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Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on this name.......

31 replies

crumb04 · 02/05/2016 15:49

Hi,
Me and DH really like the name Ezra but are a little concerned that it may not be well received by family etc. I know it shouldn't matter if we like it but can't help thinking perhaps it's a bit "out there"? Please give me your honest opinion and also if you've heard of it where are you from? I think it will be more popular in London for example. We are in South West.

Thanks xx

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Winterbiscuit · 03/05/2016 23:00

I don't think of any name as "very biblical". It's either in the Bible or it isn't.

Original poster
crumb04 · 03/05/2016 21:07

Yeah I also have an Ethan which is also from the bible but we aren't religious we just liked the name. If I hear biblical names I don't often assume a religious family. I guess names have to originate from somewhere. I'm feeling more confident about using it, thank you!

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Laniakea · 03/05/2016 20:47

I like it & I actually know a few - one from a very religious Christian family, one from North London journos, & then a couple from hippy families (I'm in the SE).

Alisvolatpropiis · 03/05/2016 20:42

I like it, it would be on the list for a son.

It is funny that some biblical names have passed so much in to common usage that their origin is forgotten, James, Matthew etc but Elijah, Ezra etc are considered to be "very biblical".

I mentioned to a friends mother recently that before we knew our daughter was a daughter, Noah had been on the list.

"That's very...Old Testament, isn't it?" she said. I assumed by that she meant "Jewish", which made me look at her askance.

justdontevenfuckingstart · 03/05/2016 20:40

I've only heard it on 7 pounds with will Smith? (he got eyes) I thinks it's very nice.

SerenaVanDerWoodsen · 03/05/2016 20:37

I hadn't heard it before watching Ray Donovan. There was a chap in his 60s maybe in it.

nectarini1983 · 03/05/2016 12:58

I love this name! Would have used it if dc3 had been a boy. Go for it! X

VocationalGoat · 03/05/2016 10:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dontrocktheboat · 03/05/2016 10:23

I know one Ezra but I predict it will be on the rise as Noah reaches saturation point and people look for an alternative short, OT name ending in a. I definitely wouldn't worry about it being weird or people not liking it as it seems generally well received.

HighDataUsage · 02/05/2016 22:46

Ezra is also the name of a 20th century American poet, Ezra Pound, so not too out there to literary buffs. It is a beautiful and unique name, why don't you research the meaning & history behind the name. If you still like it then choose it and who cares what anyone else thinks.

butteredmuffin · 02/05/2016 21:34

Your kid will be who he is. He'll make the name his own. Smile

Original poster
crumb04 · 02/05/2016 20:10

That's kind of what I'm worried about, are we cool enough to use it lol! We have such a mix of names on the list, we also like Dexter, Max, and Harry! We don't seem to have a "taste" as such. I think of Ezra as a cool kid but then my DH pointed out, "what if he's not cool"? Lol!! This naming business is so hard! Confused

OP posts:
Eveninties · 02/05/2016 20:04

Sorry meant to add that if you love it you should definitely use it, try not to be too concerned what anyone else thinks!

Eveninties · 02/05/2016 20:02

I do quite like it and I have never known anyone called it, so it is very unusual to me. I wouldn't use it personally, it's just a wee bit too out there for my boring traditional tastes.

Original poster
crumb04 · 02/05/2016 19:53

Thanks for all your comments. I'm not really bothered about it becoming more popular. I guess to me it's just a bit different, I hadn't heard of it before and just don't want him being picked on etc. It's great to hear people thoughts, keep them coming. Smile

OP posts:
RiverTam · 02/05/2016 19:06

But why would that apply to Ezra? It's a name and has been for a very long time!

SanityClause · 02/05/2016 18:29

How can a name not be a 'huge success'?

Well, you know. Sometimes names stop working as names, and start being something else, like an adjective, or even something entirely unrelated like a troubadour, or something.

It can all be a bit of a disaster, and you need to be very careful.

A4Document · 02/05/2016 18:29

I quite like it, as well as some of the similar Biblical names like Ezekiel (Zeke).

ShinyShinyShiny · 02/05/2016 18:20

I like it but it is definitely becoming quite popular so it depends whether that bothers you or not.

RiverTam · 02/05/2016 18:17

How can a name not be a 'huge success'?

1horatio · 02/05/2016 18:02

My husband's friend's son (or something like this, can't really remember...) is called Ezra.
I think it's pretty, but I remember that the mother of this little Ezra has mentioned that it (apparently?) has been getting more popular. But it is a very nice name.

pieceofpurplesky · 02/05/2016 17:37

It's a lovely name but what I would term a fad name. Every few years as a teacher you suddenly see a rise in certain names ... Louie, Alfie, Archie took over from Elliot, Morgan and Ryan. There are always Sam/Ben:George/Harry/James but then some names that are popular for a short time.

I would use it though. It's lovely

Willberry · 02/05/2016 17:25

I work with an Ezra in Yorkshire, hadn't come accross the name before but it's nice.

Sophronia · 02/05/2016 17:19

It is becoming more popular. It jumped +82 places in one year in the 2014 charts (the most recent ones available) and I expect it has increased even more since then. It's a nice name but I think it is a bit trendy.

GoblinLittleOwl · 02/05/2016 16:34

I know one. Parents violently anti-religion, chose it because it is a character in a book and they are pretentious.
Not a huge success (the name) and there was another boy with the same name and identical surname in his last school.