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Original poster

Ely, Ezra, Reuben - old testament names but not Jewish

33 replies

RTchoke · 15/09/2012 07:06

I love Ely (fullhane Elias), Ezra and Reuben but not only are we not Jewish - our surname is very Welsh.

What do people think of using these names for non-Jewish kids? And are there others I might like but have not thought of?

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worldcitizen · 18/09/2012 19:43

May I add that I know lots of people with those names and they are NOT Jewish, and I do know also lots of Jewish folks from Israel and from other countries.
And it was mentioned here a few times, that the OT is the book of both religions and I wanted to add it is actually the book of three religions, as Islam is based on the OT as well.
And you find plenty of Christian and Muslim Arabs, for example with those names, maybe not in the UK??? but definitely elsewhere.

Love all the names mathanxiety suggested, minus Silas BUT I have a friend who is a renowned Transplant surgeon who comes from a family who are doctors for many generations and they are devout Christians, if this is even relevantSmile

EldritchCleavage · 18/09/2012 14:01

I loved the OT names Asher, and Judah but couldn't get DH to agree. I think Ezra is lovely. I knew a female Ezra once, too.

What about Simeon, or Isaiah?

cheapandchic · 18/09/2012 13:49

ok I think these names are lovely and fine if not jewish.

however, they most definitely are more commonly jewish, so people might think that. nothing wrong with that!!! you just correct if necessary. My surname is german (catholic) but everyone thinks I am jewish because of it...its no big deal. I just say no I am not.

as a note, every single Reuben, Elijah, Zachary, Noah, Jacob that I know ARE jewish.

RillaBlythe · 18/09/2012 09:40

Eli is a lovely name.

BlueMoon1084 · 16/09/2012 21:50

I'm not sure your DH is necessarily wrong, but Ely is the less common alternative of Eli and as others have said is likely to be mispronounced as Ee-lee.

mathanxiety · 16/09/2012 06:37

I don't think they used NNs in OT times.

Also -- your DH is wrong about Eli/Ely. The name Eli is pronounced EE-lye. Ely is a place with a spectacular cathedral in Cambridgeshire and pronounced E-lee.

All the names you have in mind are lovely imo.

Other names you might think of using:
Jacob
Isaac
Zachary
Isaiah
Noah
Adam
Gabriel
Samuel
Daniel
Jeremiah
Amos
Silas

Minty82 · 15/09/2012 20:26

All my favourite boys' name are OT and I'm not Jewish - I know three or four non-Jewish Reubens so that one I think is definitely mainstream; Ezra I'd think Pound; Eli I was actually discussing with DH last night (his latest suggestion for theoretical DC2) - I think you might have to be either Jewish or black...

Selky · 15/09/2012 20:16

I like them, Caleb too or Benjamin

LineRunner · 15/09/2012 19:21

I know what meditrina means about Hardyesque!

VivaLeBeaver · 15/09/2012 19:20

I like the names.

But if I saw Ely I'd pronounce it like the town. E-lee.

meditrina · 15/09/2012 19:17

Well, I suppose the obvious OT name that works with Welsh surnames is David...

Glittertwins · 15/09/2012 19:13

Both our two have old testament/Jewish names. We are both CoE however have grandparents on both sides who were Jewish.

poocatcherchampion · 15/09/2012 19:12

All well used names amongst my Christian friends. I particularly like elias at the moment.

BikeRunSki · 15/09/2012 19:08

I would pronounce Ely as the place on the Fens too.

Lots of Old Testament names are widely used regardless of the bearer's religion- Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Rachel, Adam , Ruben, Sarah, Seth, Noah...

I like Eli, I reckon it'll take off now Chris Evans has raised awareness of it.

LineRunner · 15/09/2012 19:02

Yes, it's Jewish. As indeed was Jesus, his mam and all the disciples. One of the first big barneys in the early church was the admittance of non-Jews into the fold. (Sorry this should be on the history thread...) The fact that Jesus is regarded by Christians as the messiah prophesied in the Old Testament makes those books special in Christianity.

Beautiful names in the Old Testament.

meditrina · 15/09/2012 18:58

The lesser used names would strongly suggest Jewish, but not it's not an inevitable association as the more frequently encountered names are also used by Christian and Moslem families. Eli is not so common, but your other suggestions strike me as Hardyesque as much as Old Testament.

I wouldn't go for Ely because of the place name.

Frontpaw · 15/09/2012 18:51

Isn't the old testement... Well Jewish? Must dig out my theology notes.

I know a few non Jewish Ruben/Reubens.

nooka · 15/09/2012 18:48

ds's best buddie is an Eli (for Elijah) pronounced E-lie. I assumed that your Ely was either Ellie or E-lee. It also looks a bit odd to me.

OwedToAutumn · 15/09/2012 09:46

Ha ha, I read the title, and thought you wanted old testament names that weren't Jewish. I was thinking of Nebuchadnezzar or Ishmail, perhaps. Wink

Original poster
RTchoke · 15/09/2012 09:36

No, no, no not Eee-lee, I want an Eeee-lie. I agree with you all on the spelling. Will show DH this thread. There was an Eeee-lie, spelt Ely, in DD's nursery last year which is why DH thinks it's spelt like that.

I didn't know Eli was a name of itself in the bible. Always assumed it was a nn for Elias or Elijah.

OP posts:
seeker · 15/09/2012 09:32

You aren't going tonpronounce it Ellie, are you, OP? Tell me you're not.......!

FeersumEndjinn · 15/09/2012 09:24

There's a strong welsh tradition of using old testament biblical names. Go ahead with whatever name works for you. I like Rueben best out of the ones you list.

TudorJess · 15/09/2012 09:23

Eli is pronounced EE-lye.

TudorJess · 15/09/2012 09:23

Ely is a place in Cambridgeshire, pronounced EE-lee.

Eli and Elias are separate people in the Bible.

DolomitesDonkey · 15/09/2012 09:22

If it helps, I'm Jewish and use a Welsh name! ;)

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