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I've seen Zuleika listed as being both a Persian and an Arabic name, but I haven't seen it on any of the Persian or Arabic baby name sites I've perused. Does anyone know its origin and meaning? TIA.
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“Violence, in truth, recoils upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit he has dug for another." - Sherlock Holmes, The Speckled Band
BTN's Resident Historian
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“Violence, in truth, recoils upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit he has dug for another." - Sherlock Holmes, The Speckled Band
BTN's Resident Historian
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Replies
Well, this site is usually pretty good and it suggests Persian; however, Wikipedia picks up the apocryphal reference and says: "Zuleika is the name given to the Biblical Potiphar's wife in Jewish and Muslim tradition, although she is only mentioned as the "wife of 'Azeez." The word 'Azeez is the Qur'an's honorific title designated for Potiphar".
What a mess! A Jewish story picked up by Muslims ... two Semitic languages there. But the Indo-European Persians spoil the pattern. If your failure to find it means anything, it must just be that it isn't currently in use - she's not the most moral lady in anyone's Book, so that isn't surprising.
And, since it was chosen for the most hilarious femme fatale in English literature, I wouldn't expect many Anglo parents to choose it either. Pity - it looks and sounds fascinating.
What a mess! A Jewish story picked up by Muslims ... two Semitic languages there. But the Indo-European Persians spoil the pattern. If your failure to find it means anything, it must just be that it isn't currently in use - she's not the most moral lady in anyone's Book, so that isn't surprising.
And, since it was chosen for the most hilarious femme fatale in English literature, I wouldn't expect many Anglo parents to choose it either. Pity - it looks and sounds fascinating.
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