Respondents: 111 (This poll is closed)
Well…I like Tzeitel but I think it will be a royal pain to use [name_m]IRL[/name_m]. Also, [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], & Tzeitel? I might be a tad upset if I were daughter #3 in that scenario…do you have a nn in mind? That might help it become more useable [name_m]IRL[/name_m] and also a bit more aligned with the other girls’ names.
FWIW, I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Golde[/name_f], and Tevya (yes, even on a girl) and I REALLY think Anatevka as a girls’ name is gorgeous, interesting, and fun to say!
Tzeitel is cute and I do like it but wow…tough sell!
I like Tzeitel in theory but even with telling me how to pronounce it, I still cant pronounce it right. I agree with @mousehouse7, that a good nickname might help imagine it in real life.
Also - Tzeitel-[name_f]Rose[/name_f] seems even more complicated to deal with, with the hyphen, etc…I’d personally stick with Tzeitel and leave [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as a middle.
Tzeitel was vetoed by DH early on, but I would love to meet a little Tzeitel. [name_f]Gretel[/name_f] is our top choice now. I love [name_m]German[/name_m]/Yiddish -el names.
That said, I do think it will forever be a struggle with the general population. [name_f]Chava[/name_f] is another good Fiddler pick, but really it has the same problems. I like pp’s suggestions.
Another thought: [name_f]Golde[/name_f] seems a really nice choice for an autumn baby. Tzeitel [name_f]Rose[/name_f] would be sweet as the two middles, imo. And - Anatevka almost (so close!) qualifies as a [name_u]NIC[/name_u]/[name_f]Nicole[/name_f] variation.
The first thing I think of when I see the name Tzeitel is how no one when I was in Fiddler knew how to pronounce the name before being taught. I think it’s a pretty name and the story behind it is great, but I can’t imagine having to constantly correct the pronunciation and spell it for other people. I think it would work better for you as a middle name.
The spelling and pronunciation would be a hassle, but I think it depends on whether you’d enjoy explaining the meaning to people all the time or find that tedious. But it’s definitely memorable – I doubt you’d have to explain to the same person more than once.
I think you could get away with it as a middle name, but I don’t think it works as a first unless you’re someone’s Jewish great-grandmother.
Coming from a Jewish family, I have no problem pronouncing Tzeitel. I do have a problem spelling it though. I like Hotel and [name_f]Golde[/name_f] (maybe better as a middle).
One of my favorite Yiddish names is [name_f]Raizel[/name_f]. It has the Z and the -el , but easier to say and write.
If you want Tzeitel without being too obvious, what about [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] or [name_f]Sarai[/name_f]?
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps!
Yikes. Well I thought Tzeitel was cute with the other two girls’ names. 
Thanks for the other ideas, it’s nice to suggest them. I do like [name_m]Tevye[/name_m], but not for a girl. [name_f]Golde[/name_f], [name_f]Hodel[/name_f], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]/[name_f]Sarai[/name_f], and Raziel don’t work for us; either they aren’t our favorite characters or we already have similar names in the family. I thought of Anatevka but it’s too tragic… as a “[name_f]Nicole[/name_f]” name it’s too much of a stretch, even for me.
So… someone clue me in. My husband also likes [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], which has generally gotten decent comments around here over the past couple of years, but I think the spelling is even worse than Tzeitel and absolutely won’t approve it because of that. It’s a traditional spelling either way, so is the difference really that [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is “pretty” and Tzeitel is… well… apparently not? The geeky Name Nerd part of me is fascinated with this reaction. I haven’t seen reviews and votes this bad since the person who wanted to name their kid [name_m]Pilot[/name_m], lol.
I think the most confusing part of Tzeitel is that the “tz” sound has always confused me, I don’t ever know if I am naturally saying it correctly. That’s what puts me off to it the most. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], while still a spelling headache, rolls off my tongue easier and has more familiar sounds, making it more usable. However, if it’s the name you really love, it’s definitely worth the mispronunciations and misspellings.
I love the name Tzeitel! [name_m]Even[/name_m] though I am not Jewish or a theatre geek, I do love Fiddler and figured out how to say the names pretty early on. I think it might be troublesome to help people with it, but I don’t think it should be insurmountable. The spelling might be harder than the pronunciation, [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. I like it better than [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], too. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have a nickname in mind? That might help some people. I say use it–it’s pretty, your husband likes it, and it has meaning to your family. What more can you ask?
As someone who has a difficult to pronounce name, I’d avoid Tzeitel. Most people wouldn’t be able to spell or pronounce it. I like the connection to your family though, so how about using it in the middle. I agree that it seems a little out of place with your girls names as well. I don’t think that Tzeitel is not an appealing name/ugly, just that it would be such a hassle.
I have to agree with the pp, sorry. Personally I think [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] looks pretty where Tzeitel just looks foreign, the closest thing I can relate to Tzeitel is Pretzel. I like that you are considering using [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as a stand alone middle if you find a first name you love, I think that should make things a bit easier for you guys. At least DH is getting excited about something!
I still think you can make it work and it is useable. It will be cute when people ask how you chose it. I think that even where the name saddles your little Tzeitel with responsibilities, she will appreciate that it really does have meaning for you and your husband. I still say go for it, just pair it with something a lot more conventional sounding.
I’ve never heard of Tzeitel and I’ve never seen Fiddler. I am touched by the sentimental meaning the name holds and therefor I want to like it and I do like it after knowing more about it but I think the spelling and pronunciation is a big problem. BUT, what really matters in my opinion is that the name is special to you and well received by the people who will be around the little one the most. If Tzeitel is a name you, your family and friends can appreciate, then I think it should remain on the list. I have had classmates with names that felt completely foreign to me, but you learn the name or pick up a nickname and then it’s never a second thought. Kids adapt…fast. So the real concern is strangers who may give you a weird look or “side eye”…but they don’t matter…at all. I think I’d do [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as a middle even if you call her the full Tzeitel [name_f]Rose[/name_f] at home sometimes. Maybe nn Tizzy could work!
I’m a huge Tzeitel fan! The spelling is actually what draws me to it, believe it or not. It’s a lovely name and I especially appreciate the connection to the musical. I would love to meet a little Tzeitel one day! I say go for it!
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] Tzeitel. I think you should use it. People often spell my name wrong, but it’s not that big of a deal. Tzeitel is beautiful and meaningful to you–so double plus.
Hmm, how annoyed would you be if people mispronounced/misspelled it all the time? That’s my biggest question when considering how usable Tzeitel would be, because the TZ sound is quite difficult for native English speakers to say. Would you be okay if she was Sigh-tul a lot of the time, or does the name lose all appeal when said like that?
For me, it feels more middle material. I wouldn’t want to deal with all the issues, but I like the story behind it, so the middle seems like a good place for it. If you do use it up front, a good nickname would help, and I would keep the middle(s) more on the familiar side.