgin. It's used a lot in Jewish legal texts (g'mara / talmud) to mean an unmarried woman who is unchaste, for purposes of measuring dowry, or fitness for marrying the kohen gadol (High Priest), which is where I know it from better than y'shaya (Isiah).
It is related to the word for husband - baal (or owner), but so is one of the Hebrew words for sex (b'ila, livol - to have sex).
How this got to be a name in English is beyond me.
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Interesting. Probably not usable for Jews who aren't very secular and by Jewish Israelis in general, but apparently it can refer to the Land of Israel as well? So that would be a more positive association, at least in certain religious contexts.
Anyway, all sorts of weird stuff gets to be a name.
Anyway, all sorts of weird stuff gets to be a name.
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This makes me super proud and protective of Beulah. You go around that block, girl. That kohen gadol doesn't even deserve you.
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Yep. Whore was alwsys a great way to stigmatize any woman with any sort of independent streak. still is unfortunately
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more directly, it means "no longer a virgin" - which assumed she was married. In today's culture though, the meaning just comes out sounding weird.
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