Correct spelling of Yiddish/Jewish names

[hockyfan]

Hi all, kind of a strange request, but my grandmother just passed away and her Hebrew name was "tzizinu" ( spelled phonetically, unfortunately don't know the actual spelling). I think it's Yiddish in origin, but not sure on that either. Did some extensive googling and can't find any information. Anyone with Yiddish expertise have any ideas on it's meaning? Or is it not even Yiddish? Appreciate any help!

[CRACKERJACK]

Not sure if this helps
I typed in hebrew ציצינו and a few isreali names came up

[jj1000]

@ExGingi @Freddie

[ExGingi]

Hi all, kind of a strange request, but my grandmother just passed away and her Hebrew name was "tzizinu" ( spelled phonetically, unfortunately don't know the actual spelling). I think it's Yiddish in origin, but not sure on that either. Did some extensive googling and can't find any information. Anyone with Yiddish expertise have any ideas on it's meaning? Or is it not even Yiddish? Appreciate any help!

Where was she from?

[flyingace]

Does anyone know where her kesubah might be? That would probably give you an accurate spelling at least.

[gozalim]

And, was it written out in Hebrew on the headstone?

[ExGingi]

[m65]

a nickname for tzina?

[m65]

the "nyu" part sounds like a yidish ending as in tatenyu etc.

[Chapshnell]

And, was it written out in Hebrew on the headstone?

the spelling that people write on gravestones is an embarrassment. Permanently written ignorance. Drives me nuts lol (its my pet peeve to accurately spell hebrew written names) 

As a general rule, Tanach names that end with "eh" are with a "Hei" and Yiddish names end with an "Alef".

Example:

Devorah
Moshe
Sarah
Rivka
Yehuda
Chana
Chava
Shloime

The only one that ends with an Alef is Ezra (because he was born chutz la'eretz to my knowledge?)

Yiddish Names example:

Blima
Yita
Roiza
Feiga
Mushka
Beila

--

Another note that I guess is debatable but to my knowledge other than the name Chaim (double yid).. All of these are correctly spelled with one yid..

Sheindel
Kreindel
Beila
Feiga

etc etc.. I have seen on a gravestone Feiga spelled Pei, yid, yid, gimmel, hei. The biggest permanent amiratzus I ever saw

[Chapshnell]

the "nyu" part sounds like a yidish ending as in tatenyu etc.

the end "nyu" & "che" is a lovingly endearing term, its 100% not part of the name

[avromie7]

the end "nyu" & "che" is a lovingly endearing term, its 100% not part of the name

Maybe it's really ציציא as seen below

[Luvtotravel]

i would guess its a derivative of tzirel. with many relatives bearing that name i have seen numerous deviations

[Chapshnell]

Hi all, kind of a strange request, but my grandmother just passed away and her Hebrew name was "tzizinu" ( spelled phonetically, unfortunately don't know the actual spelling). I think it's Yiddish in origin, but not sure on that either. Did some extensive googling and can't find any information. Anyone with Yiddish expertise have any ideas on it's meaning? Or is it not even Yiddish? Appreciate any help!

do you have any way of looking up older grandmothers names?

[ExGingi]

Maybe it's really ציציא as seen below

the end "nyu" & "che" is a lovingly endearing term, its 100% not part of the name

Or ציזא, טשיזא, ציזא, or ציזיא. Which is why one would want to know where she's from, to figure out local customary names/spellings.

Also, sometimes genealogy records are available (sometimes even online). I found my grandparents Lithuanian marriage record online.

[YitzyS]

Another note that I guess is debatable but to my knowledge other than the name Chaim (double yid).. All of these are correctly spelled with one yid..

Sheindel
Kreindel
Beila
Feiga

etc etc.. I have seen on a gravestone Feiga spelled Pei, yid, yid, gimmel, hei. The biggest permanent amiratzus I ever saw

Rav Moshe says it's with one Yud, but I believe that it would be with two yuds if you are trying to write the chasidish pronunciation.

I know a Leib who signed as a witness on a kesuba with two yuds, and Rabbi Forscheimer asked him if his name is "Lyb" (Chassidish pronunciation). He said, no, so Rabbi Forscheimer told him to spell it with one yud.

[Euclid]

Has there ever been a standardization of spelling for Yiddish in general? My understanding was that historically  it's been mainly a spoken dialect. And any written Yiddish is just phonetic spelling.

[Chapshnell]

Rav Moshe says it's with one Yud, but I believe that it would be with two yuds if you are trying to write the chasidish pronunciation.

I know a Leib who signed as a witness on a kesuba with two yuds, and Rabbi Forscheimer asked him if his name is "Lyb" (Chassidish pronunciation). He said, no, so Rabbi Forscheimer told him to spell it with one yud.

Leib is spelled with one yid, whether chasidish or litvish. I am chasidish & the name Leib is a very popular name from my grandparents all the way up the chain & they all spelled it with one yid.

[ExGingi]

Has there ever been a standardization of spelling for Yiddish in general? My understanding was that historically  it's been mainly a spoken dialect. And any written Yiddish is just phonetic spelling.

There are seforim that discuss this, as it is of utmost importance for גיטין. The quote I brought above is from קב נקי.

[ExGingi]

Leib is spelled with one yid, whether chasidish or litvish. I am chasidish & the name Leib is a very popular name from my grandparents all the way up the chain & they all spelled it with one yid.

And often that isn't even the name. My uncle was Leib Hirsch, and looking at my grandmother's headstone it would seem that he was named after her father יהודה צבי.