F. T.-Dangin, Sumer et D’Akkad: Gudea, Statue B, V:53f., p. 108f., Paris, (1905), E. de Sarzec and Leon Heuzey, Decouterres en Chaldee, Vol. II, Paris, pls. 14–19; Partie Epigraphique, pl. X, (1884–1912). “Ibla” is but another pronunciation of the name “Ebla”. Scholars have long known that the cuneiform sign known to them as IB could be pronounced “ib”. Thus when Statue B of Gudea was uncovered at ancient Lagash and its inscription translated, the name “Ibla” first came to scholarly attention. While other documents used a different IB sign which could also be read “eb” it did not affect the pronunciation of “Ibla” until 1936 when Arthur Ungnad in his book Subartu showed that “Ibla” was written “e-eb-laa-pa” in a Hurrian text found at Boghazkoy (no. 409). The initial “e” indicated that to the writer of that document “Ibla” was pronounced “Ebla” (p. 51, no. 2). Albrecht Goetze underscored that pronunciation in 1953 and most scholars have used that form since.

On the other hand, I. J. Gelb of the University of Chicago has preferred to retain the older form “Ibla”: “In line with the trend for simple primary syllabic values which I have followed for years I read Ib-la^KI (and Ibla), and do not feel obliged to transliterate the name as Eb-la^KI (and Ebla) in conformance with the spelling URUE-eb-la-a-pa which occurs a thousand years later … ” (See his “Thoughts about Ibla”, Syro-Mesopotamian Studies Vol. I no. 1 p. 5, (1977)).