10 Christian names you don't really hear

[thestoat]

The Pope says children should be given truly Christian names. But why have some saints and biblical figures inspired baby names, but not others?

Our playgrounds are blessed with a multitude of Daniels, Sarahs and Adams, but not quite so many Amminadabs, Zipporahs or Habakkuks.

The names of saints Andrew, Catherine and Frances might echo down the ages, but the phone book is not exactly bursting with Abbos, Etheidwithas and Leocritas.

But could these holy, if inexplicably unfashionable, titles be due a comeback?

In a speech, Pope Benedict XVI urged parents to name their offspring in the Christian tradition, and bequeath "an unmistakable sign that the Holy Spirit will allow the person to blossom in the bosom of the Church".

In doing so, the pontiff has reiterated the Catholic Church's canon law, which cautions against baptising children in a manner "foreign to Christian sensibility".

He has also surely tapped into a growing public backlash against celebrities burdening their progeny with such profane appellations as Brooklyn, Peaches and Princess Tiaamii.

Should the British public choose to follow his Holiness's advice, there are plenty of names of saints and from the Bible's Old and New Testaments from which to choose - but, for whatever reason, some have proved more enduring than others.

Here are 10 rarely-adopted names from this Judeo-Christian tradition.

1. The name of Jezebel, the Queen of Israel, later became shorthand for a fallen woman. "This is a case of a name attracting a degree of notoriety," says social psychologist Dr Martin Skinner of Warwick University. "No-one is going to give their child a name that has taken on negative associations - in this case, with a certain type of woman. To most people, this is better known than the fact that Jezebel was, in the Old Testament, like Eve, Ruth or Naomi."


King Nebuchadnezzar II
2. Nebuchadnezzar was king of the Babylonian empire. His exploits, which are recounted in the books of Daniel and Jeremiah, were praised by Saddam Hussein, to whom he was a hero. Mr Skinner believes in this case there is also the phonetic difficulty that puts people off. "It sounds very harsh with all those zeds. It's not very easy to pronounce, either."

3. Dorcas was a faithful female disciple "full of good deeds" whose death prompted much weeping, according to the Book of Acts in the New Testament. She is also known as Tabitha, a name that is much more commonly heard.

4. Saint Philemon was the recipient of an epistle from Saint Paul in the New Testament. But whereas the name Solomon, from the wise king, is often heard, Philemon rarely is.

5. Gomer was the wife of the prophet Hosea. "To Anglo Saxon ears, there's a sort of masculinity about the sound of Gomer," says Mr Skinner. "Feminine names tend to be lighter - Nicola, Pamela and so on. Men's names tend to be sharper, like John, Jack or Sid."

6. The oldest person named in the Bible, Methuselah, is said to have lived until he was 969. "If we know one thing about him, it's that he was ancient - we use the phrase 'as old as Methulselah' and so on. When you have a baby boy, you aren't going to picture him as a Methuselah. It also sounds quite Dickensian to modern ears, as do a lot of Old Testament names which were popular in the Victorian period like Ebenezer and Ezekiel."

7. Achsah was the daughter of Caleb, who offered her in marriage to Othniel in the Old Testament.

8. According to a story dating back to the 14th Century, Saint Wilgefortis took a vow of virginity when she was promised in marriage by her father. Following her prayers for help, she grew a beard and moustache.

9. Zipporah, wife of Moses and daughter of Jethro, was mentioned in the Book of Exodus.

10. Radbod, or Radboud, was Bishop of Utrecht around 900 AD. "This is another Anglo Saxon-sounding name that you might expect to catch on," says Mr Skinner. "Maybe it just sounded too familiar. When you have a diversity of names, people sometimes pick sounds and concept they've never picked before. These days, this process has become a celebrity phenomenon."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12170291

[@meric@nwom@n]

"To Anglo Saxon ears, there's a sort of masculinity about the sound of Gomer," says Mr Skinner.

My Anglo-Saxon ears do not hear the masculinity in the name Gomer. My ears think of Gomer Pyle USMC.

I can see why most of there names are over looked. For the sake of the unborn everywhere I hope they continue to be over looked.

[The Hen]

Number 10, Radbod, is a name many Bogans around here would call their son.

[rubato]

I knew a painter whose given name was Zebulon. Apparently it was a family name.

yrs,
rubato

[Rick]

Zebulon Pike.

Of Pikes peak fame...

[Crackpot]

I wonder why you don't hear of anyone named Eliphaz, Bildad, or Zophar.

Points for any one who can place then with out doing a search.

[dgs49]

I believe I have read that the most common first name in Britain right now is "Mohammed." No bullshit.

Not exactly biblical, eh?

My personal peeve is that the general population has seemingly adopted the pretentious WASP practice of giving their children surnames as first names, to wit, "Jackson," "Kennedy," etc. At least the WASPS gave names from their own families (often the mother's maiden name). Today's jarheads just pick a surname that they like the "feel" of.

In my own household, my wife vetoed "Jamaal."

[Rick]

Gomer was also one of the sons of Japheth.

It is also a bull that is unable to procreate used to mark cows in season usually for insemination...

