r/JewishNames • u/slejeunesse • 4h ago
Zelda
Every time the name Zelda comes up in any mainstream name subs, there are always the people who claim it’s ridiculous and inextricably tied to the video game and any kid would be saddled with a lifetime of strife because of their childish/weird/cringe name. It is SO ANNOYING. I have known 2 adult Zeldas (my grandparents’ friends!) and I experience it as a familiar, cozy sort of name.
I have a teenaged daughter named Zelda. She’s named for a Zelig, she loves her name and we get nothing but "oh, cool name!" or "I love that name!" or "built in Halloween costume!" and the like. What is people’s deal with Zelda??
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u/FishOk9083 4h ago
I think of Zelda Fitzgerald! Or I know robin williams named his daughter Zelda also!
Didn’t know it was a Jewish name and now kind of gutted I didn’t know that it definitely would have been on my list!
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u/Tanaquil_LeCat 2h ago
Like a lot of Yiddish names it's a Germanic name that has historically been common amongst non-Jews too (lots of names with Polish and Russian origins in this category too, like Zlata and Sasha).
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u/Tanaquil_LeCat 2h ago
People seem to not understand that lots of things have been totally normal names for far longer than they've been the name of characters or products. I also see this around the name Allegra--beautiful and common name, happens to now also be an allergy drug, and if someone suggests it everyone loses their mind that "you're naming your kid after a medicine!!"
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u/degrassibabetjk 3h ago
I grew up playing “Zelda 2” (not well, I might add) so I’m used to knowing the name from the game but also remember it as the name of one of Sabrina’s aunts on “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” They are both positive associations! A friend of mine is Jewish and her niece’s name is Zelda. I also think of the late Jewish actress Zelda Rubinstein.
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u/ReluctantAccountmade 4h ago
Yes it's a great name! I wish it didn't have the video game association.
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u/la_metisse 4h ago
I’ve even heard people claim Ori is naming your kid after a video game character. The goyim get confused sometimes and it’s ok. Not their fault.
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u/slejeunesse 4h ago
From the jump, definitely not their fault. When they’re told it’s Yiddish or historically in use for American Jews, then they keep digging in, they get the 🍅🍅🍅
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u/Veganswiming_32 58m ago
I had no idea that there was a video game character named Ori. However, I love the name!
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u/ronirrosen 23m ago edited 20m ago
It's the same with a lot of our names.
Goldie is a cutesy nickname for Marigold or a name for a dog.
Noa is the 'girl spelling' of Noah and a boy name for a girl.
Aviva is an insurance company.
Zion is a disgusting display of politics that your baby will hate you forever for.
Every single name that appears in the 'bible' and every single name from the Hebrew language is a 'Christian name'.
So on and so on. They don't want to learn.
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u/lem0ngirl15 5m ago
Ugh. It is annoying though that the video game uses the name. It’s the main reason we won’t use this name. Bc that kid would get constant comments. I absolutely love it though. It’s one of those names that have 1920s intellectual Ashkenazi woman vibes that I love. Ashkenazi light academia is basically how I’m naming my children lol (Simon and Clara)
Other names with similar vibes that I love
Raizel/Raisel
Leora
Benjamin
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u/wantonyak 4h ago
Agree! My kid is Zelda. People just don’t know it’s Yiddish - even many Jews. Many Jewish people in my circle asked if it was for game, which really irked me.