Comments on: Name of the Day: Zenaida

By: zeneida

zeneida — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:06:44 +0000

Oh, & just to add, my nickname is Nena, another old common name here in the Philipines.

By: zeneida

zeneida — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:04:22 +0000

Hello! It’s nice to see a compiled & lengthy historical account to my name. I go by Zeneida though, a name I inherited from my Spanish great grandmother, she was the one who raised my mother you see. Anyway, I’m from the Philippines, & the name Zenaida is or was more common here, though not Ze-ney-dah, the one I go by. Perhaps you can add that to your list of Zenaida name versions?

By: Henrietta and other Girly Misfits « Lola’s Onomastic Fits

Henrietta and other Girly Misfits « Lola’s Onomastic Fits — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:40:46 +0000

[...] – She was brought to my attentions by Verity, at Appellation Mountian And immediately Zenaida Ruby Frances jumped into my head (preceded only by Zenaida Ruby Alice) [...]

By: Christina Fonseca

Christina Fonseca — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:58:57 +0000

Zenaida was my grandmother’s name – thank you Verity for this wonderful post! Like Erica’s aunt, she used the Spanish zeh-NYE-da pronunciation.

My dd is in her 20s and has Zenaida on her list for her future babies. I know of one who goes by Zeni (ZEH-nee), and agree with Laney that Zaida would be a great nickname.

I’m glad that you added the related names, and what wonderful stories you’ve included! Brilliant to offer her as an alternative to Sophia, Claudia, Cordelia and Mikayla. All great names, but always good to toss in some “new” old ones.

Lola – absolutely LOVE Zenaida Ruby Frances!

By: Lola

Lola — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:38:04 +0000

Oh, been there, done that! On the bright side, it does get better, I told you when she was little Josephine was indeed a Fifi, complete, right? And think of this, typing one-handed? new skill!

By: appellationmountain

appellationmountain — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:57:27 +0000

Zee Zee – that is a great nickname! Ida is appealing, too, though I think Ida/EYE dah is catching on as an independent name – there’s a new one in our ‘hood. That’s the second I’ve met recently.

I like Zaida, too and Lola, that’s an interesting point about the embedded operatic link – I hadn’t thought of it.

Clio is fabulous, but she refuses to let me put her down. Oh MY does she have lungs. I’m learning to type one-handed!

By: Erica

Erica — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:05:57 +0000

Hi. I’m a longtime lurker, but I just had to post. Zenaida is my aunt’s name. She pronounces it ze-NYE-da, but no one calls her that. She uses Ida (EE-da) instead. It’s somewhat common in the Philippines (where we’re from), though mostly for older people.
My cousin named her daughter after her two grandmothers, Zenaida Helen. Everyone in our family calls her Zee Zee but at school she goes by Zenaida. She’s 9 now and really likes her name, but I think she especially likes that she has the same name as her grandma

By: Laney McDonald

Laney McDonald — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:55:26 +0000

Zenaida is a great name! I’ve never even heard of it until I read your post, but now I’m adding it to my favorites list. I love Zaida for a nickname. I would pronounce Zenaida as Za-nay-da.

I think you just gave me a name for one of my story characters too. lol

By: Lola

Lola — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:17:04 +0000

Wow! What an awesome NotD! I automatically use the default 4 syllable pronunciation, not because I’ve heard it that way before (I’ve never run across someone with this name at all, family or not!) but I am familiar with Aida (eye-EE-da), the Opera, and that element in is the name Zinaida, hence my default pronuncation! If I considered this, I’d go with Zenaida, but shhh… he’s stuck on Zuleika and I’m almost there myself. (I used to work with an Aida, and she siad I was the only one who said her name right from the start!)

Zenaida is GORGEOUS. Lyrical, lovely to say and most definitely a standout, looks wise. The dove connection makes it even more appealing to me, even. Thinking: How outré would Zenaida Ruby Alice MacKenzie be? (Zenaida Ruby Frances MacKenzie?) Hmmm?
I’m a sucker for Opera names and the embedded one in Zenaida makes me really like her, a lot. Christina, thanks so much for suggesting Zenaida and Verity, thanks a million for doing it! (Little Clio doing well so far?)

Off to play some more with Zenaida!