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A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
Zoe, I hope I didn’t give the impression that I dislike the name – though I find Zoi and Zoee rather pointless. On the contrary, Zoe is a name we once considered for our daughter!
But as for the diaeresis, I’m not sure that’s quite accurate. The original form of Zoe in Greek would’ve been in, well, Greek. In other words, a different alphabet entirely – and one that doesn’t use diacritical marks to indicate the sound. Just like Chloe sometimes picks up a diaeresis and other times an acute accent, Zoe has been written with both, too.
I rarely use diacritical marks of any kind here – mostly because their use is declining in American English. (Maybe they’re alive and well in England?) And also because they’re not compiled in databases – so while I can see the rise of Zoey, I can’t gauge how many parents are opting for accents in their kids’ names.
You’re absolutely right. I’m absolutely wrong, and I’m surprised the comment has gone unchallenged for a year!
What I should have said is that we don’t generally import diacritical marks into American English, even when we preserve the pronunciation. Facade is still facade without the cedilla; the same goes for cafe, even though caf
I just came across this entry after searching through the archives for “Zoe” – a name I really like but have put in the back pocket as I thought it was too popular for use. As our name conversations continue, I think I’ve just about decided that regardless if a name is popular, I should go with what I like, rather than compromise with something less well known, just for the sake of originality. After all, I take a look around the room in my grad class and notice that most of use have top 10-50 names, and none of us mind.
I think the original is best – “Zoe”. I like it’s simplicity as well as its distinctiveness (regardless of how popular it may be).
It’s a good question. I’ve never read a JD Salinger bio, and when I just searched for one at Amazon there haven’t been many written. I guess he’s such a recluse that it’s tough to get him to talk about anything. But he certainly had a way with naming – Holden, Esme, Zooey.
From what I remember of the stories, the Glass family was a real mess. And they’re one of the inspirations for the Royal Tenenbaums, right? So even if the name Zooey appealed, I can’t see how the *character* would suggest itself as a good role model. Esme, at least, seems like a reasonably interesting character to inspire a child’s name.
I dunno. I’m with Kayt on this one – I love Zoe, and I like Ms. Deschanel, but I agree that the Zooey spelling is just off.
I would love to know how one got the boy nickname in Salinger’s story, and one got, noice, normal Emily. (Zooey was a nickname for Zachary in Salinger’s story, Franny was the girl: Frances) Bugs the heck out of me. She’s talented, but her name is really distracting.
What a bummer. I adore Zoe. I hate all the silly misspellings of it, particularly Zoey. I do like the name Zoelie, but it’s too fussy for me and my family, at least.
I always said Zooey as ZOO-ee, not Zoe. Zooey Deschanel’s name is so obnoxious looking to me, as I’m guessing it’s supposed to be Zoe. Zooey and Emily, while they’re in their, what, thirties? seem to have ahead-of-the-trend names.
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A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
A different variant which you have not considered, and in fact the ORIGINAL spelling of my name has a diaresis over the ‘e’ to ensure that the second vowel is pronounced correctly. So Zoe is in fact Zo
Zoe, I hope I didn’t give the impression that I dislike the name – though I find Zoi and Zoee rather pointless. On the contrary, Zoe is a name we once considered for our daughter!
But as for the diaeresis, I’m not sure that’s quite accurate. The original form of Zoe in Greek would’ve been in, well, Greek. In other words, a different alphabet entirely – and one that doesn’t use diacritical marks to indicate the sound. Just like Chloe sometimes picks up a diaeresis and other times an acute accent, Zoe has been written with both, too.
I rarely use diacritical marks of any kind here – mostly because their use is declining in American English. (Maybe they’re alive and well in England?) And also because they’re not compiled in databases – so while I can see the rise of Zoey, I can’t gauge how many parents are opting for accents in their kids’ names.
I definitely see your point “Zo
You’re absolutely right. I’m absolutely wrong, and I’m surprised the comment has gone unchallenged for a year!
What I should have said is that we don’t generally import diacritical marks into American English, even when we preserve the pronunciation. Facade is still facade without the cedilla; the same goes for cafe, even though caf
I just came across this entry after searching through the archives for “Zoe” – a name I really like but have put in the back pocket as I thought it was too popular for use. As our name conversations continue, I think I’ve just about decided that regardless if a name is popular, I should go with what I like, rather than compromise with something less well known, just for the sake of originality. After all, I take a look around the room in my grad class and notice that most of use have top 10-50 names, and none of us mind.
I think the original is best – “Zoe”. I like it’s simplicity as well as its distinctiveness (regardless of how popular it may be).
I love Zooey Deschanel and the spelling of her name. It just looks so much better and really suits Ms Deschanel!
It’s a good question. I’ve never read a JD Salinger bio, and when I just searched for one at Amazon there haven’t been many written. I guess he’s such a recluse that it’s tough to get him to talk about anything. But he certainly had a way with naming – Holden, Esme, Zooey.
From what I remember of the stories, the Glass family was a real mess. And they’re one of the inspirations for the Royal Tenenbaums, right? So even if the name Zooey appealed, I can’t see how the *character* would suggest itself as a good role model. Esme, at least, seems like a reasonably interesting character to inspire a child’s name.
I dunno. I’m with Kayt on this one – I love Zoe, and I like Ms. Deschanel, but I agree that the Zooey spelling is just off.
I would love to know how one got the boy nickname in Salinger’s story, and one got, noice, normal Emily. (Zooey was a nickname for Zachary in Salinger’s story, Franny was the girl: Frances) Bugs the heck out of me. She’s talented, but her name is really distracting.
What a bummer. I adore Zoe. I hate all the silly misspellings of it, particularly Zoey. I do like the name Zoelie, but it’s too fussy for me and my family, at least.
I always said Zooey as ZOO-ee, not Zoe. Zooey Deschanel’s name is so obnoxious looking to me, as I’m guessing it’s supposed to be Zoe. Zooey and Emily, while they’re in their, what, thirties? seem to have ahead-of-the-trend names.
Good to see your blog going again!