[oldr_n_wsr]

How about those that just through a bunch a scrabble tiles on the table and "make up" some name (either that or they really can't spell.
Case in point, some girl down the block is name Loberta. Now I have heard of Roberta, but never Loberta.

[dgs49]

There is the apocryphal tale of one unfortunate woman who believed the hospital had already taken away her naming prerogative when she saw her baby's incubator with the sign, "Female Jones" (pronounced "fa-mall-ee," I presume).

[SisterMaryFellatio]

I was not allowed anything biblical when we were trying to pick out baby names or anything Irish!


Thats whittles the choice down hugely!

I liked Noah and Caleb for a boy and Niamh for a girl.

Hence it took us a 6 days to name The Pudd...he was known as Squish in hospital!


Loved the name Oliver, and we fought over it for months (even tried to change his mind on the theatre table when they first pulled him out) The Handbrake was having none of it!

Had he have been a girl naming would have been so much easier!

[rubato]

How about those that just through a bunch a scrabble tiles on the table and "make up" some name (either that or they really can't spell.
Case in point, some girl down the block is name Loberta. Now I have heard of Roberta, but never Loberta.

The name Loberta is mentioned in a Blues song.

Nope, I was wrong. It is in "Tipitina" by Henry Roeland Byrd aka Professor Longhair as performed by Dr John.

yrs,
rubato

[dales]

Nimrod, anyone?

[loCAtek]

Nimrod is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #191 (March 1985), and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita, Jr. Hailing from the "Days of Future Past" timeline, Nimrod is a powerful, virtually indestructible descendant of the robotic mutant-hunting Sentinels. His name is derived from the Nimrod described in Genesis 10:8-9 as "a mighty hunter before the Lord."

[Sean]

How about those that just through a bunch a scrabble tiles on the table and "make up" some name (either that or they really can't spell.
Case in point, some girl down the block is name Loberta. Now I have heard of Roberta, but never Loberta.

Mum: Should I walk all the way over to you so that you can hold your new daughter?
Dad: Nah, just lob 'er ta.
Mum: Hmmm...

[Gob]

That needs a scouse accent for full effect Sean.

[Lord Jim]

One doesn't see a whole lot of little Boniface's or Pious's running around either....

[Crackpot]

Most would find the name a little impious.

[Jarlaxle]

Right now, I work with...
Ider
Joao
Norberto
Alton
Janilson
Edy

I recall a woman on American Gladiators with the unlikely name of Zimbob Schwartz.

[The Hen]

The A's B's and C's of Bogan Baby Names:

Aalivyah
Aayden
Abbergale
Abbey
Abercrombie
Abrielle
Achillies
Acid
Ad’m
Addison Jorja
Aden
Airy-Anne
Aiysiah
Ajuka
Akelan
Alachai
Alarah
Alashanee
Alaysha
Albamakarla
Aleah
Aleczander
Aleece
Aliesha
Alira
Alivia
Alixzander
Allesia
Allure
Alula
Alycesaundra
Amarly
Amarni
Ambah
Americus
Anakin
Anfernee
Anferny
Annakey
Annaley
Antwonet
Appelonia
Aprel
Ararahbella
Archah
Ark Tribe
Arkasha
Arki
Arliek
Armahnni
Armani
Aron
Ashaleigh
Ashlee
Ashleigh
Ash-Leigh
Ashlyn
Ashtyn
Asiah
Aubree
Aubrei
Audua
Autum
Avah
Avalon
Awesome
Axe
Ayasha
Ayden
Ayva
Bacardee
Badi
Baeley
Bailee
Banjo Rocket
Bastien
Bayden
Baylen
Bbeeccaa
Beeanchor
Beejay
Bellanaysha
Belynda
Berlinder
Beyonce-Jaye
Bhronty
Blade
Blaik
Blayde
Blayden
Blayton
Blayze
Blu
Bluede
Boadicea
Bodie
Braelane
Brandun
Brathan
Bray
Brayden
Braydyn
Breeanah
Breeyanah
Brianan
Bri-Anne
Briarna
Brie
Briella
Brilee
Brilee-Alaska
Britnee
Brock
Brock Peter
Brooklyn
Browdyn
Bryannee
Brylee
Brynnleah
Brytnee
Brytney
Buzzby
Byden
Bylinda
Cadyern
Cailey
Calaeb
Calais
Calape
Calcypher
Canduss
Caprhyse
Caprice
Caramel
Caughtneigh
Cavey
Caylee
Cayleigh
Ceazyr-Czar
Champsee
Chanel
Chaos
Chardonnay
Charismatage
Charlatte
Charlee
Charleigh
Charlot
Charmain
Charnel
Chayce
Chaylarna
Chayne
Cheltzie
Cheri-Lee
Chervaun
Cheslea
Chevelle
Chevone
Chevy
Cheyenne
Chilly
Chloee
Chloi
Chloie
Chontelle
Chyvon
Cialla
Cienna
Clauren
Cloe
Cobi
Cona
Coopa
Cortina
Coupe
Courtnee
Cristel
Cuda Force
Curacoa
Cyennah