how do you pronounce Urijah?

lauraplusbaby

I posted last night about using Urijah as a middle name, seems like some would pronounce it Yur-EYE-zhah, like Elijah. I've always pronounced is as Yur-EYE-uh. So how would you pronouce it?

Laura_Elaine

At first glance, I'd pronounce the 'j' like Elijah.

Uriah is a Biblical name and a legit spelling if that's what you're going for.

But then again, if you're using it as a middle name, it's not that big a deal as mom and dad are the ones who will be using it the most often, and hopefully mom and dad know how to pronounce the name they gave their baby. :-p

jennyshawn0808

HisGirlFriday929 said:

I would say Yur-EYE-uh

This

Scarlett&Gatsby

Well, I asked for some clarity on the pronunciation, so you know I was confused. Since I already know Uriah (and off the top of my head, I can't think of any Hebrew names with silent letters), I would assume Urijah was pronounced differently.

Is this like a family name or something?

ETA: I mean Esther kinda/sorta has a silent letter...

lauraplusbaby

Scarlett&Gatsby said:

Well, I asked for some clarity on the pronunciation, so you know I was confused. Since I already know Uriah (and off the top of my head, I can't think of any Hebrew names with silent letters), I would assume Urijah was pronounced differently.

Is this like a family name or something?

ETA: I mean Esther kinda/sorta has a silent letter...

no, it's not a family name. I just love the name and meaning. I've just always spelt it that way.

Helenahhandbasket

I haven't ever seen this name before and I have never read the bible-- so I would say yur-eye- jah.

blu-eyedwife

I would pronounce it like you - Your-Eye-Ah.  I think this is one of those translation issues with Hebrew.  There's no "J" in Hebrew.  So names like Jonah or Jacob are translated from what would literally be "Yonah" (יוֹנָה)or "Yacov" (יַעֲקֹב ) both of which use the Hebrew letter "yud."   There is also a "yud" in "Uriyah" (אוּרִיָּה) so I have a hunch that some well meaning translator thought the yud always represents a J sound and translated it as "Urijah"

lauraplusbaby

blu-eyedwife said:

I would pronounce it like you - Your-Eye-Ah.  I think this is one of those translation issues with Hebrew.  There's no "J" in Hebrew.  So names like Jonah or Jacob are translated from what would literally be "Yonah" (יוֹנָה)or "Yacov" (יַעֲקֹב ) both of which use the Hebrew letter "yud."   There is also a "yud" in "Uriyah" (אוּרִיָּה) so I have a hunch that some well meaning translator thought the yud always represents a J sound and translated it as "Urijah"

This is very helpful. Thank you

bwralc

I would think it would sound like Elijah b/c of the j

fireflygirl12

jennyshawn0808 said:

I would say Yur-EYE-uh

This

Ditto. But I can't help but think of pee when I see it. Maybe I'm the only one though?

TripMomma

I love the name Uriah...it is on our long list. My husband had a friend in high school named Uriah, and I have a friend now that has a 5 year old son named Uriah. I don't care for the 'J' in there. I pronounce it 'Yer-rye-uh'

leahmary82

I know a little two year old named Uriah. Pronounced yur- eye-uh. I have never seen Urijah before and would assume it was spelled wrong.

diamondduck13

Because of Elijah, my first guess is with the j pronounced

Like previous poster, it doesnt automaically come to mind, but when I ask myself why this name seems/looks familiar, I think of the word urine. There just arent that many words in every day conversation that begin with Ur-

Whitterpow

HisGirlFriday929 said:

I would say Yur-EYE-uh

This

JayJay1212

fireflygirl12 said:

jennyshawn0808 said:

I would say Yur-EYE-uh

This

Ditto. But I can't help but think of pee when I see it. Maybe I'm the only one though?

Nope, not the only one.

Scarlett&Gatsby

fireflygirl12 said:

jennyshawn0808 said:

I would say Yur-EYE-uh

This

Ditto. But I can't help but think of pee when I see it. Maybe I'm the only one though?

I don't think of pee immediately (but you took me there!).

I do think about how much Uriah's story really bums me out. He's this incredibly loyal general and an all around great guy, and while he's off fighting battles, King David hops into bed with his wife, Bathsheba. Bathsheba discovers she's pregnant, so in a move to cover it up, David invites Uriah back home in the hopes that he'll sleep with his wife and they can pass off David's kid as Uriah's. But because he's awesome and selfless, Uriah is like, "How can I go and enjoy my wife when my men are back on the battlefield, dying?" So David sends Uriah back to the front of the battle---basically, a death sentence---and then really quick-like marries Bathsheba.

Obviously, Uriah is a good guy, but his whole story of being screwed just bums me out. It's kind of the same reason I have an aversion to the name Leah.

HattieLove

If you want people to pronounce it yur-EYE-uh, just spell it Uriah, if you don't care that some people may pronounce it wrong, spell it Urijah.