Is Elijah/Eli too Jewish for a gentile ?

[SiioCal]

Want a biblical type name love Jacob and Noah . Love Elijah nn Eli would it suit a non Jew ?

[applepieinthesky]

I know someone who has just named their baby this and they are not Jewish. I think it's a lovely name and they have had nothing but positive comments so far.

[Bluestocking]

The only Elijah I know isn't Jewish. I'm not aware that it's caused comments to him or his parents. Go for it, it's a lovely name.

[UnnamedFemaleProtagonist]

I know one that isn't Jewish. The only Jewish one I know is called something that is pronounced Eli-ah-hoo.

[AWomanCalledHorse]

I'm Jewish & all the little boys around here called David, Jacob & Eli aren't!
I think unless you're calling him Mordecai or Yitzhak not many people would think of a name as 'Jewish'.

[IawnCont]

No, it's a fine name for anyone.
I always think of Reuben as a Jewish name.

[Shoshe]

Hasn't Chris Evans and wife just called their new baby Eli ?

[Booette]

I know a couple of Elijah's and they're not Jewish, and I had it on my list too. I have a Caleb and Reuben also.

[Cokeaholic]

How about "Elias" instead.

Can still use Eli as nn

[joanofarchitrave]

Elijah is great.

As long as he doesn't have a sister called Raven, you'll be fine...

[mumnosbest]

Not at all. I love eli but its becoming very poular. My dd has a biblical name and i am not religious at all. I just liked the name.

[SiioCal]

Oh thank you so much I honestly thought I was going to get loads of "dont be so ridiculous !!" hee now I will add it to the mix and see what DH says ! I can't believe how difficult I'm finding it picking a name this time around !!

[spiderlight]

I absolutely love it and had it on my list, and I'm not Jewish. Go for it!

[squoosh]

Elijah is completely mainsteram and has been for years.

[squoosh]

mainstream

[poppydaisy]

Yes, it sounds Jewish to me, as does Reuben for example. But of course anyone can use it!

[SilentMammoth]

Gorgeous name!

[Lannie33]

I love Eli and wanted it as top contender for DS1 but DH vetoed it cuz he said it was too Jewish. I guess it does sounds a bit Jewish to me, but I don't think that matters.

[LemonTurd]

I see Eli as a touch Jewish, but I wouldn't assume that he is.

Elijah is mainstream.

[Obergene]

I actually perceive Elijah as a very Christian name. I think this is because the two I know are from quite committed Christian families who attend quite "happy-clappy" churches.

Elias I perceive as Welsh and Eli as slightly Jewish!

Regardless of the background of the names I love them all.

[ThatllDoPig]

First thing it makes me think of is Elijah Wood (Frodo) Love it.

Also like Ezra.

[LiteraryMermaid]

I think it's fairly mainstream really. Where I live in London, it tends to be associated more with the Afro-Caribbean community than the Jewish one, so I think it's pretty versatile as a name.

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Not at all. I love it.

But I also love Mordecai, so perhaps best not to listen to me.

[thegreylady]

Reminds me of Eli on Emmerdale :-)