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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Religious names when parents are atheists?

38 replies

Screamer · 03/09/2012 11:17

We have DS1 who is Samuel and are expecting DS2 soon. We are really struggling for boys names (had loads of girls names!). I like the name Isaac but am concerned about having two overtly religious (Hebrew) names when both DH and I are atheists. Do you think this would be strange and would people make assumptions about us (when hearing our DS names) or am I overthinking it?

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susiegrapevine · 03/09/2012 13:36

Both me and dh are atheists and our boys are called Eli and Jacob both bibical names but we chose them cos we like them it did not occur to us that people might think we are relgious because of them and if they did who cares? Plus when I chose Eli I did not know it was in the bible till my dad told me I also got the name from an american tv show lol!

ShatnersBassoon · 03/09/2012 13:27

Those names just happen to be the same as some characters' from the bible, they're not set aside for people who think the bible is the truth etc.

Ploom · 03/09/2012 13:26

2 of my 3 dc have Russian names and I've never been to Russia! Just choose the name you like and stick with it.

Ham69 · 03/09/2012 13:26

Don't worry about it. I'm not religious in the slightest and I chose my son's first name because I liked the sound of it and his middle name after my brother. It's Theo Christopher, very religious meanings, but I don't care!

ProudNeathGirl · 03/09/2012 13:25

My DDs have biblical names. We chose them for what they mean though, not because they are biblical.

weaselm4 · 03/09/2012 13:23

My children have biblical names, and we are Christians, but the two have no relation to each other. DS is (sortof) named after an actor and DD is named after a TV character.

I do get asked if we're religious, but personally think they're just names, and if you like them you should use them!

squoosh · 03/09/2012 13:22

I certainly wouldn't assume that parents of an Isaac and a Samuel were religious. They're mainstream names these days. I would assume that the parents of Ezekiel and Hephzibah were religious and also the parents of Feargod or Repentance.

Teapot13 · 03/09/2012 13:12

I think the vast majority of the names currently in use originally relate back to a religious figure, saint, or qualities that religious people find desirable (i.e., virtue names). It would seem to me that you would really be narrowing your choices by excluding on this basis!

caz05 · 03/09/2012 12:32

I have an Isaac and are not religious at all. In fact I didn't even know it was a religious name until after we had named him when my gran told me. I would worry in the slightest and think you are over thinking it.

Go for Issa it's a lovely Name and still unusual in our area

FalseStartered · 03/09/2012 11:29

all 3 of my DCs have 'biblical' names - by this i mean they were adopted by whomever wrote the bible as names for the characters in their stories

the names are an extension of the chicken vs egg scenario IMO

Frontpaw · 03/09/2012 11:25

It doesn't really matter. My mum was religious and none of us have biblical names!

Bunbaker · 03/09/2012 11:24

It doesn't matter. My sister's children both have biblical names and BIL is a fully paid up atheist (and a bigot to boot).

Badgerina · 03/09/2012 11:21

Definitely over-thinking it IMO

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